Work

Public Policies Strengthen the Relationship between Family Farming and Food Security in Brazilian Schools – A Historical Perspective

Year: 2022

Type: review

Abstract: Food insecurity in school settings is a serious concern in Brazil and many developed and developing countries. For this reason, public policies have been created to underpin programs offering free meals to school-age children, thus allowing basic learning conditions while tackling hunger among social groups under poverty. The National School Feeding Program (PNAE) in Brazil is recognized by the United Nation as an example of a program encompassing broad geographical coverage and partnerships with local family farmers. Here, this article reviews the historical pathway since the early XX century that paved the creation and implementation of public policies for food security in Brazilian schools. The benefits of these policies to family farming were discussed. This review is supported by official documents, such as Federal Laws, Decree, and National Programs. The outcome and experiences from the PNAE in various Brazilian states demonstrate that logistics and transportation of food from producers to schools are the main constraints for the greater efficiency of the program. Despite such constraints, the PNAE offers a unique opportunity to enhance human wellbeing by fostering family farmers to adopt agroecological systems and provide healthy and local food to school-age children.

Source: Heliyon

DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20482

Authors: Pedro Martinez, Maria de Lourdes Saturnino Gomes, Fillipe Silveira Marini

Institutions: New Mexico State University, Universidade Federal da Paraíba

Language: English

Topic: Rural Development and Agriculture

Subfield: Development

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, No poverty, Quality education

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,950