Notícias
Brazil reaffirms commitment to the global school feeding agenda
Brazil reaffirmed its commitment to school feeding as an essential tool for global food and nutrition security during a side event of the Nutrition for Growth Summit (N4G), held today at the Brazilian Embassy in Paris. 
The event, titled "Uniting Global Efforts to Ensure Nutritious School Feeding Programs for Every Child", brought together representatives of the Brazilian Government, international organizations, and experts to discuss advances and challenges regarding the agenda.
The First Lady of Brazil, Ms. Janja Lula da Silva, Ambassador of School Feeding in Brazil, highlighted the strategic role of school feeding for the economic and social transformation of women and communities. "Talking about school feeding is to talk about economy. In Brazil, we have strengthened the connection between family farming and school feeding, which is a differential for us at global level," she said.
The round of discussions was moderated by Ms. Cecilia Malaguti, from the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC), under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, and attended by the President of the National Education Development Fund (FNDE), Ms. Fernanda Pacobahyba; the Secretary of the Sustainable School Feeding Network (RAES), Ms. Najla Veloso; the Coordinator of the Secretariat of the School Meals Coalition, Ms. Emilie Sidaner; the Director of the Research Consortium of the School Meals Coalition for the School Health and Nutrition Initiative, Professor Donald Bundy; and the Food and Nutrition Security Coordinator of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Diplomatic Minister Saulo Ceolin.
Ms. Fernanda Pacobahyba highlighted the evolution of the National School Feeding Program (PNAE), which celebrates its 70th anniversary this month. Among the most recent advances, she mentioned the legal framework that established the purchase of at least 30% of the Program's foodstuff directly from family farmers (smallholder farmers), which today already amounts to 45%, thus exceeding the goal established by law. "We have taken a giant step in terms of restricting the use of highly-processed food products, thus reducing their use to 15%, and aiming for 10% next year. We want real food on the children's plate," she said.
Ms. Najla Veloso stressed the importance of the Sustainable School Feeding Network (RAES) as a reference in Latin America, and emphasized that Brazil did not intend to be a role model, but a partner in the joint development of solutions. "We want to be a reference by sharing our experiences and lessons learned with countries in the region," she said.
The School Meals Coalition highlighted the impact of the Brazilian participation in the global initiative, which brought about a new dynamism and significant advances. "Nutrition and healthy diets are at the center of the debate. The African Union, for example, has made great strides on the school feeding agenda and these global coalitions are key to strengthening the countries' commitments," Ms. Emilie Sidaner explained.
The event also addressed the role of science and research in the formulation of evidence-based public policies. Professor Donald Bundy, from the Research Consortium of the School Meals Coalition, stressed the importance that regional and sub-regional networks have for the development of global tools and solutions. "RAES is an example of how regional networks can influence policies and practices on a global scale, through exchange of experiences between the various networks," he said.
Diplomatic Minister Saulo Ceolin highlighted the synergy between the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, launched during the Brazilian presidency of the G20, and school feeding programs, which would be among the main initiatives included in the basket of policies established by the Alliance. "For every dollar invested, we have a return of at least 10 times more in terms of economy, health, and quality of life. The Global Coalition and N4G even have complementary roles and can optimize resources to strengthen this agenda," he said.
The event, which was co-organized by ABC, FNDE, and WFP Center of Excellence Against Hunger in Brazil, reinforced Brazil's leading role in the global school feeding agenda, and mentioned the Brazilian experience as a reference in terms of promotion of more nutritious, sustainable programs in line with the needs of local communities. In the end, ABC reaffirmed its commitment to international cooperation as a support mechanism for each child to have access to healthy and quality school meals. 
Brazilian participation in the Summit
In addition to organizing the side event at the Embassy in Paris, Brazil was also present at the session "Maximizing the Nutritional Impact of School Feeding Programs". The meeting brought together experts and government representatives to discuss the impact of school nutrition and the development of evidence-based guidelines for school feeding programs. During the event, Ms. Karine Santos, General Coordinator of the National School Feeding Program (PNAE) under FNDE presented the Brazilian program and called for investments that support governments in adopting nutritional standards for school meals, and building healthy food environments.
To end the Brazilian participation in Paris, the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger (MDS) organized, also at the Brazilian Embassy, the event "Food Systems, Climate Change and Food and Nutrition Security: Challenges and Solutions", to facilitate a debate about current issues, full of exchanges of ideas between international experts regarding sustainable solutions in view of climate challenges. Moderated by Ms. Gisele Ane Bortolini (MDS), the panel included Ms. Patricia Chaves Gentil (MDS), Ms. Corinna Hawkes (FAO), Ms. Maria Joao Gregorio (Directorate-General of Health of Portugal), and a UNICEF representative. The event was supported by the WFP Center of Excellence against Hunger in Brazil.
