S002 “BSR Food Coalition”
On 17 February 2023, as part of the “BSR Food Coalition” project, various stakeholders from Kurzeme municipalities, catering services’ providers at schools and local farmers came together for the second time to discuss the existing cooperation with schools, municipalities, cooperation between farmers and caterers, by emphasizing the problems, challeneges and possible solutions.
This time we met in Kuldīga with an aim to more specifically set the key directions for the pilot project to be undertaken in Kurzeme in order to facilitate the presence of locally grown foods in school meals. In the introduction part, the participants reviewed the survey results from Kurzeme schools and municipalities, as well as from discussions with local farmers and caterers, presented by the Project Manager A.Lūse.
Key remarks from the discussion:
- It is essential to more promote local products, regularly publish info in media;
- Facilitate education, master classes for young families on healthy food;
- Identify the foods grown locally and facilitate getting them into local schools (e.g. Municipality knows that in her county there are few farmers growing buckwheat and potatoes, which the farmer grows in sufficient quantities and is interested in supplying local schools) – either directly (if possible) or through the catering service provider or other non-standard/ innovative methods etc.
- Propose reconsidering the issue on the present seasonality calendar, as it is not accurate and has to be adjusted;
- Propose reconsidering the issue on state support for school meals providing it also for grade 5 (up until at least grade 9) – in order to teach youngsters how to east «right» (healthy food principles);
- Propose reconsidering the issue on increasing the state support for school meals.
The next project partners’ meeting will take place in Daugavpils on 27.02.-01.03.23., where all partners shall come together to jointly work on the elaboration of basic activities for pilot projects in regions.
Project activities are being implemented with the support of the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme 2021-2027.
Information provided by:
Alise Lūse,
BSR Food Coalition Project Manager,
Kurzeme Planning Region,
Phone: + 371 26567874, alise.luse@kurzemesregions.lv
