A distinctive center of the whole grain wheat: UN World Food Programme’s new initiative

Yesterday, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) celebrated the opening of the training and resource center, which was created within the framework of the "Whole Grain Value Chain" project implemented in the region.

The project integrates several components to succeed from awareness raising to educational campaigns: around 200 people improved their knowledge about wholegrain wheat and enhanced their skills in bread baking. In addition, 71 farmers received 35,400 kg of wholegrain wheat seeds and in 2021 harvested 425 tons of wheat from 120 hectares.

The event was attended by WFP Deputy Director and OiC Nanna Skau, Deputy Minister of Economy Arman Khojoyan, Head of Multilateral Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs David Grigoryan and Deputy Governor of Tavush Narek Ghushchyan.

In her speech, Ms. Skau mentioned that everyone, both locals and tourists, can visit the training center for not only to taste, but also to bake whole grain bread products themselves.

"We are sure that this center will bring positive results and become a precedent for the establishment of other similar centers in Armenia," she added.

The training and resource centre has been established to sustain the opportunities of creating new whole grain recipes and to be a place to teach baking of whole grain products and sell their products.  

The "Whole Grain Value Chain" project was launched back in October 2020 despite severe droughts in the area. WFP started to support and invest in the whole grain value chain and increase the presence of whole grain bread and bakery products in the market. The project also aims to improve dietary habits among people and contribute to food systems in Armenia.

Within the framework of the project, investments were made in 5 bakeries to provide ovens, solar panels, training, and equipment, to bake whole grain bread and then ensure that children in the province could get whole grain bread as part of their school meals. About 7,100 schoolchildren from 75 schools in Tavush had the opportunity to replace white wheat bread with more nutritious and healthy whole grain bread.