 A cohort of primary school students received a unique learning experience as they embarked on an agricultural field trip to the Roso Valley area, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, in collaboration with the Agriculture Ministry. The excursion gave students a glimpse into the intricate workings of local farming systems and operations, allowing them to witness the various stages of farming as they engaged with local farmers to gain insight into the production of the foods served in their schools. Principal of the Ancillary Primary School, Flavian Isembert, emphasized the importance of such initiatives for the students, stating that it gave them an opportunity to learn about the origin of their food and develop an appreciation for local agriculture. He explains that students were also educated on viewing agriculture as a potential career field that not only boosts food and nutrition security, but also contributes to the overall development of the country. They were of the view that farmers have to, you know, clean the land. That is quite true, but with the use of machines, it can make it much faster. And at the end of it all, many of them said, okay, if I can use machines to prepare my land and to operate my farm, then it is less work. And the good thing about it is that they were motivated that after they would have left school, that this is something that they can go into. The field trip ties in with the current initiative being implemented by the FAO in six schools around the island, in which school garden demonstration plots are being developed to support the feeding program. National Project Coordinator for the FAO's School Feeding Program, Cherry Ann Smith, explained that the agricultural field trip is part of the organization's efforts to provide school children with nutritious meals that are locally produced. The FAO hopes that initiatives like this will encourage more students to take an interest in eating local foods. We're hoping that whatever the children plant, they will be able to eat. So their supplies will go directly to the school's kitchen and they in turn can, so they won't have to buy as much local produce because just last year, we updated the menus to include at least 80% of local produce. So school by school, we're trying to achieve that through our own gardens, our own kitchen gardens in the schools. By cultivating an appreciation for local agriculture and encouraging healthier eating habits among students, the agriculture ministry hopes to not only improve the well being of school children, but also contribute to the overall food security of the country. From the Communications Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, I am Anicia Antoine reporting.