Bio-Schulverpflegung in Italien, Finnland, Dänemark und Norwegen – Was kann Deutschland lernen?

Summary

The policies and practice of school meal provision in Germany are currently in a dynamic
transition led on by the introduction of a fulltime school system. One of the
many issues being highlighted is its potential to increase the use of organic produce.
The research project “innovative Public Organic food Procurement for Youth” (iPOPY;
www.ipopy.coreportal.org) analyses the entire system. Results of the first comparison
between Italy, Finland, Denmark, and Norway are presented here, as a background to
discuss the German situation. Using a common guideline developed in iPOPY the
types of school meal provision can be categorised as (a) warm lunch (IT, FI) or (b) fruit
and milk subscription schemes to supplement a packed lunch (DK, NO). Italy emerges
as the pioneer of organic school meal provision. Certification of organic catering is
mandatory in Germany whereas the other countries have slightly diverging or no
apparent regulation. Notwithstanding the wide array of influencing factors, some decisive
elements fostering organic school food can be identified such as (a) active local
stakeholders and (b) quality requirements.