Highlights from the SF4C General Assembly

As a proud partner of the European project SchoolFood4Change (SF4C), Délice Network participated in the project’s General Assembly 2024, held in Prague, Czech Republic, from October 10 to 12, 2024. This gathering brought together partners from across Europe to share their progress in reimagining school food systems and promoting sustainable public food policies.

A European Vision for Sustainable School Meals

The SF4C project is designed to make a shift in school food across Europe, ensuring healthier meals for children while supporting sustainability in food systems. Through collaboration between public authorities, school staff, chefs, and communities, the project positions schools as key drivers of change for equity, health, and environmental consciousness.

The General Assembly served as a dynamic platform for sharing best practices, innovative strategies, and lessons learned, all focused on creating systemic change. Discussions and focus groups encouraged a deeper exploration of sustainable solutions for school meals, providing inspiration for cities across Europe.

Insights from the Czech School Meal System

The event opened with an insightful presentation by Eliška Selinger from the Czech Republic’s National Institute of Public Health. She outlined the ambitious reform underway in the country’s school food system, which prepares 383 million meals annually for 2 million children in over 8,500 school canteens.

School meals in the Czech Republic are designed to meet strict criteria, focusing on:

• Attractiveness: Meals must appeal in appearance, taste, and aroma.
• Nutritional Balance: Ensuring all children receive high-quality, nutritious meals.
• Sustainability: Incorporating organic, seasonal, and plant-based options.
• Equity: Guaranteeing access to quality food for every child.

This comprehensive approach reflects the overarching goals of the SF4C project and serves as an inspiring model for other countries to adopt.

Learning from Each Other: Inspiring Practices Across Europe

The event also highlighted inspiring stories and impactful initiatives from SchoolFood4Change cities:

• Nuoro, Italy: Successfully organized a market dialogue, bringing together local stakeholders and policymakers to discuss school meals and food education.
• Valencia, Spain: Over 1,000 schools and preschools have embraced the Whole School Food Approach, making sustainability and nutrition integral to daily operations.
• Milan, Italy: Implemented Farm-to-School Twinnings, connecting schools with urban and rural farms to educate children about food origins, while training school canteen chefs on evolving culinary roles.
• Nuremberg, Germany: Showcased the “Healthy Plates and Bright Minds” initiative, which advances school food policy at the city level.
• Essen, Germany: Hosted a successful “Canteen Day” in collaboration with the local Food Policy Council and NGOs, inspiring other partners to adopt similar initiatives.
• Leuven, Belgium: Focused on developing a new food strategy that highlights the role of sustainable catering companies.

These stories highlight the power of international partnerships, demonstrating how cities can learn from one another and implement sustainable changes in public food policies.

Looking Ahead to 2025: A Milestone for SchoolFood4Change and Délice

The year 2025 will mark the end of the SF4C project, with the final General Assembly scheduled to take place in Lyon, France, from June 3 to 5, 2025. This event will run in parallel with Délice Network’s General Assembly, creating a unique platform for collaboration.

Under the theme “Food Policies for the Future: Ensuring Justice, Sustainability, and Culinary Heritage,” this key gathering will unite representatives from SF4C and Délice cities. Selected sessions will be shared between the two assemblies, fostering dynamic exchanges on public food policies, sustainability, and education.

Participants will have the opportunity to dive into SF4C themes and broaden their perspectives on sustainable procurement, food literacy, and equity in school food systems. At the same time, they will draw inspiration from the successes of peer cities, creating a collective vision for the future of public food systems.

Stay tuned for updates on this final event and SF4C project, as we continue working together to shape a more just, sustainable, and delicious future for school meals and food systems across Europe.