A hands-on workshop entitled ‘From Awareness to Change: Bringing Food, Health, Education and Biodiversity Together for a Sustainable Future’ was held in the Green Zone of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17).
The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and the School Meals and Child Welfare Agency.
The workshop aimed to encourage schoolchildren to make healthy food choices, practise responsible consumption and recognize the importance of biodiversity conservation.
The event featured two thematic sessions: ‘Smart Shopping’ and ‘Wholegrain Bread’. As part of a practical exercise, students from Yeghegnadzor Secondary School No. 1 prepared a family shopping list, applying knowledge gained through their ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ course. They highlighted the importance of choosing locally produced goods, checking food labels and expiry dates, and considering the environmental impact of consumer choices.
Armen Mkrtchyan, a food hygienist at the School Meals and Child Welfare Agency, presented the nutritional value of wholegrain products, emphasizing their role in a healthy diet and their connection to biodiversity conservation. He also discussed the diversity of cereal crops grown in Armenia and the importance of choosing locally produced food.
Vahan Arakelyan, WFP Field Missions Coordinator presented a WFP-supported initiative to produce wholegrain bread and supply it to schools. Launched in Tavush Region, the initiative has established a mill producing wholegrain flour, set up training centres in Tavush and Gegharkunik regions, and provided support to 23 bakeries. The program is expected to expand to Vayots Dzor and Syunik regions as well.
The workshop was summed up by Leila Melly, Director of the WFP Country Office in Armenia, who underscored the importance of actively engaging schoolchildren in initiatives promoting healthy eating, sustainable agriculture and environmental preservation. She also announced that schools in Yerevan have now been included in the School Meals Program on a pilot basis.
The event concluded with a tasting of wholegrain bread and baked goods.