School Nutrition Improvement Project Concludes with FAO Support

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A final seminar was held in Tashkent for the project “Supporting Food Security and Improving Healthy Nutrition through the Piloting of School Feeding Programs,” implemented by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Preschool and School Education, the Ministry of Health, and local government authorities.

The event focused on summarizing the project’s outcomes, sharing practical experience, discussing lessons learned during implementation, and exploring opportunities for the sustainable development of school nutrition initiatives.

Participants included representatives of ministries and agencies, local government bodies, partner organizations, experts, heads of pilot schools, parents, and students. They presented project results and discussed effective approaches applied throughout the initiative.

Nuridin Koshnazarov, Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture, emphasized that ensuring safe and adequate nutrition in schools is a key condition for children’s health and overall food security, highlighting the practical value of cooperation with the FAO.

The project improved methods for ensuring food security, developed educational and methodological materials, conducted pilot awareness-raising activities, and strengthened the institutional capacity of participants.

At the conclusion of the seminar, educational materials for students, teachers, and school canteen staff were presented, along with video and communication products developed within the project aimed at cultivating healthy eating habits among children and increasing awareness of food safety.