FAO Reaffirms Support for School Lunch Programs in Latin America

FAO reaffirmed its commitment to advancing school lunch programs in Latin America and the Caribbean during the 11th Regional School Feeding Forum, hosted by the government of Honduras. Máximo Torero, Chief Economist and Acting Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, FAO, highlighted the agency’s work in the region, underscoring the role of school lunch programs in addressing hunger and improving nutrition for more than 85 million students.

Torero stressed the need for integrated policies in the face of climate events and economic challenges, stating that school programs help vulnerable populations absorb the impact of crises and strengthen community resilience. He also pointed to FAO’s collaboration in the creation of over 23,000 sustainable schools across the region, promoting educational gardens, local food purchases, and links between food production and local development.

Torero described school feeding as a long-term investment in human development, calling for innovation in financing and improved efficiency in the use of available resources. He noted that the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty provides a platform for coordinating policies and resources to achieve social and economic impact.

The forum also included a meeting of the members of the Sustainable School Feeding Network (RAES), which was created in 2018 by the government of Brazil, through the Brazilian Cooperation Agency and the National Fund for Education Development, with FAO’s technical support and executive secretariat.

Najla Veloso, Senior Specialist in School Feeding, FAO, and Executive Secretary, RAES, underscored the value of dialogue and the importance of creating synergies with institutions working in this area. She reaffirmed RAES’s commitment to supporting member countries in advancing school feeding policies based on the right to adequate and healthy food, providing diverse and nutritious meals to students.

The event brought together high-level political representatives, ministers, ambassadors, experts, and school feeding policymakers from various countries.