Workshop on the School Lunch Agriculture Project for the Year 2025
The Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Burapha University (Sa Kaeo Campus), together with the Suranaree University of Technology Farm and Cargill Meats (Thailand) Co., Ltd., organised a workshop to brainstorm ideas for the sustainable development (SDG) of the School Lunch Agriculture Project. The goal was to gather insights to enhance the project’s activities for maximum benefit and to establish sustainable implementation guidelines. The seminar was attended by school directors and teachers responsible for the project from 31 schools in Nakhon Ratchasima and Saraburi provinces, along with 85 executives and related personnel. The event took place at Centara Hotel, Korat, Nakhon Ratchasima.
The project focuses on hydroponic vegetable cultivation, egg-laying chicken farming, fish farming, mushroom cultivation, and soil-based crop planting. Over the course of five years, the project has successfully provided schoolchildren with access to school lunches from the project’s produce, benefiting 6,311 students. Additionally, the knowledge imparted to the students is a foundation for their future educational and career choices.
Objectives of the Project
1. To gather insights and develop the School Lunch Agriculture Project for 2025 to ensure maximum benefits and sustainability.
2. To create a learning process for students under the project, fostering a new generation of farmers to enhance food security and ensure children’s access to nutritious school lunches.
3. To inspire students to pursue careers in agriculture, instilling a love for farming and nurturing skilled future farmers, thereby contributing to the sustainability of the country’s agricultural sector.
The Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Burapha University (Sa Kaeo Campus), played a key role in providing agricultural knowledge, primarily focusing on Saraburi province. The university has been involved in the project for two years, benefiting 15 schools. Teachers and students in the project received knowledge and practical skills that could serve as a foundation for future studies and career choices. Additionally, the initiative ensured that students had access to high-quality, nutritious school lunches.
The School Lunch Agriculture Project is a collaborative effort among three organisations. Its continuous implementation over multiple years highlights the strength of the partnership between the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Burapha University (Sa Kaeo Campus), Suranaree University of Technology Farm, and Cargill Meats (Thailand) Co., Ltd. The project provides students with access to nutritious school lunches, promotes hands-on agricultural learning, encourages the development of a new generation of farmers, enhances food security, enables schools to become self-sufficient, and spreads agricultural knowledge to surrounding communities through students and school-based learning centres.
Project Leader: Assist. Prof. Dr. Supreena Srisaikham, Faculty of Agriculture Technology