Dollarization and food system change: hunger, environment, and dietary shifts in Colombian-Venezuelan border communities

This longitudinal study tracked 200 households across Colombia–Venezuela border cities (2023-2025) to examine how informal dollarization reshapes food consumption patterns. Using difference-in-differences, propensity score matching, and hierarchical modeling, results showed dollar-exposed households increased processed food consumption (+1.86 servings/week, p = 0.004) and imported foods (+2.14 servings/week, p = 0.003) while reducing traditional regional foods (−0.75 servings/week, p = 0.048). Dollar access improved food security but decreased dietary diversity and increased environmental footprint through higher carbon emissions and packaging waste. Findings reveal how currency composition creates new pathways of nutrition transition, weakening local food systems while improving hunger prevention in economically volatile border regions.