Green and healthy public catering solution for municipal schools and kindergartens in rural areas

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Estonia-Latvia

Date of latest update: 2025-12-10

Description

Description (EN):

According to the statistics of WHO ca one fourth of school children at age group 7-9 years in Estonia and Latvia are overweight and ca 20% of teenagers at age 11-15 consider themselves as overweight person. There is a big risk that health problems related to overweight will only get worse with age. Only ca 40% of children eat daily fresh fruits and ca 20% fresh vegetables. Partners have decided that in order to achieve substantial changes in diatery habits of school children and to increase the attractiveness of school dining, the comprehensive long-term strategy should be composed taking into account the expectations and needs of children, motivation and capacity of chefs, food producers, catering companies, school management, municipality specialists etc. The objective of the project is improved public catering service in schools/kindergartens with specific focus on wider usage of organic products, healthier choices and more active involvement of students. It will be achieved through development of common strategy and action plan by Setomaa, Rõuge, Smiltene and Tukums rural municipalities targeted to wider usage of organic products and for improving the general quality level of school dining by introducing "school restaurant" concept. Through cross-border cooperation the municipalities participating in current project can develop the common strategy and practical solution for making substantial qualitative changes in school/kindergarten dining using the best existing experiences and practices from both countries. For each region the quantitative target will be set in common strategy, like achieving minimum 20% level or 20-50% level in the share of organic products in school/kindergarten meals. For piloting the common strategy, the activities for involving different target groups are planned, like cooking competitions for creating healthy menus at schools, farm tours for smaller children, exchange of experience visits, trainings for chefs etc.

Actual Achievements (EN):

During 1.reporting period the project team was composed and project management system in partner level was created. Our organisation arranged the public procurement for project coordination service, the contract with Gravitas Consult was signed in 01.10.23. The Lead partner organized Working Group meeting in 26.-27.10.23 in Setomaa, Estonia, and PP3 organized WG meeting in 09.01.2024 in Ape, Latvia. During these meetings the detailed work plan for 2023 and first half of 2024 and division of tasks between project partners/team members was agreed. The information about the project has been disseminated using different communication channels of partners (website, social media, organization’s own publications etc). Partners prepared jointly the conditions and description of tasks for strategic planning expert procurement. LP1 and PP2 organized joint procurement of Estonian strategic planning expert service. The procurement was arranged in December 2023, the trilateral contract was signed by Setomaa Union NGO, Rõuge Municipality Government and Research Centre of Organic Farming of the Estonian University of Life Sciences in 16.01.2024. In Latvia PP3 and PP4 prepared the procurement documents, which will be arranged in February 2024- as according to the partner level procurement limits it is required to arrange the procurement in national public procurement platform. Partners have agreed the methodology how to collect necessary information from school children and parents of kindergarten children about the quality of meals and general arrangement of catering. The online questionnaires will be used in February 2024. Partners have prepared also draft version of detailed questionnaire for gathering necessary information from pilot schools and kindergartens about the current system and practical arrangements in organizing catering, buying products etc. The online-questionnaires will be sent to schools and kindergartens in February 2024. The methodology was prepared in cooperation with Estonian expert. Partners have searched all kinds of different sources where is possible to get information about available organic products in the region (ca 75-100 km distance from each municipality). These are national databases, associations of organic producers etc. The info gathering starts in February 2024 in cooperation with experts from both countries. Partners started to gather the data from pilot schools and kindergartens about the monthly amounts of different product groups in 2022 and 2023, incl. the amounts of used organic products. Then it is possible to make later desicions in strategic planning process, to which product groups should be the first priority when looking for organic products from the market. Partners arranged the 2-days study visit as capacity building event of school managers and municipal specialists to South-Estonia in 25.-26.01.2024. The group learned best examples from Rõuge municipality, Setomaa municipality, Võru municipality and Tartu city in using organic products (min 20%) in meals. Group visited Värska Gymnasium, Rõuge Kindergarten, Rõuge school, Mikitamäe school, Parksepa kindergarten, Tartu kindergarten “Kannike” and Tartu Veeriku School. In each place the experience in organizing different kind of actions and events related to the organic food for chefs, children etc was introduced. During the visit the workshop about the problems and solutions related to the enlargement of the usage of organic food in school/kindergarten meals were discussed together. In total there were 8 Estonian and 12 Latvian participants in the group during 2 days, plus 5 representatives of Võrumaa development centre, Võru City Government and Võru Municipality Government, who hosted the group. Partners decided that it is necessary to organise 1-day similar study tour for Smiltene and Tukums pilot schools chefs to Võru county schools and kindergartens- to demonstrate real results of ca 4-years process of acheving min 20% share of organic products in meals. Partners gathered information from different target groups for the joint strategy. 798 school children and 209 parents of kindergartens replied to the online-questionnaires. Information about the arrangement of the catering was gathered from pilot schools/kindergartens : Värska Gymnasium, Värska kindergarten, Meremäe school/kindergarten, Mikitamäe school/kindergarten (Setomaa region), Rõuge school/kindergarden, Varstu school/kindergarden, Haanja school/kindergarden, Mõniste school/kindergarden (Rõuge region), Palsmane Primary school, Grundzāle Primary school (including PII group), Ape Primary school and PII “Vāverīte” (Smiltene region), Kandava Regional primary school, Zante primary school and Smārde primary school (Tukums region). Information from 50 local producers from Võru county, 18 from Smiltene region and 18 from Tukums region was gathered and analysed about their production volumes and readiness to cooperate with our municipalities. This very valuable information is used now for composing the joint stragegy, which will be finalized during next reporting period in cooperation with external experts from Organic centre of Estonian University of Life Sciences and from SIA OnPlate. Also the exchange of experience and capacity building events have started successfully. The school chefs from Tukums and Smiltene pilot schools/kindergardens visited Võru county and learned the current experience in using at least 20% of organic products in meals. First training for chefs was successfully organized for Setomaa and Rõuge pilot schools/kindergardens chefs about using different organic ingredients (local cereals and legumes) in school meals. The chefs were pleasantly suprised by the selection of the dishes. During 3.reporting period the project team continued successful cooperation in project implementation.Partners arranged project Working Group meetings in 20.06.24 in Lüübnitsa, Estonia and in 13.09.2024 in Smiltene region, Latvia. Joint expert group meeting was arranged in 19.06.2024 in Lüübnitsa, Estonia. The information about the project has been disseminated using different communication channels. Partners finalized in cooperation with external experts common strategy document. Project team members gave input and recommendations to the text, including to the activity plan. First steps for implementation of the strategy in local level have been agreed with pilot schools in all regions. Partners arranged a study visit of chefs to Sweden in 20.-21.of August 2024, plus travelling days. 21 school chefs and 4 team members visited schools and kindergartens in Nacka, Ekerö and Värmdö municipalities and learned new practices in organizing healthy and organic catering for children. Some new ideas are already implemented in pilot schools. 18 farmers from 4 regions, 2 representatives of Võrumaa Development Center and project team members participated in joint study visit to Vidzeme area in Latvia in 19.-20.September 2024. They learned good experiences of local farmers in producing and selling local/organic farm products. During 4.reporting period the project team continued successful cooperation in project implementation. Project Working Group meeting was held in 07.-08.01.2025 in Rõuge region, Estonia. The information about the project has been disseminated using different communication channels. Project partners are actively coordinating the implementation of the strategy in local level in pilot schools and kindergartens and provide necessary support to them. For example following steps have been made: water is offered in more visible place in canteens, salad components are served separately, more diverse selection of salad ingredients, healthy diet info is presented in canteen's wall, less sugar used in meals, less syrups and other sweet drinks are offered, sample portion visible, also smaller children take the food themselves and choose what they wish, more organic juices are offered, menus are changed more often, more fruits are offered, vegetables and meat is cooked with hot air in oven, annual procurement is enriched with a vegetable basket, organic products section has been made in the food procurement, organizing thematic weeks at schools, integrating organic production topic to the school lessons, children clean their plates themselves for better understanding of food waste issues, more berries and fruites used in desserts etc. Estonian partners organized a training to school and kindergarten chefs about using local fish in more innovative way in school meals. Cooking competitions were arranged in all regions: 1) In Setomaa region in 22.01.2025 involving 4 teams, 2) in Rõuge region with 4 teams in 15.01.2025, 3) in Smiltene region school finals in all 3 pilot schools for different age groups, 4) in Tukums region school finals in all 3 pilot schools for different age groups Partrners organized excursions to smaller children to the farms in order to explain the source of the organic food (to Angelica organic vegetable farm in Setomaa region, to Nopri dairy farm in Rõuge region, to 7 organic/rural farms in Smiltene region, to 2 organic/rural farms in Tukums region). During 5.reporting period the project team continued successful cooperation in project implementation. Partners organized Working Group meeting in 29.-30.04.2025 in Tukums region, Latvia and online-meetings. The information about the project has been disseminated using different communication channels. Partners coordinated implementation of the strategy in 4 municipalities and provided necessary support to pilot schools/kindergartens. There were many events organized for children and school chefs- trainings for school chefs, cooking competitions, excursions for smaller children to farms, exchange visit of chefs to Latvia. Partners organized together the exchange visit of farmers to South-Estonia. Partners were very active in communicating project activities and progress in social media, municipal media and other media publications.

Project outputs: A common innovative strategy for providing healthy food choices to the children using new "school restaurant" concept.(EN)
The common solution designed for healthy and green public catering in schools and kindergartens, the common strategy updated based on the experience gained from piloting(EN)
Pilot actions in 4 regions as a start of the implementation of healthy and green school dining solution(EN)

Thematic information

Health and social services

Priority: (VI-A_EE-Lv_1) More cooperating cross-border regions and development of joint services

Priority specific objective: ISO6.2. Enhance efficient public administration by promoting legal and administrative cooperation and cooperation between citizens, civil society actors and institutions, in particular with a view to resolving legal and other obstacles in border regions (strands A, C, D and, where appropriate, strand B)

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO6 (ISO1) A better cooperation governance

Type of intervention: 173 Enhancing institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders to implement territorial cooperation projects and initiatives in a cross-border, transnational, maritime and inter-regional context

Partners (4)

Lead Partner: MTÜ Setomaa Liit

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 80006577

Address: Kesktänav, 65301 Obinitsa, Setomaa municipality, Võru county, Estonia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://setomaa.ee

Total budget: EUR 129 225.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 103 380.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 25 845.00

Contractors:

Name: Gravitas Consult OÜ
VAT registration or tax identification number: EE100995138

Tukuma novada pašvaldība

Name: Tukuma novada pašvaldība

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 984190034

Partner’s ID if not PIC: LV90000050975

Address: Talsu iela, LV-3101 Tukums, Latvia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://tukums.lv

Total budget: EUR 76 230.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 60 984.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 15 246.00

Contractors:

Name: SIA "OnPlate"
VAT registration or tax identification number: 40103824945

Smiltenes novada pašvaldība

Name: Smiltenes novada pašvaldība

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 917800421

Partner’s ID if not PIC: LV90009067337

Address: Darza iela, LV-4729 Smiltene, Latvia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://smiltenesnovads.lv

Total budget: EUR 81 195.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 64 956.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 16 239.00

Contractors:

Name: ZS Šiveriņi
VAT registration or tax identification number: 54101025241
Name: SIA “OnPlate”
VAT registration or tax identification number: 40103824945

Rõuge vallavalitsus

Name: Rõuge vallavalitsus

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 936003538

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 77000217

Address: Ööbikuoru, 66201 Rõuge, Estonia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://rougeevald.ee

Total budget: EUR 87 400.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 69 920.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 17 480.00

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Tukums Municipality

Green and healthy public catering solution for municipal schools and kindergartens in rural areas

Partners and Projects info

Smiltene municipality

Green and healthy public catering solution for municipal schools and kindergartens in rural areas

Partners and Projects info

Rõuge Municipality

Green and healthy public catering solution for municipal schools and kindergartens in rural areas

Partners and Projects info

NGO Setomaa Union

Green and healthy public catering solution for municipal schools and kindergartens in rural areas

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Green and healthy public catering solution for municipal schools and kindergartens in rural areas

Project acronym: Green School Dining

Project ID: EE-LV00066

Project start date: 2023-10-01

Project end date: 2025-09-30

Project status: closed

Relevant linked projects:

Estonia-Latvia CBC project "COOP Local", 2017-2019 (EN) | This project was targeted to the creation of real cross-border business partnerships between entrepreneurs acting in local food sector and in non-traditional agriculture/horticulture sectors. The network of rural SME's from Setomaa, Smiltene and Võru regions established by this project will be used also in current project. (EN), "Organic deal" initiative/agreement in Võru county, 2020 (EN) | The agreement helps to achieve the goals set by the Võru County Development Strategy 2035+:
- we value health-supporting choices and reduce health-related inequalities;
- we support small production to contribute to clean nature, clean food and organic production;
- we offer lifelong education that takes into account the specificities and uniqueness of the locality.
The main goal of the agreement is to increase the usage of organic products in educational institutions by at least 20% in school/kindergarten meals.
The first experience received during the implementation of this agreement in all schools and kindergartens since 2020 in Võru county provides a solid foundation for successful implementation of current project.
This initiative has gained positive feedback and attention of the Estonian Ministry of Rural Affairs. In 2022 a pilot project was launched by the ministry providing additional state support to schools and kindergartens using at least 20% organic products in the meals. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 374 050.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 299 240.00

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 299 240.00. Co-financing rate, 80.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyBalticSeaRegion Project contributes to the strategic goals of PA Bioeconomy, as "Sustainable consumption – changing consumer behaviour" is one of the 5 principles of sustainable bioeconomy, incl.
- encouraging green procurement in both the public and private sectors
- commiting to education and awareness of sustainable practices from kindergarten to university.
One of the actions under PA Bioeconomy is" Improving agricultural practices for sustainability and adaptation in a sustainable and resilient growing bio-economy". Project is aiming to the creation of additional demand by public sector for organic products, which definately has positive impact to the wider usage of more sustainable and environmental-friendly agricultural practices.
Other Project is directly supporting the achievement of following strategic objectives defined in Setomaa Development Programme 2015 - 2025:
- Significantly increased the usage of local natural resources (incl. agricultural land) for economic purposes (incl. local food production).
- Significantly increased income of the population through resource enhancement and non-traditional agriculture.
By increasing the demand for local organic food products by public sector, local farmers engaged in non-traditional agriculture/organic production can increase their production volumes and incomes. Through long-term contracts with local municipality it is possible to achieve higher stability and more sustainable economy at businesses.
Project is contributing to the Sustainable development strategy of Tukums region 2022-2042 (priority "The Green Deal and adaptation to climate change) and Development Programme of Tukums region 2022-2028 (Priority "Attractive living environment", action "Education about environmentally friendly lifestyle".
Project is contributing to the Development programme of Smiltene municipality 2022-2028, action "Healthcare and promotion", as project is promoting healthy lifestyle habits, incl. among children. Project contributes also to the action "Environment and natural resources", as project is promoting rural development and sustainable usage of agricultural land, under which the organic farming and green public procurements will be supported by project results and outputs.
Other Project is related to the EU strategy "Farm to Fork- for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system". One of the objectives of the strategy is "Stimulating sustinable food processing, wholesale, retail, hospitality and food services practices". Moreover, with a view to enhance resilience of regional and local food systems, the European Commission in order to create shorter supply chains will support reducing dependence on long-haul transportation.
This is exactly what project is aiming by increasing demand for organic food products in rural areas.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:

Delivered output indicator(s):

(RCO83) Strategies and action plans jointly developed: 1.0

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSBSR

EUSBSR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSBSR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Estonia-Latvia

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-08-15

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

53 / 53 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

240 / 240 (100%)

Notes on the data

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Green and healthy public catering solution for municipal schools and kindergartens in rural areas

Description

Thematic information

Partners (4)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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