Overview

• School meal programs reach an estimated 466 million children and channel roughly US$84 billion a year, giving governments significant market-shaping power.
• The authors call for redesigning tenders to prioritize nutritious food, sustainable farming practices, and participation by local producers.
• The analysis notes that the food system produces about one third of global greenhouse gas emissions and that current purchasing often entrenches these impacts.
• Brazil’s PNAE mandates at least 30% of funds for family farmers and is linked to higher domestic production, job creation, increased incomes, and wider uptake of sustainable practices.
• Scotland’s £238 million program and Sweden’s Vinnova-backed municipal prototypes show potential but highlight the need for stronger national coordination to maximize results.