The Sustainable School Feeding Network (RAES) had three of its actions internationally awarded and recognized at the 2nd FAO Transforms Innovations Fair.

RAES is an effort by the Brazilian government to respond to the challenges of the UN Decade of Nutrition (2016-2025). It is jointly implemented as part of the Brazil-FAO International Cooperation Programme, through the Brazilian Cooperation Agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (ABC/MRE), the National Fund for Educational Development of the Ministry of Education (FNDE/MEC), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

In its second edition, the virtual FAO Transforms fair serves as a space to increase visibility and promote the management and production of knowledge and innovations in the region.

The awarded RAES experiences were:

• The virtual platform www.redraes.org, which is available in four languages as a tool for promoting, expanding, and disseminating knowledge, experiences, and best practices in school nutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean.

• The podcast series "Getting to Know the Sustainable School", which has been a successful methodology adopted in LAC since 2012 as an experience of sustainable school feeding. The podcast is an innovative, inclusive, and versatile way to provide access to information to more people at the same time.

• Teacher training sessions in food and nutritional education (FNE) in various countries in the region, with the support of national tutors, which reached more than 2,500 professionals in 10 countries in the LAC region.

The RAES experiences were chosen to open the virtual event held on September 13, 14, and 15. RAES was represented by Najla Veloso, coordinator of the regional school feeding project of the Brazil-FAO Cooperation, and Paola Barbieri, project analyst at ABC/MRE.

In their speeches, both commented that the award is highly significant and a source of pride for the participating countries in RAES and for the Government of Brazil, emphasizing that school nutrition initiatives are on the right track. They thanked the participating institutions - ABC, FNDE, and FAO - and reiterated their commitment to continue strengthening and innovating in solutions and methodologies, as well as organizing network dialogues among countries in favor of school feeding in our region.

"These three innovations have a very special value in increasing the dissemination of knowledge about school feeding for managers and technicians, and for exchanging all the experiences and practices that occur in the more than 21 countries we work with," said Najla Veloso. "This work allows us to build integrated action strategies and seek solutions, ensuring greater participation, joint construction, and results."

"Together, we have been involved in the Brazil-FAO International Cooperation for more than 15 years, and we are delighted that three actions created through this cooperation have been selected as innovative experiences," highlighted Paola Barbieri. "The RAES platform has already become a regional digital reference in school feeding, and the podcast series has included topics of great interest, such as family farming, FNE, and the human right to food in schools."