AGROBIODIVERSITY, SCHOOL GARDENS AND HEALTHY DIETS This book critically assesses the role of agrobiodiversity in school gardens and its contribution to diversifying diets, promoting healthy eating habits and improv- ing nutrition among schoolchildren as well as other benefits relating to climate change adaptation, ecoliteracy and greening school spaces. Many schoolchildren suffer from various forms of malnutrition and it is important to address their nutritional status given the effects it has on their health, cognition, and subsequently their educational achievement.
Schools are recognized as excellent platforms for promoting lifelong healthy eating and im- proving long-term, sustainable nutrition security required for optimum educa- tional outcomes. This book reveals the multiple benefits of school gardens for improving nutrition and education for children and their families. It examines issues such as school feeding, community food production, school gardening, nutritional education and the promotion of agrobiodiversity, and draws on inter- national case studies, from both developed and developing nations, to provide a comprehensive global assessment.
This book will be essential reading for those interested in promoting agrobi- odiversity, sustainable nutrition and healthy eating habits in schools and public institutions more generally. It identifies recurring and emerging issues, es tablishes best practices, identifies key criteria for success and advises on strategies for scaling up and scaling out elements to improve the uptake of school gardens. Danny Hunter is a senior scientist at Bioversity International. Emilita Monville-Oro is Country Director for the Philippines at the Interna- tional Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR).