Why School Gardens Matter

Governments are facing growing pressures across public health, food security, and youth unemployment. There is a need for policy measures that tackle these challenges together, supporting more resilient food systems and ensuring young people grow up well-nourished and equipped with skills for the future.

School gardens and farms can help connect these priorities. Well-designed programs can improve food literacy, increase academic engagement, teach practical agricultural skills, and support the sharing of sustainable and regenerative farming practices with surrounding communities.

When recognized as platforms within national food, education, agriculture, youth, and resilience strategies, purpose-led school gardens and farms have the potential to strengthen students’ nutrition, learning, and future livelihoods, while delivering wider benefits for local food systems.