With the aim of strengthening public school food policies and boosting local agroecological production, the Comida do Amanhã Institute is launching the Agroecological PNAE on March 13, at 3:30 p.m., in the Plenary Chamber of the São José dos Pinhais City Council. The initiative is led nationally by the Food of Tomorrow Institute, in partnership with the Zero Hunger Institute (IFZ) and the World Food Programme (WFP) Centre of Excellence against Hunger in Brazil and the Rockefeller Foundation, and, in São José dos Pinhais (PR), in partnership with the Association for the Development of Agroecology (AOPA) and the Municipality of São José dos Pinhais.

The project has a total duration of four years and has been running in the municipality since 2025, now entering its second phase, with three more years of activities planned. The initiative seeks to strengthen the implementation of the National School Feeding Program (PNAE) by expanding public procurement of food from agroecological family farms and providing continuous and specialized technical assistance and rural extension services during the project period, which is currently the greatest demand from family farmers across the country.

In partnership with the São José dos Pinhais City Hall, the launch event is expected to bring together municipal managers, farmers, unions, associations, and cooperatives, representatives from the Paraná Rural Development Institute (IDR-PR), members of the School Food Council (CAE) and the Municipal Council for Food and Nutritional Security (COMSEA), school principals, cafeteria workers, and other professionals involved with food in educational institutions, as well as guests from other municipalities and the State Government.

The program will begin with a formal ceremony coordinated by the mayor of São José dos Pinhais, Nina Singer, when the addendum formalizing the initiative’s continuation for the next three years will be signed. The agenda also includes a reception and speeches by the authorities present, highlighting the relevance of the action. This will be followed by a panel discussion with the participation of chef Manu Buffara, who will share her experience in promoting and encouraging healthy food systems.

“This pioneering initiative meets the main demand of family farmers: specialized technical assistance, creating a safe, responsible, methodological, gradual, and guiding path towards more sustainable and safer food production and consumption systems,” comments Luiz Damaso Gusi, consultant at Comida do Amanhã.

About Instituto Comida do Amanhã

Instituto Comida do Amanhã is a think tank that works to promote the transition to healthy food systems for people and the planet, starting in cities. Learn more at www.comidadoamanha.org.