With mobile phones increasingly integrated into everyday life and the advancement of connectivity opening new opportunities for public management, digital applications are becoming key allies in public policies, including school feeding.
In this content, RAES presents innovations already being implemented in Latin America and the Caribbean to strengthen school feeding programmes through the use of technology.
ePNAE – Brazil
This innovative tool allows students, teachers, nutritionists, school feeding council members, and the broader school community to monitor and evaluate food provision in Brazilian public schools.
The app, available for download from Apple (iOS) and Google (Android) stores, features an interactive map where users can select and mark their schools of interest. It also allows users to rate school meals, leave comments, and upload photos as supporting evidence.
This initiative was launched by Brazil’s National Fund for Educational Development (FNDE) to enhance transparency and citizen participation in the improvement of the National School Feeding Programme (PNAE).
Available in: Portuguese
Link: https://www.gov.br/fnde/pt-br/acesso-a-informacao/acoes-e-programas/programas/pnae/controle-social-cae/e-pnae
Fominha App – Brazil
This app was created by secondary school students from Dr. Sebastião Paraná State School in Paraná, Brazil. It’s a platform that enables students to evaluate and choose the school feeding menu. The tool is in a pilot phase and works intuitively, similar to social networks, where users can approve or disapprove of dishes served daily.
The initiative aims to increase student engagement in building a more appealing and nutritious menu, assisting kitchen staff in better understanding their preferences. Access is granted by scanning a QR code at school, which directs users to a login page with institutional credentials.
Currently, 150 students are participating. The app is limited to the student community but is designed for broader use.
Available in: Portuguese
Link: Not available for download
PNAE Assistant – Brazil
This technology aims to strengthen the work of smallholder farmers and school administrators by facilitating their daily tasks and improving decision-making. The tool fosters a more direct connection between producers and schools.
Available language: Portuguese
Download link:http://pnae.app.br/
Nutale – Brazil
Nutale is a web-based system designed to support nutritionists in developing and planning school menus and technical data sheets, in accordance with current guidelines and regulations. It automatically calculates nutritional values for each education level, based on students’ age and time spent at school.
The platform enables quick editing of technical sheets and monitors the frequency of each food item served weekly.
Link: https://nutale.com.br/
Available in: Portuguese
Note: Paid system https://nutale.com.br/
Garfinho
Garfinho App offers over 600 recipes. Users can filter them by allergies, preferences, prep time, complexity, ingredients, and more. It focuses on child nutrition and is a paid service.
Available in: Portuguese
Link: https://www.garfinhoapp.com/
Prato Aberto – Brazil
Created by São Paulo City Hall, this system enhances transparency in school feeding, reinforcing social accountability and resource management. It allows users to search for the menus offered in over 3,200 public schools in São Paulo.
Available in: Portuguese
Link: pratoaberto.sme.prefeitura.sp.gov.br
Laços do Agro – Brazil
A startup based in Medianeira, Brazil, Laços do Agro organises farmers’ production schedules for cooperatives. It helps cooperatives project stock based on what producers are growing, offering clear visibility into sold and available products.
This forecast helps better plan public procurement from family farms. It’s aimed at governments, producers, technicians, and cooperatives.
Available in: Portuguese
Link: https://lacosdoagro.com/
Vitrine da Terra – Brazil
Developed in São Paulo, Vitrine da Terra is a digital platform that connects family farmers with schools in the city’s municipal education network. It facilitates food procurement and encourages the production and consumption of organic foods in schools.
Farmers can register their products and share detailed information about their farm or organisation. School managers can communicate with producers and purchase products from family farms.
Link: https://vitrinedaterra.sme.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/
Cheff Escolar Software
Cheff Escolar is a management tool that optimises the use of resources in Brazil’s National School Feeding Programme (PNAE). It covers the entire food provision process—from menu planning to procurement and financial reporting—supporting efficient and transparent operations.
It enables education departments to streamline operations and ensure integration across all involved sectors, with real-time, consistent information.
Available at: https://digix.com.br/produto/cheff-escolar/
Note: Paid system
Clique Escola
The Clique Escola app promotes access to educational and financial information and school news, aiming to improve transparency in school data.
Users can view indicators such as IDEB, SAEB, performance rates, and financial transfers from the Direct Money in School Programme (PDDE). Data is sourced from official government databases. Developed by Brazil’s Ministry of Education (MEC), the app is free and available for Android and iOS.
Available in: Portuguese
Link: https://www.gov.br/pt-br/apps/clique-escola
Alimentação Escolar Inteligente (Intelligent School Feeding)
This software automates the creation of healthy menus and preparation sheets, managing inventory and order approvals. Nutritionists and cooks can create menus based on nutritional tables and meal quantities, generate shopping lists, and record food waste rates.
Developed by Lemobs, the system is paid.
Available in: Portuguese
Link: https://lemobs.com.br/produtos/aei-alimentacao-escolar-inteligente/solicitar-acesso-gratuito-aei/
Video: YouTube
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqZjc_5twgQ
Agroferia – Costa Rica
Though not directly linked to school feeding, Agroferia brings consumers closer to producers, especially smallholders. Launched in 2010 by the University of Costa Rica (UCR), the project uses e-commerce to transform food distribution.
It aims to provide producers with fair prices and Costa Rican families with quality food at reasonable prices. Today, it promotes locally grown agro-food products, offered by small and medium projects nationwide. Available on the website, Play Store, and App Store.
Link: https://agroferiacr.com/
Feeding App – Belize
The Feeding App is used by school cafeteria workers in Belize to track school feeding attendance via QR codes. Each student has a unique QR code printed on their school ID.
In the future, it is expected to integrate with the Ministry of Education’s data systems to gather information on attendance trends, grades, and more. The app is in its pilot phase and is for administrative use only.
Available in: English
No public access link available
PAEstar al día – Colombia
Colombia’s PAEstar al día app supports social oversight and citizen participation through secure and fast communication with community stakeholders. It provides access to information about the School Feeding Programme (PAE).
The app includes a virtual classroom with relevant courses, supports procurement and implementation phases, and allows users to view menus and provide feedback. It’s available on Apple (iOS) and Google (Android) stores.
Access link: www.paestaraldia.gov.co
