The 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly declared 2021 as the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables. The initiative aims at raising awareness on the nutritional and health benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption.
The United Nations (UN) acknowledge the inextricable links that exist between agriculture and the entire food system, specifically noting the significant contribution of fruits and vegetables to the food security, generation of income, and employment of smallholders and family farmers. Specific emphasis is placed on the empowerment of women through education, recognizing their role in sustainable farming practices.
In that respect, the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables is meant to serve as a launchpad for the uptake of effective actions that will strengthen the role of smallholder and family farmers in sustainable farming and production. Such actions are expected to have a positive impact in reducing hunger and poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, improving livelihoods, and contributing to better natural resource management.
KEY MESSAGES
FOA OF THE UN OBJECTIVES
A. Promotion of consumption and sustainable production of fruits and vegetables that contributes to sustainable food systems.
B. Improved sustainability of storage, transport, trade, processing, transformation, retail, waste reduction and recycling, as well as interactions among these processes.
C. Integration of smallholders including family famers into local, regional and global production, value/supply chains for sustainable production and consumption of fruits and vegetables, recognizing the contributions of fruits and vegetables, including farmers’ varieties/landraces, to their food security, nutrition, livelihoods and incomes.
D. Strengthening the capacity of all countries, especially developing countries, to adopt innovative approaches and technology in combating loss and waste of fruits and vegetables.