Food produced by indigenous peoples and traditional communities, when incorporated into schools, promotes food sovereignty and security for thousands of children and adolescents across the country, in addition to generating income for those living in these territories. With this objective, the... Catrapovos Brazil Dialogue TableA group comprised of representatives from public bodies and civil society, and coordinated by the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF), discussed the inclusion of these foods in school meals in Tocantins.
The meeting also discussed compliance with Law 11.947/09, which mandates that at least 30% of the resources from the National School Feeding Program (PNAE) be allocated to family farming. Held at the Caseara City Hall (TO) on October 18th, the meeting brought together representatives from civil society organizations and government agencies, and included the participation of the Institute for Society, Population and Nature (ISPN).
According to Silvana Bastos, coordinator of the Sociobiodiversity Program at ISPN, the meeting aimed to bring together organizations that engage with the topic to ensure that schools in the state have access to "more sociobiodiverse, adequate food that is closer to the food culture in traditional territories."
According to the ISPN coordinator, the meeting, under the motto "Come fight with us for dignified food in Tocantins schools!", is important for monitoring the implementation of the National School Feeding Program (PNAE) in the state and promoting inter-institutional coordination.
“The work gains greater power and capacity for political influence, for the rights of family farmers, indigenous people, and traditional communities, when done in networks. Finding solutions at the Catrapovos dialogue table is a good example of this and also delivers solutions such as real food for Brazilian children, in addition to activating the local socio-bioeconomy,” explains Silvana.
The Catrapovos Brasil Dialogue Table is an initiative of the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) that seeks to guarantee food security and food sovereignty for students and respect for cultural diversity in schools in the states where it is present, by including foods from indigenous territories, quilombola communities, and traditional communities in school meals.
Food security refers to the condition of people having permanent access to safe, nutritious food of sufficient quality to meet their nutritional needs. Food sovereignty, on the other hand, is when communities, especially rural communities, have the ability to produce their own food, not depending on the market to guarantee their livelihood.
Fruits of the Cerrado in schools
Responding to a demand from the local community of extractivists, the Municipal Chamber of Caseara (TO) approved a municipal law on April 26 of this year, establishing the inclusion of Cerrado fruits in the school meals of the municipal public education network. The law was authored by councilwoman Maria Angela Gomes (Solidariedade), a member of the Association of Agro-extractive Women of the Cantão APA (AMA Cantão).
Maria Clara Bernardes, indigenous rights activist from National Indigenous Peoples Foundation (Funai), a member of the Araguaia Tocantins Regional Coordination, highlighted that "collaboration between public agencies and civil society is essential for the implementation of important public policies" such as the National School Feeding Program (PNAE) and the Food Acquisition Program (PAA).
For Luz Arinda Malves, a lawyer and member of the Voices of Tocantins Coalition, the meeting enabled a meaningful dialogue with residents from various cities, which was "essential for formalizing solutions."
Luz further added that the decision made at the meeting was that specific Public Calls for Indigenous people should be disseminated via video, in the languages of the communities, and that they should have wide circulation.
The meeting was organized by the Voices of Tocantins for Climate Justice Coalition, the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office, and Funai (National Indian Foundation).
Related content:
Meeting brings together indigenous people, quilombola communities, and other traditional peoples and communities to propose improvements for access to the National School Feeding Program (PNAE).
Letter to the Government and Congress proposes improvements in access to the National School Feeding Program (PNAE) for indigenous people, quilombola communities, and traditional communities.
Text by Camila Araujo, ISPN Communications Advisor, with information from Kiw Assessoria.