Sylvie Avallone – Lecturer and researcher in food science and nutrition
March 2025
Sylvie Avallone is a specialist in child nutrition in the Global South. After a number of international assignments, she was asked to lead a community of practice in the international consortium for research into health and nutrition at school, as well as a French research network for school catering. These two networks are at the interface between school meal research and international public policy on the same theme. By comparing national school meal programmes and sharing knowledge within these research networks, scientists, particularly from INRAE, are seeking to improve the quality of children’s food in canteens around the world.
Discover our thematic dossier
Thematic dossier
INRAE for healthy and sustainable food in school canteens
In France, the challenges of school catering now go beyond simply providing a meal. In addition to the educational challenge of fostering healthy eating habits in future adults, there are public health, food safety and environmental issues to consider. The introduction of organic, quality and sustainable products in the canteen is now a priority. Nutritionists, sociologists, agronomists and economists from INRAE are helping to draw up, implement and evaluate public policies in this highly regulated sector.
