As part of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport (MoESCS) and the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) jointly organized a discussion entitled “Education as a Driver of Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Food Systems” at the Meridian Exhibition Centre.
The event showcased Armenia’s school feeding experience as an effective model that promotes healthy nutrition for children, quality education, the development of local agriculture and biodiversity conservation.
The opening remarks were delivered by ESCS Minister Zhanna Andreasyan and Matthew Hollingworth, WFP Deputy Executive Director.
Zhanna Andreasyan thanked WFP for its effective cooperation with Armenia and emphasized the fundamental role of the education system in ensuring food security and protecting biodiversity. She noted that the initiatives presented by schoolchildren and university students in COP17’s Green Zone were a clear example of how knowledge and skills acquired through education can contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development.
The Minister highlighted the success of Armenia’s School Feeding Program, noting that the initiative, originally launched in partnership with international organizations, is now fully funded by the state. Today, more than 100,000 children in grades 1–4 across Armenia’s regions receive healthy meals financed by the state budget.
“The significance of the program extends beyond providing meals for children. It has gradually become an important component of the educational process, helping foster healthy lifestyles and a caring attitude towards the environment. The program’s content is incorporated into the compulsory “Healthy Lifestyle” course, where healthy eating is taught as a set of knowledge and skills,” the Minister emphasized.
Zhanna Andreasyan noted that the provision of school meals and the development of related infrastructure receive particular attention in all newly constructed schools.
In this context, she stressed the importance of establishing school gardens and greenhouses, which should become an integral part of everyday school life wherever possible.
The Minister noted that such environments enable children not only to acquire theoretical knowledge but also to take practical part in caring for gardens and greenhouses, developing a sense of responsibility towards nature and skills that support sustainable development. In this way, the School Feeding Program also contributes to community development and the promotion of sustainable development principles.
Zhanna Andreasyan also noted that event participants could use virtual reality technology to visit schools in Armenia and experience “From Biodiversity to the School Plate,” discovering the links between biodiversity conservation, education and healthy nutrition.
According to the Minister, Armenia attaches great importance to sharing the successful experience of its national School Feeding Program internationally and stands ready to support countries that are only beginning to establish and develop similar systems
“As a member of the School Meals Coalition, Armenia has both a commitment and a responsibility to promote these important principles and support its international partners,” the Minister said, thanking WFP and the Foundation for School Feeding and Child Well-being for their consistent efforts and the results achieved.
WFP Deputy Executive Director Matthew Hollingworth emphasized that Armenia is an international leader in school feeding and has achieved significant results in this field. He noted that the program implemented in Armenia not only ensures healthy nutrition for children but also helps improve the quality of education, develop local agriculture, create jobs and conserve biodiversity.
“Armenia is one of the world’s leading countries in this field. Our role is to support the Government of Armenia in ensuring that children learn about the importance of healthy eating from an early age, become familiar with local food systems and make informed choices. This is an Armenian program reaching 107,000 children, and it will bring about significant change in the country over the long term,” Matthew Hollingworth noted, highlighting the importance of sharing Armenia’s successful experience internationally.
The high-level discussion that followed brought together delegations from Armenia, Brazil, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan and Rwanda, which presented their respective national experiences and policy commitments.
The event featured two thematic sessions: “Political Leadership for Biodiversity, Food Security and Human Capital” and “School Feeding as a Platform for Systemic Change.”
Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Anna Babajanyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Armenia Robert Abisoghomonyan, Deputy Minister of Economy Arman Khojoyan, as well as deputy ministers and senior officials from partner countries attended the panel discussion.