Caracas, April 2 (RHC-AVN) – Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Regional Coordinator for Strengthening School Feeding Programs in Latin America and the Caribbean, Najla Veloso, has said that Venezuela is an international benchmark based on food and nutrition policies due to its significant improvements to ensure food security for all Venezuelans alike.

"Venezuela is already an international benchmark with significant food and nutrition improvements, which is why FAO is fully ready to cooperate with the Bolivarian Republic and personally it has my full support," noted Veloso during a visit last week to Fermin Toro High School in Caracas, to observe the performance of the Venezuelan School Feeding Program (PAE), which offers breakfast, lunch and snacks to more than 4 million children and teenagers studying in public institutions across the country.

The activity is part of the Hunger-Free Latin America and the Caribbean 2025 Initiative, developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization, according to a press release by the Venezuelan Ministry of Education.

The latest food estimates of the FAO place Venezuela in the group of 15 countries, along with Cuba, Nicaragua, Guyana, Peru, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Uruguay, Chile and Brazil, that have made exceptional progress in reducing malnutrition, which went from 13.5 percent in 1990 to1992 to less than five percent during the period of 2010-2012.