On May 18, the international meeting titled “Sustainable School Feeding Programmes in the Global and Regional Context” opened in Yerevan. The event brought together representatives from Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the WFP Centre of Excellence Against Hunger in Brazil, and the Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute (SIFI), the CIS Base Organization for School Feeding.
The discussions focused on school feeding as an important public investment in children’s health, education, and future. Today, school meals are increasingly viewed not simply as a daily lunch, but as part of a broader system that helps children learn more effectively, supports families, strengthens local agriculture, and contributes to food security.
The opening ceremony took place at the Best Western Plus Congress Hotel. Welcoming remarks were delivered by Robert Abisoghomonyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia; Araksia Svajyan, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia; Leila Meliouh, WFP Representative and Country Director in Armenia; and Satenik Mkrtchyan, Director of the School Feeding and Child Welfare Agency.
Following the opening remarks, participants were introduced to international and domestic initiatives in school feeding. Daniel Balaban, Director and Representative of the WFP Centre of Excellence Against Hunger in Brazil, spoke about the School Meals Coalition.
SIFI President Vladimir Chernigov presented Russian and regional experience in organizing child feeding programmes and emphasized the importance of professional exchange between countries. Such dialogue is especially valuable for states developing their own school feeding models and seeking to make them sustainable, practical, and effective.
The central event of the first day was a panel discussion moderated by Arevik Anapiosyan from the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia. Participants discussed the key elements needed to build a strong national school feeding system, including effective governance, sustainable financing, quality products, modern standards, and cooperation with local producers.
Particular attention during the meeting was given to Armenia’s experience. Armenia is demonstrating a school feeding model built on national ownership and close links with local production. The Programme includes visits to schools developing intensive orchards, greenhouses, and other initiatives aimed at making children’s diets more nutritious, diverse, and sustainable.
In the following days, participants will visit schools in the Gegharkunik marz and the town of Abovyan, learn more about Armenia’s national school feeding model implemented under the state initiative “300 Schools, 500 Kindergartens,” and visit a training centre for wholegrain baking products as well as a wholegrain mill in Ijevan.
The meeting in Yerevan continues the international exchange of experience between Armenia and Brazil. Earlier, an Armenian delegation studied Brazil’s national school feeding programme, including local procurement systems, food education, and effective management approaches. Armenia is now hosting its partners to showcase its own solutions and discuss how countries can support one another in strengthening school feeding systems.
Such meetings are important not only for experts. Their outcomes are directly linked to children’s quality of life. The stronger a national school feeding system becomes, the more schoolchildren receive nutritious, safe, and healthy meals every day. This, in turn, gives them greater opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed.
The participation of the Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute in this meeting highlights the value of Russia’s accumulated expertise and its growing international relevance. The exchange of practical experience, open dialogue, and joint search for solutions help countries move toward a common goal — making school feeding a sustainable part of public policy and a real source of support for every child.
The discussions focused on school feeding as an important public investment in children’s health, education, and future. Today, school meals are increasingly viewed not simply as a daily lunch, but as part of a broader system that helps children learn more effectively, supports families, strengthens local agriculture, and contributes to food security.
The opening ceremony took place at the Best Western Plus Congress Hotel. Welcoming remarks were delivered by Robert Abisoghomonyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia; Araksia Svajyan, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia; Leila Meliouh, WFP Representative and Country Director in Armenia; and Satenik Mkrtchyan, Director of the School Feeding and Child Welfare Agency.
Following the opening remarks, participants were introduced to international and domestic initiatives in school feeding. Daniel Balaban, Director and Representative of the WFP Centre of Excellence Against Hunger in Brazil, spoke about the School Meals Coalition.
SIFI President Vladimir Chernigov presented Russian and regional experience in organizing child feeding programmes and emphasized the importance of professional exchange between countries. Such dialogue is especially valuable for states developing their own school feeding models and seeking to make them sustainable, practical, and effective.
The central event of the first day was a panel discussion moderated by Arevik Anapiosyan from the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia. Participants discussed the key elements needed to build a strong national school feeding system, including effective governance, sustainable financing, quality products, modern standards, and cooperation with local producers.
Particular attention during the meeting was given to Armenia’s experience. Armenia is demonstrating a school feeding model built on national ownership and close links with local production. The Programme includes visits to schools developing intensive orchards, greenhouses, and other initiatives aimed at making children’s diets more nutritious, diverse, and sustainable.
In the following days, participants will visit schools in the Gegharkunik marz and the town of Abovyan, learn more about Armenia’s national school feeding model implemented under the state initiative “300 Schools, 500 Kindergartens,” and visit a training centre for wholegrain baking products as well as a wholegrain mill in Ijevan.
The meeting in Yerevan continues the international exchange of experience between Armenia and Brazil. Earlier, an Armenian delegation studied Brazil’s national school feeding programme, including local procurement systems, food education, and effective management approaches. Armenia is now hosting its partners to showcase its own solutions and discuss how countries can support one another in strengthening school feeding systems.
Such meetings are important not only for experts. Their outcomes are directly linked to children’s quality of life. The stronger a national school feeding system becomes, the more schoolchildren receive nutritious, safe, and healthy meals every day. This, in turn, gives them greater opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed.
The participation of the Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute in this meeting highlights the value of Russia’s accumulated expertise and its growing international relevance. The exchange of practical experience, open dialogue, and joint search for solutions help countries move toward a common goal — making school feeding a sustainable part of public policy and a real source of support for every child.