SEARCA and DepEd forge partnership to link farms and classrooms for healthier diets

BATANGAS, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Department of Education (DepEd) co-hosted a dialogue titled “From Farms to Classrooms: Nourishing Futures Together” at Tangway Integrated School in Lipa City, Batangas. The event convened educators, agricultural cooperatives, and local policymakers to explore the strategic integration of local agriculture into school nutrition programs.

Aligned with DepEd’s efforts toward universal school feeding, the dialogue emphasized the provision of safe, appropriate, and nutritious meals for all students. SEARCA’s initiatives demonstrated that farm-to-school connectivity can improve children’s long-term dietary habits by linking local farmers directly to educational institutions. This approach ensures diverse, balanced meals for students, secures stable markets for local agriculture, and educates children about sustainable food systems.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, SEARCA Center Director, underscored the essential link between child health and agricultural development. To operationalize this vision, the event introduced the “Healthy Plate” initiative, a visual educational tool designed to instill the principles of balanced nutrition in Kindergarten and Grade 1 learners.

Expanding on this initiative, Dr. Liezl Atienza, SEARCA Consultant and Director of the UPLB Institute of Human Nutrition and Food, presented the “Healthy Plate” framework. She analyzed the dietary requirements of early learners and outlined a roadmap for mapping local agricultural crops to schools’ weekly menus, highlighting the economic and logistical benefits of direct supply chains between farmers and schools.

The dialogue also showcased the evolution of the School-plus-Home Gardens Project (S+HGP). Ms. Anna Gale Vallez, SEARCA Program Specialist, shared the successful rollout in Laguna, the scaling across neighboring provinces, and the framework for broader institutionalization in other countries. Complementing this, Dr. Blesilda Calub, SEARCA-UPOU Course Coordinator, conducted a technical session on advanced soil and plant nutrition, focusing on biofertilizers, eco-friendly pest control, and postharvest handling protocols to maintain food safety.

Closing the event, DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara reaffirmed the Department’s commitment to universal school feeding. He emphasized the need for streamlined logistics to ensure consistent nutritional support across the region and pledged strong institutional backing for local agricultural sectors, championing a holistic, community-based approach that empowers farmers as direct suppliers to national feeding initiatives.