Gram Research analysis shows that a new free online tool called the FIESP Observatory successfully launched in May 2025 to track food security and nutrition for children ages 0-10 in São Paulo, Brazil. The platform attracted over 9,600 visits and 4,755 active users by consolidating government data into interactive dashboards, helping policymakers and researchers identify where children face hunger and design better food programs.
Researchers in São Paulo, Brazil created a free online tool called the FIESP Observatory to track food security and nutrition for children ages 0-10. The platform combines information from government databases into easy-to-understand dashboards that show how many children have access to healthy food, their health status, and educational outcomes. Since launching in May 2025, the tool has been visited over 9,600 times by policymakers, researchers, and community leaders who use it to understand childhood hunger problems and design better food programs. This type of data collection helps governments make smarter decisions about feeding children.
Key Statistics
According to research reviewed by Gram, the FIESP Observatory for Childhood Food and Nutrition Security received more than 9,600 visits within its first months of operation after launching in May 2025, with 4,755 active users regularly accessing the platform.
A 2026 descriptive study published in Jornal de Pediatria found that the Observatory successfully integrated data across six thematic areas—demographic, socioeconomic, food and nutrition security policies, nutritional status, health, and educational profiles—to support evidence-based policymaking for childhood nutrition in São Paulo.
The FIESP Observatory features six interactive dashboard panels and a ‘Your City’ feature that consolidates key food security and nutrition indicators for each municipality, enabling segmented analysis by geography, time period, and demographic characteristics.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: How to build a digital platform that brings together all available government information about whether children in São Paulo have enough healthy food to eat
- Who participated: Experts in nutrition, public health, and government policy worked together to design the system. The platform now serves policymakers, researchers, and community organizations across São Paulo state
- Key finding: The Observatory successfully launched in May 2025 and attracted over 9,600 visits with 4,755 active users in its first months, proving that free, easy-to-use nutrition data tools are valuable to decision-makers
- What it means for you: If you live in São Paulo or work on child nutrition issues, you can now access free, up-to-date information about food security in your city to understand local needs and track progress over time
The Research Details
The researchers followed a three-step process to build this tool. First, they studied existing nutrition tracking systems in Brazil and around the world to learn what works best. Second, they assembled a team of experts in nutrition, public health, and policy to decide which information was most important to track. Third, they built the actual digital platform, programming it to automatically pull information from government databases and organize it into visual dashboards that anyone can understand.
The platform brings together six different types of information: basic population numbers, family income and living conditions, government food programs, children’s nutrition status, health outcomes, and school performance. Each piece of information is organized by location and time period so users can compare different cities or see how things have changed year to year.
The tool includes interactive maps and charts that let users explore data by neighborhood, age group, or any other category they’re interested in. There’s also a special ‘Your City’ feature that shows the most important nutrition and food security numbers for each municipality in São Paulo.
Before this tool existed, information about childhood hunger and nutrition was scattered across many different government agencies and databases. This made it hard for policymakers to see the full picture or understand which areas needed the most help. By putting all this information in one place with clear visualizations, the Observatory makes it much easier for decision-makers to spot problems and design solutions. It also lets researchers study patterns and helps community organizations advocate for better programs.
The platform was designed by a team of recognized experts in nutrition and public health, ensuring the selected indicators are scientifically sound. All data comes from official government sources, making it reliable and trustworthy. The system was tested before launch and continues to be updated with new information. The fact that thousands of people are actively using it suggests it meets real needs in the community.
What the Results Show
The FIESP Observatory for Childhood Food and Nutrition Security successfully launched in May 2025 as a free, publicly available online platform. Within its first months of operation, the tool received more than 9,600 visits from users including policymakers, researchers, and civil society organizations. The platform maintained 4,755 active users, indicating strong ongoing engagement with the resource.
The Observatory integrates data across six major categories: demographic information (population numbers and age distribution), socioeconomic factors (family income and living conditions), food and nutrition security policies (government programs and interventions), nutritional status (measurements of child health and growth), health outcomes (disease rates and healthcare access), and educational profiles (school enrollment and performance). This comprehensive approach allows users to see connections between different factors affecting children’s wellbeing.
The platform features six interactive dashboard panels that present data visually through maps, charts, and tables. The ‘Your City’ dashboard is particularly useful because it consolidates the most important indicators for each municipality in São Paulo, allowing local leaders to quickly understand their area’s specific situation. Users can filter and analyze data by geography, time period, and demographic groups, enabling detailed comparisons between neighborhoods or tracking of changes over years.
The Observatory demonstrates that there is significant demand for consolidated, accessible nutrition data among policymakers and researchers. The high number of active users suggests that decision-makers recognize the value of having reliable information in one place rather than searching multiple government databases. The platform’s design—featuring intuitive dashboards and a ‘Your City’ feature—appears to successfully make complex data understandable to non-technical users. The tool’s ability to be continuously updated with new government data means it can serve as an ongoing resource rather than a one-time snapshot.
This Observatory represents an advancement in how nutrition and food security data is organized in Brazil. While individual government agencies have collected childhood nutrition data for years, this is one of the first efforts to integrate multiple data sources into a single, user-friendly platform designed specifically for childhood food security. Similar observatories exist in other countries and for other health topics, but the FIESP Observatory adapts these international best practices specifically for the Brazilian context and the age group 0-10 years. The platform builds on lessons learned from studying both national and international data systems.
This study describes the development and launch of a tool but does not measure whether using the Observatory actually leads to better policies or improved nutrition outcomes for children. The platform relies on data from official government sources, so it can only be as complete and current as those sources allow. The study focuses on São Paulo state specifically, so the model would need adaptation to work in other Brazilian states or countries. The research does not include detailed information about which specific user groups find the tool most valuable or how different types of users apply the data in their work.
The Bottom Line
If you work in public health, nutrition, education, or child welfare in São Paulo, regularly check the Observatory for data about your area. Use the information to identify which neighborhoods have the greatest food insecurity challenges and which programs are working well. Share the data with colleagues and community members to build support for better nutrition initiatives. For researchers, the platform provides a starting point for studies on childhood food security. For government officials, the Observatory can help track progress toward nutrition goals and identify where resources are needed most.
Policymakers and government officials responsible for child nutrition programs should use this tool to understand local needs and monitor progress. Public health professionals, nutritionists, and educators can use it to identify at-risk populations. Researchers studying childhood nutrition and food security will find consolidated data valuable. Community organizations advocating for better food programs can use the Observatory to support their work with evidence. Parents and community members interested in understanding food security in their city can access the information for free.
The Observatory was designed to provide immediate access to current data, so users can begin exploring information right away. Benefits depend on how the data is used—policymakers who apply the findings to program design may see improvements in child nutrition within 1-2 years. Tracking changes over time requires monitoring the platform regularly, as data is continuously updated with new government information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FIESP Observatory and how can I use it?
The FIESP Observatory is a free online platform launched in May 2025 that brings together government data on childhood food security and nutrition in São Paulo. You can visit the website to explore interactive dashboards showing food security, health, and nutrition information for your city or any municipality in the state.
How much does it cost to access the Observatory data?
The Observatory is completely free to access. All data comes from official government sources and is available to anyone online, including policymakers, researchers, community organizations, and concerned citizens.
Can the Observatory help me understand food insecurity in my neighborhood?
Yes. The ‘Your City’ dashboard consolidates key food security and nutrition indicators for each municipality in São Paulo. You can explore data by neighborhood, age group, and time period to understand local food insecurity patterns and track changes over time.
Who created this Observatory and is the data reliable?
Experts in nutrition, public health, and policy designed the Observatory, and all data comes from official Brazilian government databases. The platform was built to meet scientific standards and continues to be updated with current government information.
How can policymakers use this tool to improve child nutrition programs?
Policymakers can use the Observatory to identify neighborhoods with the highest food insecurity, track which programs are most effective, and monitor progress toward nutrition goals. The data helps target resources where they’re needed most and design evidence-based interventions.
Want to Apply This Research?
- If you’re a community health worker or educator, track the food insecurity rate in your specific neighborhood monthly using the Observatory’s ‘Your City’ dashboard. Record the percentage of children with adequate food access and set a goal to improve it by 5-10% annually
- Use the Observatory to identify which food security programs are most effective in your area, then advocate for expansion of those programs. Share specific data points from your city’s dashboard with local officials when requesting funding or policy changes for child nutrition initiatives
- Set a quarterly reminder to check the Observatory for updated data on your area. Compare current numbers to previous quarters to identify trends. Create a simple spreadsheet tracking key indicators over time so you can visualize progress and communicate results to stakeholders
This article describes a data platform and research tool designed to track childhood food security and nutrition in São Paulo, Brazil. The Observatory provides information to support policy decisions but does not replace professional medical advice, nutritional counseling, or clinical assessment. If you have concerns about a child’s nutrition or food access, consult with a pediatrician, nutritionist, or local health authority. The information presented reflects the Observatory’s design and early usage data; individual results and applications may vary based on local context and implementation.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.