The Sociedad Colombiana de Ciencias Hortícolas (Colombian Society for Horticultural Science) and the Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia present the third edition of the Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Hortícolas-RCCH (Colombian Journal of Horticultural Science) for the year 2022, which calls for the worrying statistics on food insecurity and access to a healthy diet in Latin America. According to FAO reports, the COVID-19 pandemic was the most critical moment with 28% of hunger compared to the world average of 23%.

Latin America presents the highest cost in access to a healthy diet compared to other regions of the world, which is understood as, "when the contribution of total fats does not exceed 30% of the calories consumed, that of saturated fats does not exceed 10% and the sodium intake is less than 2 grams per day (equivalent to 5 grams of salt). Likewise, for a diet to be healthy, it is suggested to reduce the intake of highly processed foods and beverages, trans fats and added sugars, while the consumption of unsaturated fats and dietary fiber is favored” (^{FAO, 2023}, p. 1).

Although the determining factors are extensive, it is the inequality of income that causes social groups to be more vulnerable, leading to malnutrition due to deficits (lack of micronutrients), overweight in childhood, obesity in adults, and which are found in all socioeconomic strata, rural and urban areas, indigenous peoples and Afro-descendants. Likewise, the climate crisis, high international prices and the increase in the consumer price index worsen the situation.

In the search that our crops improve the yield, quality, nutritional value and resistance of crops to insects, diseases and environmental stress (^{Phys.org, 2023}), the RCCH compiles the following research:

In the Fruit section, the 'Horvin' plum from the high tropics of Colombia, the influence of physicochemical properties on the quality of the fruit is analyzed, as well as the base temperature and the growing degree-days from the fruit set to harvest. In the case of blueberries, it was investigated whether cyclodextrin prolongs the quality of shelf life fruits and, in Andean blueberry, its morphological response under different environmental conditions. On the other hand, in Hass avocado it was determined if the rootstock/scion compatibility affects nutritional concentration of the leaf and fruit. The influence of environmental conditions on the quality and antioxidant activity of cashew apple was also determined. Finally, a bibliographical review of sunburn disorder in tropical and subtropical fruit trees is carried out.

In the Ornamental section, the degree days of three carnation cultivars are determined from the flower bud. In the Section on aromatic, medicinal and spice plants, the study of elite cultivars of stevia in the Brazilian Savannah, and for the Other species section, the potential of silver nanoparticles in controlling rice panicle blight.

We share with our community the recent achievement of the acceptance of the Colombian Journal of Horticultural Sciences in the prestigious Scopus bibliographic index and the extension of its local category B within the Indexación de Revistas Científicas Colombianas Especializadas - Publindex, for Colombia. We look forward to your contributions to broaden the diversity of themes and topics in horticulture development.