Monitoring Desk
The UN General Assembly has designated 2021 as the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables (IYFV).
The IYFV 2021 is a unique opportunity to raise awareness on the important role of fruits and vegetables in human nutrition, food security and health and as well in achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals, according to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
FAO is planning to raise awareness on how Fruits and Vegetables contribute to improved nutrition, dietary diversity, and health; impact society, economy, and the environment; and contribute to sustainable development.
The virtual launch of the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables will be held on December 15 through a webinar.
Fruits and vegetables are considered edible parts of plants (e.g. seed bearing structures, flowers, buds, leaves, stems, shoots and roots), either cultivated or harvested wild, in their raw state or in a minimally processed form.
Objectives of the IYFV 2021
Raising awareness of and directing policy attention to the nutrition and health benefits of fruits and vegetables consumption;
Promoting diversified, balanced, and healthy diets and lifestyles through fruits and vegetables consumption;
Reducing losses and waste in fruits and vegetables food systems;
Promotion of consumption and sustainable production of fruits and vegetables that contributes to sustainable food systems;
Improved sustainability of storage, transport, trade, processing, transformation, retail, waste reduction and recycling, as well as interactions among these processes;
Integration of smallholders including family farmers 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;
Strengthening the capacity of all countries, specially developing countries, to adopt innovative approaches and technology in combating loss and waste of fruits and vegetables.
