Análise das Cozinhas Solidárias nas regiões brasileiras: uma porta de entrada para Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional em territórios vulnerabilizados

Introduction: Brazilian law No. 14,628/2023 marks the creation of the Solidarity Kitchen Program, highlighting the political commitment to ensuring the Human Right to Adequate Food (HRAF), as established in the Federal Constitution. The program aims to recognize Solidarity Kitchens (SK), whose mission is to provide free and quality food to the population, prioritizing vulnerable groups, including people experiencing homelessness. This context underscores the importance of developing and implementing concrete actions to maintain and improve the operation and infrastructure of these spaces. Objective: This study aims to analyze and map SK according to vulnerability indicators across Brazilian regions. Methodology: For data collection on SK, information was gathered through an online instrument developed by the Ministry of Social Development and Assistance, Family, and Fight Against Hunger (MDS), titled "Registration Form for Solidarity, Popular, and Community Kitchens." Data from CS that reported being fully operational were analyzed.The mapping was carried out based on the collected information and cross-referenced with the social vulnerability index of the municipalities. Results: A total of 1,655 SK responded to the MDS-developed form. The mapping revealed that in many municipalities with high or very high vulnerability, there are no SK available, with a higher concentration of these units in capitals or nearby areas. Over 50% of SK in all Brazilian regions reported lacking computer infrastructure (computers with internet), with the worst situations in the South (66.4%), Northeast (65.2%), and North (60.9%) regions, followed by the Midwest (56.5%) and Southeast (54%). Additionally, 18.8% and 20% of SK in the North and Northeast regions (the hottest regions in the country), respectively, reported not having a refrigerator (Southeast 5.8%, South 9%, Midwest 9.8%). Only 8.7% of SK receive food from the Food Acquisition Program (FAP). Conclusion: The lack of adequate infrastructure and limited access to programs like the FAP highlights the challenges and opportunities to enhance the infrastructure and actions of SK. These results can support the formulation of public policies to ensure the HRAF in vulnerable territories and to develop an intersectoral network model that supports SK.