School meals in times of climate change: ensuring sustainability
Climate change poses challenges that affect every aspect of life, including areas once considered stable, such as school feeding. Droughts, floods, declining crop yields, and disruptions in food supply chains are creating new hurdles in the effort to provide children with nutritious and high-quality meals.
In this context, countries face the critical task of not only preserving school meal programs but also making them resilient and adaptable to emerging challenges. At the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, the President of the Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute (SIFI), Vladimir Chernigov, highlighted how international practices can guide efforts to build systems that feed children today while preparing for the challenges of tomorrow.
Experience and goals: from Russia to global stage
Mr. Chernigov emphasized that school feeding is more than just a logistical solution—it forms the foundation of children’s health, academic performance, and social well-being. He also shared SIFI’s journey, which began in 2004 with efforts to improve school feeding in Russia.
Since 2011, SIFI has expanded its reach through collaboration with the UN World Food Programme (WFP), enabling the organization to support projects throughout the CIS, the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America. This work has demonstrated that high-quality school meals benefit children and contribute to the sustainable development of entire regions.
School meals as comprehensive system
Mr. Chernigov’s presentation underscored that school feeding initiatives go far beyond simply delivering food. They encompass:
Supporting local farmers, thus promoting the growth of rural communities
Improving infrastructure, including the adoption of energy-efficient technologies
Ensuring food quality through logistics centers
One innovative example includes the use of solar panels, which provide schools with electricity and help them generate additional income.
Securing sustainability: forward-looking approach
SIFI President outlined key strategies for building resilient school feeding systems:
Establishing school feeding funds in collaboration with local businesses
Cultivating school gardens to grow fruits and vegetables
Establishing logistics centers for food storage and processing
He highlighted a cluster project in Kyrgyzstan as a successful model. This initiative unites schools, vocational colleges, and universities to create a cohesive ecosystem addressing both climate challenges and sustainable school feeding issues.
Mr. Chernigov concluded his remarks with an appeal for stronger collaboration and knowledge-sharing between countries:
“School meals are the key to health, education, and the sustainable development of future generations.”
The Baku conference served as an important platform to explore these pressing issues and identify innovative solutions. These efforts reaffirm the strategic importance of school feeding programs for improving the lives of children and their families.