The Lilongwe Declaration on Agroecology-Based School and College Meals
For years, school feeding programs across Africa have too often relied on imported, ultra-processed, low-nutrient foods filling plates but falling short on the ability to nourish children or strengthen local food systems. The Lilongwe AFSA Declaration on School Meals confronts this reality head-on. It calls for a decisive shift toward fresh, diverse, agroecologically produced foods sourced from local farmers, rooted in culture, and aligned with territorial markets.
What makes this moment especially powerful is that this is not just an aspiration; it is an agreement between three countries in the movement to move beyond short-term feeding models toward long-term food sovereignty, farmer livelihoods, biodiversity restoration, and child health.
In a time when food systems are under strain, this declaration stands out as one of the most hopeful developments in the Agroecology movement, a practical and inspiring step toward regenerative school meals that nourish both children and the earth from where it is grown.
What makes this moment especially powerful is that this is not just an aspiration; it is an agreement between three countries in the movement to move beyond short-term feeding models toward long-term food sovereignty, farmer livelihoods, biodiversity restoration, and child health.
In a time when food systems are under strain, this declaration stands out as one of the most hopeful developments in the Agroecology movement, a practical and inspiring step toward regenerative school meals that nourish both children and the earth from where it is grown.