“We dream of a world that gives everyone the right to eat well, and where all children have access to healthy, sustainable, and delicious food education.”
The preamble of the École Comestible manifesto sums up the goal of the association: to educate the youngest generations about food and taste, from soil to plate. Inspired by the American model of Alice Waters’ Edible Schoolyard, L’École Comestible was founded in 2019 by food journalist Camille Labro, who explains:
Inspirée par le modèle américain de l’Edible Schoolyard d’Alice Waters, L’École Comestible a été fondée en 2019 par la journaliste culinaire Camille Labro qui explique : « “Eating remains one of the rare human actions that are both necessary and pleasurable. And what astonishes me—and ultimately drives me—is seeing how this vital part of our lives is so often pushed to the background, especially in times of crisis. With more than 20,000 children reached, 3,000 workshops delivered, 150 schools involved, and five edible gardens established, the association is sowing the seeds of a new food culture all across France.. “Most schoolchildren have no idea how vegetables grow or how animals are raised… And let’s not even talk about how raw ingredients are transformed into food products. The majority have little or no access to food diversity, natural flavors, or unprocessed, fresh produce. They far too often consume ultra-processed foods that are as harmful to their health as they are to the environment,” says Mathilde Libourel, project manager for the association. says Mathilde Libourel, project manager for the association.
L’École Comestible brings together a community of chefs, farmers, teachers, parents, and volunteers in hands-on projects, cooking workshops, educational gardens, and initiatives to improve school canteen offerings. Many chefs, such as honorary member Olivier Roellinger, support the movement.
“Chefs leave their kitchens to go to schools—not to talk about their jobs, but to show children, and to let them cook,” Camille Labro says with a smile.
A beautiful lesson in hope… and in taste.
