Through insights from governments, Indigenous leaders and development partners, the discussion highlighted practical actions to strengthen Indigenous knowledge systems, advance food sovereignty, and scale community-driven solutions that support children, communities and sustainable food systems worldwide. The event also featured the launch of the HLPE-FSN report, Preserving, Strengthening and Promoting Indigenous Peoples’ Food and Knowledge Systems and Traditional Practices for Sustainable Food Systems.
School Meals Coalition at 54th session of Committee on World Food Security (CFS 54)
19–23 Oct 2026
Overview
On 22 October, stakeholders gathered at FAO-Headquarters for “The Power of Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems: Lessons from the Field and a Call to Action.” Co-organized by IFAD and the Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems Coalition, in partnership with the School Meals Coalition and other partners, the side event explored the vital role of Indigenous Peoples’ food systems in advancing biodiversity, climate resilience, nutrition, and culturally relevant school meal programmes.
Featured quotes
Brazil
#Brazil🇧🇷: H.E. Saulo A. Ceolin, Program Director, Food Security & Nutrition at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
— School Meals Coalition (@SchoolMeals_) October 22, 2026
🎙️"Indigenous food systems are much more than ways of producing food. They express deep connections between people, territory, biodiversity & knowledge. For decades,… pic.twitter.com/bARH78vV2h
Mexico
#Mexico🇲🇽: H.E. Laura Elena Carrillo Cubillas, The Permanent Mission of Mexico to the UN Agencies in Rome:
— School Meals Coalition (@SchoolMeals_) October 22, 2026
🎙️#SchoolMeals are a top priority for #Mexico. This is why we joined the School Meals Coalition and hosted the 10th Regional Forum on School Meals in Latin America and the… pic.twitter.com/JQvvV49HhJ
Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
🌱@BiovIntCIAT_eng: Chiara Villani, Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement Manager
— School Meals Coalition (@SchoolMeals_) October 22, 2026
"#SchoolMeals have always been the touchpoint between the School Meals Coalition and the Indigenous Peoples' Coalition.
Through our research, including in Brazil, we've seen how nutritious,… pic.twitter.com/JRIfy6oLCH
The Indigenous Partnership for Agrobiodiversity and Food Sovereignty (TIP)
🌱Brijlal Chaudhary, The Indigenous Partnership for Agrobiodiversity and Food Sovereignty (TIP):
— School Meals Coalition (@SchoolMeals_) October 22, 2026
"We brought together various elders, local chiefs, and professional nutritionists in Meghalaya, Northeast India.
They mapped the wild edibles gathered from the surrounding… pic.twitter.com/rPo4aJru4Y
