Lima, August 24 (ANDINA-RHC)-- The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) representative Sheila Gruden has praised Peruvian leadership for Peru's school feeding scheme which incorporates native products, thus boosting nutritious food consumption in the country. 

She said that while other countries also try to introduce domestic products to feed students, with the aim of improving the economic situation of small producers, Peru has achieved the best results.

"Peru is taking a step forward because it isn't only working with small producers [...], but it is also trying to enhance its food supply and regain its wealth," she said.

According to the UN official, progress will be shared at the 7th Latin American and Caribbean School Feeding Regional Seminar, organized by the Ministry of the Development and Social Inclusion (MIDIS), the WFP Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean; and the Latin America and the Caribbean School Feeding Network.

The event will be held on August 26-28 at a Lima hotel. It will see the presence of officials and experts on food programs from 22 countries.

"During the seminar we are going to share experiences with these 22 countries, in order to improve our programs in Peru, but we are also going to offer lessons about Peru because there are also success stories in the country, so other countries will learn from them," she told RPP radio and TV station.

Some 85 million people in Latin America and Caribbean benefit from school feeding programs, she indicated.