Around 50 farms have volunteered to host 120 student classes to show them the milk production process as part of the educational 'Milk Week' ('Semaine du Lait') programme taking place from 10 to 16 December 2015.
Milk Week has been organised by the Rural Economy Service of the Ministry of Agriculture, Viticulture and Consumer Protection, alongside young farmers' organisations 'Jongbaueren & Jongwënzer' and 'Service Jeunesse - Letzebuerge Bauerejugend' and the Association pour la promotion des fermes d'accueil et pédagogiques au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg (AFAPL).
Around 50 farms have volunteered to contribute to the programme by opening their doors to primary school students and providing them with firsthand insight and education into milk production and related farming activities.
The journey of milk from first producer to final consumer is long and complex, and children are not always aware of where the milk has come from that they drink every day. It is for this reason that Milk Week, in addition to the discounted ditribution of the dairy product to schools as part of the 'Milk at School' project, aims to show children the origin of this product, among others, and provide them with an insight into the key role agriculture plays in the provision of healthy, quality, regional and sustainably-produced food.
The 'Milk at School' programme has existed since 1977 as a way of encouraging the distribution of milk in educational establishments and is managed by the Rural Economy Service in Luxembourg. It also aims to address the problem of declining milk consumption and increases in obesity. Students regularly attending a scholastic establishment can receive the milk for free or at a reduced price, with the difference compared to the market price taken on by the European Union and public authorities such as the State and municipalities. The maximum amount of milk and dairy products for which aid may be granted is 0.25 litres per pupil per school day.
Photo by Luxembourg Government
