Agri-food production remains vital to the economies in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Food systems are rapidly changing and are driven by income growth, (urban) population growth, shifts in dietary preferences, and agricultural productivity growth.

This paper examines the different approaches and methodologies for classification of countries in terms of their food and nutrition security conditions. Its objective is to identify a number of country groups and thus provide some guidance about potential policies to address food and nutrition insecurity.

Literature on macroeconomics is often technical, includes different approaches, and consists of many controversial ideas and methodologies.