SCHOOL MEALS PROCUREMENT – Beyond the lunch tray: Building sustainable school food systems

This session, jointly hosted by School Food 4 Change and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and the World Resources Institute (WRI), explores the transformative potential of sustainable school meals. A holistic approach to school food systems can deliver long-term benefits not just for students’ health but also for communities and local economies, emphasizing both what is served and where it comes from. 

The session begins with a joint introduction on the power of sustainable school food systems, followed by two interactive roundtables: 

• SF4C Roundtable: this session will feature practical experiences from Mbale (Uganda), Lyon (France) and Leuven (Belgium), highlighting how cities are reshaping school food to improve children's health, support local economies, and promote sustainable food systems. Drawing on the work of SchoolFood4Change and School Food 4 Cities, the panel will showcase how city-led initiatives are driving meaningful change—from policy shifts to innovative partnerships and procurement models.

• WRI Roundtable: exploring how cities can harness procurement strategies and data to advance healthy, sustainable food. Participants will also learn three behavioral science-backed techniques that leverage stakeholders’ actions, addressing both product and promotion strategies to drive meaningful change. 

By combining strategic insights with practical, actionable techniques, this session equips city leaders, school administrators, and practitioners with the tools to create school food systems that are healthy, sustainable, and inclusive. 

Agenda