The new legislation that raises to 45% the minimum share of resources from the Brazilian National School Feeding Programme (PNAE) allocated to the direct purchase of food from family farming came into force this year. The change was established by Law No. 15,226/2025, increasing the previous threshold of 30%.
The measure represents a historic step forward in school feeding policy, reinforcing PNAE’s role as one of the largest food security initiatives in the world, responsible for serving around 40 million public basic education students every day. According to the Ministry of Education, the new percentage is expected to direct more than an additional R$ 2.4 billion per year to rural communities, cooperatives and solidarity enterprises, boosting local economies and strengthening sustainable food systems.
In addition to increasing the volume of resources allocated to family farming, the new law prioritises purchases from agrarian reform settlements, Indigenous communities, quilombola communities, and formal and informal groups of women farmers — reinforcing the inclusive and socially oriented nature of the policy. It also stipulates that food purchased by the PNAE must, at the time of delivery, have at least half of its shelf life remaining, except for products from family farming, which are usually delivered fresh due to their production and marketing dynamics.
For Daniel Balaban, Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) Centre of Excellence against Hunger, the new law benefits the entire Brazilian food system. “Including more and more family farming in the PNAE benefits not only the students, who will be able to eat more nutritious and healthier food, but also small farmers and the environment,” he stated.
The PNAE is also an international model, widely sought by other countries as inspiration for their own school feeding programmes, with its family farming procurement component being one of its key strengths. This was the case for the Republic of Congo and South Africa, which took part in events held in Brazil between 2024 and 2025, supported by the Centre of Excellence, to learn about Brazilian policies for family farming procurement within the context of school feeding.
By expanding the role of family farming, the PNAE reinforces its commitment to promoting healthy, diverse and culturally appropriate school meals, while also encouraging agroecological practices and sustainable development. The new legislation represents a decisive step towards strengthening local production chains and ensuring that school meals become increasingly nutritious, fresh and connected to local communities — benefiting both producers and students across the country.