How can school gardens support better nutrition for urban children? The Food System Lab Cotonou promotes better diets for schoolchildren through urban agriculture, nutrition education and training. Discover their inspiring work in the video.
HealthyFoodAfrica is a research and innovation project aiming to build more sustainable, equitable and resilient food systems across ten African cities. In Benin, the project’s Food System Lab, led by the University of Abomey-Calavi, focuses on improving the diets of children and adolescents in public primary schools through urban agriculture.
Since 2020, the Food System Lab Cotonou has combined school gardening, nutrition education, and capacity building to support lasting dietary change among urban populations. The initiative targets not only students but also parents, teachers, cooks and food vendors, using participatory methods and tools tailored to the local context.
Two school gardens have been established, enabling children to grow fruits like papaya and watermelon as well as nutrient-rich leafy vegetables. These gardens are not only a source of fresh produce for school canteens but also platforms for learning about sustainable farming. To support these efforts, schools have received essential equipment such as water systems, agricultural tools, and seeds.
Nutrition education is delivered through interactive sessions, enhanced with posters, flyers and videos. Cooking demonstrations in schools teach mothers how to prepare healthy meals while preserving the nutritional value of ingredients grown in the gardens.
Beyond the school context, the project has also trained local cooperatives and market gardeners on improved production and leadership practices.
Watch this inspiring video to learn more about the results!