Latin American nations advance school feeding and local agriculture initiatives

Regional leaders and organizations are advancing initiatives to link school feeding programs with local agricultural production across Latin America and the Caribbean.

In Honduras, President Nasry Asfura hosted delegations from 18 countries at the Latin American and Caribbean Meeting of the Sustainable School Feeding Network (RAES). The Honduran government is working to expand its National School Feeding Program (PNAE) by incorporating more fresh products, such as fruits, vegetables, and dairy, through direct purchases from local producers. The government has allocated 200 million lempiras for the initial stage of this expansion, with further investments planned through 2027.

In the Dominican Republic, the Chamber of Deputies' Family Commission met with representatives from the FAO and the Mesoamérica sin Hambre program to discuss legislative progress regarding school nutrition and family farming. Legislators noted that new laws are being prepared to regulate school meals and support small-scale farmers, particularly in regions like the Cibao Valley. The FAO commended the Dominican Republic for its progress in reducing hunger and pledged technical support for regional efforts.