Innovative supply systems for quality school catering and resilient local agriculture in Algeria

 

In Algeria, most public elementary schools have food service facilities. However, a number of questions remain unanswered, such as the quality of the meals served and the sources of supply used. The school food service program is leveraged by the State to reduce social inequalities and promote access to food for all. The power of this lever can be increased if it is used to promote a healthy food culture and support family farming at a local level. Stable demand for quality local food products would encourage farmers to adopt more sustainable agricultural practices that are resilient to climate change.

This project aims to promote healthy school food while increasing the income and resilience of local agricultural producers, through the design, testing and scaling of innovative and sustainable supply systems. These systems will be tested in three provinces and developed in collaboration with schools, local authorities, local farmers, artisans and young entrepreneurs. The models developed should be applicable throughout Algeria. The choice of pilot provinces reflects this diversity, aiming to include regions that are agroecologically, socio-demographically and economically diverse. The project is likely to have a significant impact on students, local farmers and public decision-makers at both central and local levels.

This project is part of a cohort of projects that aim to catalyze the adoption and scaling of regenerative, equitable and inclusive practices in school meal supply systems in Africa, with the ultimate goal of contributing to the agroecological transition of local and national food systems.