About 1,500 children return to walk the halls of the Mercamadrid Central Meat Market

This June, a new edition of ‘Meat Detectives’ concluded, an activity promoted by the beef and sheep interprofessional organizations, PROVACUNO and INTEROVIC, together with the Central Meat Market of Mercamadrid.

The objective has been for children to learn about the processes of the meat value chain from an educational perspective.

As a result, since October, nearly 1,500 boys and girls from third to fifth grade of primary education in the Community of Madrid have walked the halls of the Central Meat Market of Mercamadrid to gain a deeper understanding of the different stages and professions linked to the production of beef, sheep, and goats, as well as the values associated with them.

As usual, the activity was conducted in a playful-educational manner and, during the more than two-hour duration of each session, the little ones became ‘Meat Detectives’ and toured the Market accompanied by specialized monitors.

In the different stages of their visit, they learned curiosities about the meat transformation process from the professionals at the Market, asked their questions, and played “Snakes and Ladders,” “Discover the Image,” and “Self-defined.”

These games provided them with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the meat production process, become aware of the connection between the field and the table, approach the nutritional quality of meat products, and understand the importance of the people who work in the meat value chain.

Regarding the nutritional value of meat, they learned that the intake of animal protein is essential for their proper development and health status, as, from the wide range of healthy, safe, and affordable foods available, meat is the only one that contains essential amino acids to build strong muscles, provide energy to play and learn, and help the brain think better.

In their investigation, they were also made aware of the value of the human work behind each product thanks to the professionals who make it possible for sheep, goats, and beef to reach our tables and be safe and of the highest quality. This allowed them to reflect on the value of food and avoid food waste, and they understood the importance of the farmers’ work.

Specifically, they learned that farmers not only play a fundamental role in animal care, but thanks to their work, it is possible to have food, maintain our villages, prevent forest fires, and help many families have jobs, among other functions.

For Javier López, director of PROVACUNO, this action is “fundamental to bring the reality of livestock-meat production closer to schools and children who, in many cases, come from the urban world and are completely disconnected from the rural environment. The fact that schools continue to request participation in this activity year after year allows us to know that they also value it very positively.”

Meanwhile, Tomás Rodriguez, director of INTEROVIC, has stated that “at INTEROVIC we firmly believe in the importance of bringing the value of lamb and goat kid meat closer to the little ones. We want them to know how these animals are raised and fed, the production system, the commitment to animal welfare, and above all, the essential role that the sheep and goat sector plays in our rural environment.

Grazing contributes to the maintenance of our villages, the promotion of biodiversity, and the conservation of our native breeds. Seeing how children get involved, ask questions, and discover everything behind beef and sheep meat is undoubtedly one of the greatest satisfactions of this initiative.”

You may be interested in:  PROVACUNO works to accelerate the process of opening the Chinese market to Spanish beef

More information here