13. LA RISTORAZIONE SCOLASTICA COLLETTIVA NEI PICCOLI CENTRI: UN APPROCCIO PARTECIPATIVO NEL COMUNE DI PEGOGNAGA

The school catering is a context of discussion on important food issues as agricultural production and distribution, environmental and energy impacts of the supply chain, children education and, as a result, changes in household consumption. The Territorial Laboratory of Pegognaga, a small municipality in the Oltrepò Mantovano, has promoted a participatory approach by meetings and focus group with the stakeholders of the school catering food chain. The aim was to stimulate a discussion that would bring out the opportunities, the critical points and the expectations at the local level. The results highlighted the need to promote the sustainability of school catering, considering the economic competitiveness, the support for local production, the supply of a healthy and high quality food, the educational value of the school catering service etc. Therefore, some guidelines have been drawn suggesting actions aimed at enhancing local production and environmental sustainability.