The Healthy School Meal RJ Award was launched on May 20, 2015, during the Green Rio event at the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Gardens. On that occasion, the Mayors of Três Rios, Paraíba do Sul and Itaperuna signed the commitment to the project. Marlon Sarubi, Environment and Rural Development Secretary of Pinheiral, also signed the Declaration of Commitment, representing the Mayor of Pinheiral.
Luiz Carlos Barbosa gave a presentation on the Healthy School Meal RJ Project, placing the theme of healthy school food in the context of the global scenario, and showing the indicators that will be considered for the Healthy School Meal RJ Award. Increased consumption of fruit and vegetables, a reduction in the use of industrialized products, and especially the purchase of local food products will be the benchmarks used in evaluating the school meals involved in this initiative.
Luiz Carlos Barboza
In the panel coordinated by Luiz Carlos Barbosa, Carla Monnerat and Francine Fontainha, the Education Secretaries of Três Rios and Paraíba do Sul, respectively, presented the initiatives that are already taking place in these municipalities with regard to school meals, in full conformity with the Healthy School Meal RJ Project.
Another member of this panel was Antonio Tavares, Manager of SENAI’s Food and Drink Center. He was representing FIRJAN (the Rio de Janeiro Industry Federation), which will be a partner in the State of Rio de Janeiro’s Healthy School Meal Project, in which it will play an important role.
 Francine Fontainha e Carla Monnerat |
 Antonio Tavares |
Planeta Orgânico, the event’s organizer, invited the Danish researcher Bent Mikkelsen, of Aalborg University, to talk about the school food theme. Bent presented his research on local purchasing as a challenge to the global food chains.
In the evaluation of the State Agriculture Secretary, Christino Áureo, who attended the Green Rio event, the initiative is another way of stimulating municipal administrations to value their local agricultural production.
The Mayor of Três Rios, Vinicius Farah, pointed out that good-quality school meals ensure that students are better prepared for learning.
The Mayor of Itaperuna, Alfredão, stressed the presence of farmers at the event, which was attended by over 40 rural producers from the municipality. The Mayor of Paraíba do Sul, Marcinho Abreu, mentioned the quality of the Green Rio event, showing his interest in having a similar event focusing on the State’s Central-Southern region in the second semester. The town of Trajano de Moraes is also taking part in the project and undertook to sign the commitment to healthy school meals.
Itaipu’s General Coordinator, Nelton Friedrich, due to the fact that he was abroad during the Green Rio event, sent a message to the organizers, stating his support for the Rio de Janeiro Healthy School Meal Project. To check Nelton Friedrich’s message, please click on the link below.
 Evandro Peçanha |
 Ênio Queijada |
Further information at:
http://www.rioescolasaudavel.com.br/index-eng.html
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