SAGE-BE: School Meal Programs as Catalysts for AGroEcological Development in Bolivia and Ecuador. A Participatory Action Research project

Duration

2024-2029

Lead institutions

Universiteit Gent

Universidad Católica Boliviana “San Pablo”

Academic partners

Joost Dessein

Helga Gruberg

Project status

Ongoing

Programme

TEAM

Total budget

298,753.40

Summary

Malnutrition and undernutrition, and the impact of unsustainable agriculture, constitute intertwined challenges for food systems all over the world, including Bolivia and Ecuador. School meal programs are considered as pivotal points to address both challenges, by improving nutritional quality of the meals while engaging agroecological farmers.
SAGE-BE promotes food sovereignty (FS) by focusing on school meal programs as catalysts for agroecology (AE). Academically, we explore how AE enhances the governance of food systems, examining schools as contexts of transformation. Institutionally, we strengthen Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) as mediators for multistakeholder processes; and enhance their AE curriculum. Regarding development, we co-create governance plans that allow schools to be catalysts for FS. SAGE-BE involves UCB, Ikiam, and UGent, with diverse stakeholders. SAGE-BE aligns with SDGs, enhancing the transition of the agro-food system in both countries.