Program

SF4C – Sustainable and innovative procurement for school food service

Event in English

The event will follow the World Café methodology, a collaborative approach that encourages open dialogue and meaningful exchange among participants in an informal and engaging setting. The objective is to foster an international discussion on the impact of EU public procurement directives in the food sector, with a specific focus on school catering. The conversation will explore how current regulations have shaped purchasing practices and what policy changes could help promote more sustainable approaches to collective food procurement across EU Member States. The outcomes of the discussion will be compiled into a policy paper, which the SchoolFood4Change project will present to European policymakers.

The event will involve experts from various organizations, including public authorities, supplier companies, and academic institutions, who will share their experiences in sustainable procurement in the school catering sector. Participants will have the opportunity to explore the challenges, innovative solutions, and policies adopted at the European and international levels to ensure that school catering contracts are not only effective but also environmentally responsible, socially inclusive, and economically advantageous.

During the event, participants will be divided into discussion groups to explore specific topics related to sustainable procurement, such as the use of local and organic products, food waste reduction, the inclusion of social criteria in contracts, and the adoption of innovative business models that promote the circular economy. Each group will work on real case studies, discussing best practices and developing concrete recommendations to improve public procurement policies in the school catering sector.

The meeting will be held in Italian and English, with simultaneous translation to facilitate the participation of international experts and stakeholders. At the end of the event, the results from the various discussion sessions will be shared, with the aim of positively influencing future policies on sustainable public procurement for school catering services.