On June 9, a roundtable discussion titled “Solutions for Reducing Food Waste in School Cafeterias” took place at Preiļi Primary School No. 1, bringing together representatives from Daugavpils University, Ludza Municipality, Preiļi Municipality, the Latgale Planning Region, the project’s pilot schools, and the Food and Veterinary Service.

The aim of the discussion was to jointly evaluate practical solutions that could help improve school catering services and reduce food waste. Participants discussed the introduction of buffet-style meal service, the testing of new recipes and menus, work organization in school kitchens, as well as the importance of student involvement and eating habits in creating a sustainable school food system.

During the meeting, participants reviewed the objectives of the SchoolFood WasteSolutions project, the activities implemented so far, and future plans. Particular attention was paid to the practical aspects of introducing buffet-style catering and the requirements that must be considered when implementing new food service solutions in schools.

The productivity of the discussion was enhanced by the active participation of all stakeholders, the sharing of experiences, and the highlighting of practical issues. Daugavpils University project expert, food technologist and nutrition specialist Dzintra Kokta enriched the discussion with her professional perspective on school catering, helping to clarify key issues for project partners and fostering a constructive dialogue with representatives of the Food and Veterinary Service regarding the practical application of regulatory requirements.

The discussion provided an opportunity for project partners and representatives of the pilot schools to receive clarification on outstanding questions, share their experiences to date, and discuss potential solutions for the implementation of future project activities. Such dialogue is essential to ensure that the approaches developed within the project are not only innovative but also safe, well-considered, and practical for everyday use in schools.

We would like to thank all discussion participants for their professional engagement, open dialogue, and valuable insights, as well as Preiļi Primary School No. 1 for its warm hospitality.

This project is co-financed by the European Union. The Interreg Central Baltic Programme 2021–2027 promotes cross-border cooperation to address shared challenges and build a more sustainable, innovative, and inclusive Central Baltic region.

Programme website: https://centralbaltic.eu/

Official EU website: www.europa.eu

Contact Information

This publication has been prepared with the financial support of the European Union. Daugavpils University is solely responsible for the content of this publication, which should not be regarded as reflecting the views of the European Union.