Program 2026

It’s Time for a New Menu! How Healthy School Meals Can Transform Food Systems

School catering can be one of the most powerful levers for transforming food systems. It is where public policy, education, health and sustainability intersect, with impacts that extend far beyond the school environment.

The conference, marking the final event of the European project SchoolFood4Change (SF4C), represents both the culmination of years of international cooperation and a starting point for future action. The project has demonstrated how transforming school food services can trigger systemic change in food systems at both local and global levels.

More than a conclusion, the event serves as a platform to relaunch, at international scale, a strategy for a sustainable and just transition of food systems, based on an integrated approach combining education, public procurement and participatory food governance in schools. Through political commitment and the scalability of tested solutions, school meals emerge as concrete tools to improve public health, strengthen local economies and reduce environmental impacts.

Building on the environmental, social and health outcomes achieved, the discussion will focus on policy perspectives: how to consolidate and institutionalise this model, how to scale it across regions and countries, and how to make healthy and sustainable diets a stable and accessible standard for all.

15:00 CEST | THE SECRET INGREDIENT – THE SF4C TRIPLE APPROACH & RESULTS

We will explore the SchoolFood4Change Triple Approach and its measurable sustainability impact. Leading experts from the SF4C network, together with practice partners from three European cities, will share hands-on insights and real-world experiences, highlight the three key elements: the Whole School Food Approach, Planetary Health Diets and Cooking, and Sustainable Public Food Procurement.

SPEAKERS

Manuel Poschadel (tbc)
Head of Kitchen Training Team, Kantine Zukunft (Germany)

Monika Rut
Senior Expert on Sustainable Food Systems, ICLEI Europe

Tamara Bruning
Head of the Cleaning and Catering Services Division, City of Ghent (Belgium)

MODERATOR

Paola Hernández Olivan
Mensa Cívica (Spain)

16:05 CEST | LEADING THE CHANGE: THE POLITICAL LEGACY OF FRONTRUNNER CITIES

In an interactive roundtable, policymakers from six European municipalities will share how they have navigated the practical challenges of implementing SchoolFood4Change and driving meaningful change in their cities. Drawing on their experience, our knowledgeable speakers will offer forward-looking perspectives on the vital role of schools within local and regional food systems.

SPEAKERS

Mariangela Crabolu
Executive Councillor, Nuoro Municipality (Italy)

Anna Scavuzzo
Deputy Mayor, City of Milan (Italy)

Claudia Pratelli
Executive Councillor, City of Rome (Italy)

MODERATION

Andrea Bettini
Science journalist, RaiNews24

17:00 | COFFEE BREAK AND NETWORKING

17:30 CEST | A GLOBAL BLUEPRINT – SCALING SCHOOL FOOD FOR PLANETARY
HEALTH AND SOCIAL EQUITY

This final part of the SchoolFood4Change Conference brings the discussion to the international stage connecting local action with global ambition. Roundtable participants will explore how school meal policies align with international sustainability goals and environmental frameworks, helping to secure a lasting policy legacy for a healthier and more equitable future that is within planetary boundaries.

SPEAKERS

N.N.
Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI), European Commission

Kevin Morgan
Professor of Governance and Development, Cardiff University (UK)

MODERATOR

Peter Defranceschi
Head of ICLEI Brussels Office, Coordinator of the Global CityFood Programme

Contact: info@schoolfood4change.eu