Minister of Regional Development and Agriculture Piret Hartman believes that at least half of the food in kindergartens and schools should consist of organic products. :format(webp)/nginx/o/2024/08/14/16290214t1h91f0.jpg)
Piret Hartman. Photo: Matti Kämärä / Põhjarannik
Minister of Regional Development and Agriculture Piret Hartman believes that at least half of the food in kindergartens and schools should consist of organic products.
Currently, in 24 schools and kindergartens, organic products make up more than half of the food, but the amount they receive per student per calendar month is the same as in institutions where organic products make up at least one fifth of the food. To change the situation, the Minister of Regional Development and Agriculture signed a decree according to which, from the last quarter of this year, different subsidy rates will be in effect for those offering organic products – 20 and 50 percent.
"Currently, educational institutions that offer organic products in larger quantities are forced to pay extra from their own funds, since organic raw materials are often more expensive. Our goal is to ensure that as many organic products as possible are offered, and in order to encourage this, we have created a new, higher subsidy rate," Hartman said.
Educational institutions where organic products make up at least 20 percent of the food will continue to receive 4.90 euros per child in a preschool and 2.20 euros per student in a comprehensive school per month. For institutions where organic products make up at least 50 percent, the subsidy rate will be 6.90 euros per child in a preschool and 3.70 euros per child in a comprehensive school per month.
In Estonia, the use of organic food has been encouraged since 2022. During this time, its use has quadrupled. Before the subsidy was created, 45 institutions offered organic food, and now there are more than 180.
