A conceptual framework is presented, expressing the relationship between food availability and the food and nutritional status of a population. As element of the model, the generation and transfer of appropriate food technologies were included. Based on the conceptual framework, three successful cases of food technology transfer in the Central American area were analyzed. The most important aspects of each case were identified, and a critical review of the characteristics and conditions required to generate and transfer appropriate technologies, was carried out. An inventory was made of those factors which are essential for a food technology to be appropriate; this analysis resulted in the postulation of a model describing the life cycle of appropriate food technologies. On these bases, several guidelines are postulated, which could constitute a conceptual framework to help guide actions in the generation and transference of appropriate food technologies in Central America and Panama. Essential elements of the proposed framework are: identification and characterization of the problem of the group of "users" of the technology; problem solution by a multidisciplinary group; test of the technology and evaluation of its feasibility (technical, economical, political, social and cultural), and controlled transference to the group of "users".