In many remote rural schools, one chicken egg means more than just a meal. It's the beginning of learning, management skills, and opportunities for children's growth through the “CP's Egg Laying Chicken Project for School Lunches,” which has been running continuously for over three decades. From an average of only 156 eggs per student per year, that number has increased to 276 eggs per student per year, a 77% increase. This reflects that good nutrition is not a distant goal if a sustainable system and the cooperation of various sectors are involved. This project is run by the Charoen Pokphand Foundation for Rural Development (CP Foundation) in collaboration with Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF), with a key partner, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce – Bangkok (JCC), which has continuously supported the project for 26 years. It now covers over 154 schools in 42 provinces nationwide. Most recently, the project has extended nutritional opportunities to four more schools: three in Bueng Kan province and one in Nakhon Pathom province. The ceremony was presided over by Mr. Somwang Arieuea, Deputy Governor of Bueng Kan Province, with representatives from the government, education sector, CP Foundation, and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Bangkok in attendance.

Mr. Hiroshi Kakiuchi, Vice President of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Bangkok, stated that this project is not only about ensuring children and youth have sufficient nutrition from consuming chicken eggs, but also a continuation of the royal initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who has emphasized the importance of nutrition for children and youth, and has consistently shown tangible results. Meanwhile, the CP Foundation, with Mr. Krittayarat Paramee, Assistant Secretary-General of the Foundation, looking beyond food, explained that the project is designed as a “living classroom,” where children learn about animal husbandry, planning, accounting, and selling their produce through action-based learning. This learning takes place outside the classroom, generating income for the school to further develop the project and create a sustainable protein source for school lunches.

Mr. Wararat Ruangsri, Senior Expert at CPF, stated that the schools participating in the project… The project will provide support starting with a standard chicken coop, breeding hens, and initial feed free of charge, along with expert knowledge, enabling schools to manage the system independently in the long term. This will ensure a sufficient and consistent supply of fresh, high-quality eggs for the student lunch program. Any surplus eggs will be sold to parents and the community, generating income for the project fund.

For subsequent generations, schools will purchase breeding hens and feed at cost price, with continued support from experts at the foundation and CPF. This project also provides hands-on skills training in animal husbandry, management, accounting, sales, and marketing. Today, the “CP Egg Laying Chicken Project for Student Lunches” has expanded to cover 1,018 schools nationwide, creating nutritional and learning opportunities for over 229,500 students and connecting more than 2,700 communities.

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