Policy Lab for Public Meals: Feasibility Study of Three Policy Prototypes on How School Meals Foster Lifelong Learning on Sustainable Food and Health

Purpose and goal

To establish a policy lab for public meals, which in this first project conducts a feasibility study that explores how school meals can become an integrated part of education. The goal is to develop three concrete policy proposals and identify the most promising for future testing in a real school environment, as a step towards long-term system change. The policy lab is established as a long-term platform for policy change and cross-sector collaboration.

Expected effects and result

The project will result in three visualized and knowledge-based policy prototypes, as well as a systematically mapped understanding of the structures required for school meals to contribute to learning and equitable health. This will be packaged in the form of future scenarios and a communicative report. The participation of researchers ensures that the results maintain scientific quality and can form the basis for practical tests that provide a robust basis for policy changes.

Planned approach and implementation

The project is run in collaboration between researchers, practitioners and authorities. Through interviews, workshop series and strategic analysis, three policy prototypes for the educational role of school meals are developed. These are presented as stories from the future and disseminated in an engaging format to inspire dialogue, increase understanding of the potential impact of proposed policy changes and build momentum for coming steps in the development and implementation of updated policy