Saberes e sabores da cultura kalunga : origens e consequências das alterações nos sistemas alimentares

In this research we have sought to analyze the impact of social and food policies in nutritional safety of traditional populations of the Cerrado, choosing as a case study the Kalunga quilombola community, located at the Northeast of the state of Goiás. By means of participative observation, interviews, commented routes, and participative mapping in two communities (Engenho II and Vão de Almas), we have identified the main characteristics and transformations of the productive and nutritional systems. In addition, we have applied 11 questionnaires to assess the nutritional safety status of the families. Tourism, distribution of cestas básicas [a prepacked collection of the basic monthly consumables for a family of four], and the conditional income transfer programs directly influence the production strategies and nutritional habits, although not leading to the abandonment of traditional farming. When adopting income diversification strategies, based on multi-sited households and mobility between communities and cities, most families are able to reduce their nutritional insecurity. That seldom implies food sovereignty, and thus we reflect on an improvement of these public policies.