Blog ASEAN workshop advances planet-friendly school meals for a sustainable future
Bangkok, Thailand – Experts and policymakers from across Southeast Asia convened on March 6 2025 to accelerate the transformation of food systems through planet-friendly school meals (PFSM). Under the ASEAN-CGIAR Innovate for Food and Nutrition Security Regional Program, the workshop explored strategies to integrate sustainability, biodiversity and climate resilience into school meal programs, reinforcing their role in shaping healthier futures for children while mitigating environmental impacts.
"School meals have the power to transform food systems from the ground up," emphasized Dr. Danny Hunter, Principal Scientist at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. "By making them planet-friendly, we can address food security and climate change in one of the most impactful ways possible: by nourishing children with sustainable, local, and biodiverse foods."
The ASEAN region is facing severe climate challenges, food insecurity and public health crises. Growing mental health concerns among schoolchildren have also become more prevalent in recent years, particularly in the Philippines, where climate anxiety is already affecting academic performance.
With 1 billion children living in the region’s high-risk areas, the one-day event underscored the urgency of scaling PFSM initiatives. Participants from Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam examined opportunities to align sustainable procurement policies, strengthen local food chains and promote biodiversity-friendly diets.
Key discussions centered on waste reduction, clean energy use and strengthening farmer-school partnerships to ensure nutritious, locally sourced meals for students. Experts and policymakers identified the following key next steps: develop regional procurement guidelines, invest in climate-smart school meal programs, and mobilize additional funding streams.
The upcoming School Meals Coalition Global Ministerial Summit and the UNFCCC COP 30 both to be held in Brazil in September and November, respectively, will serve as critical platforms to advance ASEAN’s commitment to sustainable and resilient food systems for future generations.
The Team
Danny Hunter
Principal Scientist, Convener for the Pacific
Teresa Borelli
Scientist IFurther Reading
