Harnessing model school gardens as engaging educational platforms to improve food and nutrition security in school children

School gardens offer a powerful platform for shaping children's food choices and promoting healthy eating habits among aged children. In the context of Sri Lanka, where food and nutrition security are critical concerns, integrating agricultural interventions like school gardens into educational systems is essential. This study aimed to identify the challenges faced in implementing school gardening and to suggest improvements for a model garden that could enhance nutrition awareness and food security. Through a qualitative approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with ten agriculture teachers from schools across two neighboring districts in Sri Lanka, along with seven agriculture experts having experience in school gardening projects. The interviews were translated and transcribed and then the data was analyzed by using N-Vivo 14 software. The findings revealed challenges such as maintenance of gardens during school vacations, lack of funding, time constraints and negative attitudes of children. Experts suggested incorporating innovative methods such as vertical farming, drip and sprinkler systems, permaculture gardening, and hydroponics to increase student enthusiasm for gardening. They suggested that school gardens help students get more nutritious food and enable combining nutrition lessons with gardening activities. Furthermore, establishment of student-managed gardening clubs with shared responsibilities will ensure sustainability of school gardens, reduce the dependency on teachers, while improve the attitudes of students towards nutrition. The study concludes that there is a high potential to use school gardens as educational tool in promoting healthy eating habits and informed food choices among school-aged children.