Sustainable and equitable increases in fruit and vegetable productivity and consumption are needed to achieve global nutrition security

Authors: STRATTON, ANNE ELISE - University Of Michigan; ARNOTT, JAMES - Aspen Global Change Institute; ASSENG, SENTHOLD - University Of Florida; BOGARD, JESSICA - Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO); CHAUDHARY, ABHISHEK - Eldgenossische Technische Hochschule (ETH); CHEN, WEI-TING - University Of California Agriculture And Natural Resources (UCANR); Conrad, Zachary; Finley, John; FRANK, MARKUS - University Of Applied Sciences; Fukagawa, Naomi; GUSTAFSON, DAVE - International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI); HESS, TIM - Cranfield University; KABLAN, AHMED - Us Agency For International Development (USAID); KHOURY, COLIN - International Center For Tropical Agriculture (CIAT); KLAUSER, DOMINIK - Syngenta; LI, YAN - University Of Illinois; NAYLOR, ROZ - Stanford University; NELSON, JERRY - University Of Illinois; OTTEN, JEN - University Of Washington; OTTO, CAROLINE - Syngenta; PHATAK, SUMIRA - Utah State University; ROWE, SYLVIA - S R Strategy Llc; SCHAFFNER, KATE - World Wildlife Fund; SONKE, DAN - Campbell Soup Research; Steenwerth, Kerri; STOCKLE, CLAUDIO - Washington State University; THOMA, GREG - University Of Arkansas; SULSER, TIM - International Food Policy Researc Institute (IFPRI); WEIBE, KEITH - International Food Policy Researc Institute (IFPRI)

Submitted to: World Wide Web
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/3/2018
Publication Date: 8/3/2018
Citation: Stratton, A., Arnott, J., Asseng, S., Bogard, J., Chaudhary, A., Chen, W., Conrad, Z.S., Finley, J.W., Frank, M., Fukagawa, N.K., Gustafson, D., Hess, T., Kablan, A., Khoury, C., Klauser, D., Li, Y., Naylor, R., Nelson, J., Otten, J., Otto, C., Phatak, S., Rowe, S., Schaffner, K., Sonke, D., Steenwerth, K.L., Stockle, C., Thoma, G., Sulser, T., Weibe, K. 2018. Sustainable and equitable increases in fruit and vegetable productivity and consumption are needed to achieve global nutrition security. Aspen Global Change Institute Position Paper. World Wide Web. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/98375.

Interpretive Summary: Increased intake of fruits and vegetables (F&V) is recommended for most populations across the globe. However, the current state of global and regional food systems is such that F&V availability, the production required to sustain them, and consumer food choices are all severely deficient to meet this need. Given the critical state of public health and nutrition worldwide, as well as the fragility of the ecological systems and resources on which they rely, there is a great need for research, investment, and innovation in F&V systems to nourish our global population. Here, we review the challenges that must be addressed in order to expand production and consumption of F&V sustainably and on a global scale. At the conclusion of the workshop, the gathered participants drafted the “Aspen/Keystone Declaration” (see below), which announces the formation of a new “Community of Practice,” whose area of work is described in this position paper. The need for this work is based on a series of premises discussed in detail at the workshop and summarized herein. To surmount these challenges, opportunities are presented for growth and innovation in F&V food systems. The paper is organized into five sections based on primary points of intervention in global F&V systems: (1) research and development, (2) information needs to better inform policy & investment, (3) production (farmers, farming practices, and supply), (4) consumption (availability, access, and demand), and (5) sustainable & equitable F&V food systems and supply chains.

Technical Abstract: Increased intake of fruits and vegetables (F&V) is recommended for most populations across the globe. However, the current state of global and regional food systems is such that both F&V availability, the production required to sustain them, and consumer food choices are severely deficient to meet this need. Given the critical state of public health and nutrition worldwide, as well as the fragility of the ecological systems and resources on which they rely, there is a great need for research, investment, and innovation in F&V systems to nourish our global population. Here, we review the challenges that must be addressed in order to expand production and consumption of F&V sustainably and on a global scale. To surmount these challenges, opportunities are presented for growth and innovation in F&V systems. The paper is organized into five sections based on primary points of intervention in global F&V systems: (1) research and development, (2) policy agenda and investment, (3) production (farmers, farming practices, and supply), (4) consumption (availability, access, and demand), and (5) sustainable & equitable systems and supply chains. We conclude that continued efforts are needed to synthesize data and generate the knowledge needed to better inform actions and interventions leading to more diverse, equitable, nutritious, resilient, and sustainable global F&V food systems.