CGIAR Initiative on Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/117891

Part of the CGIAR Action Area on Systems Transformation

Primary CGIAR impact area: Nutrition, health and food security

https://www.cgiar.org/initiative/fruit-and-vegetables-for-sustainable-healthy-diets-fresh/

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 21

Nourishing futures: The Philippines promote native foods in school meals
(Opinion Piece, 2024-10-12) Mendonce, Sharon; Borelli, Teresa; Honeycutt, Sydney; Anunciado, Ma. Shiela; Umali, Diana Jean
Imagine a bustling schoolyard in the Philippines, where children eagerly tend to their vibrant classroom garden. As part of a school gardening programme, the students are excited to harvest the fruits and vegetables they have carefully cultivated. In just a few hours, these nutritious foods will be served on their lunch plates. This heartwarming scene reflects broader efforts across the Philippines to integrate traditional and indigenous fruit and vegetables into school meals and promote healthy eating habits. Driven by a commitment to improve the quality of school meals, the Philippines, as a School Meals Coalition member, has introduced various initiatives aimed at supporting the health and well-being of students. Beyond combatting hunger, these efforts are designed to enhance learning outcomes and foster a brighter, healthier future for the nation. Aligned with these goals, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, also a partner of the Coalition, is promoting fruit and vegetable consumption in the Philippines through a CGIAR Research Initiative on Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets (FRESH). In collaboration with the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) and other local partners, FRESH contributed to a desk review of the country’s school food environment literature, policies, and guidelines.
Environnement alimentaire autour du collège de Boukombé et perception des élèves sur cet environnement
(Presentation, 2023-02) Houndolo, Melina Maureen
Presented at the International Scientific Days of Nutrition in Niger, February 2023. The food environment is recognized as having a strong influence on the eating habits of individuals. This presentation highlights key findings from a study that analyzed the food environment of Boukoumbé's main college and the college students' perceptions of it. Boukoumbé is a highly food insecure commune in Northern Benin.
How can food environments support greater fruit and vegetable consumption in Tanzania? A collaborative needs assessment workshop in Arusha
(Brief, 2024-03) de Bruyn, Julia; Mvungi, Henry; Mwambi, Mercy; Mwombeki, Wiston; Ernest, Zablon; Gordon, Jessica; Meeker, Jessica
On 22 March 2024, the first collaborative needs assessment workshop in Tanzania for the CGIAR Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets (FRESH) Initiative was held in Arusha. The workshop was led and hosted by the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg) Eastern and Southern Africa regional office, with support on the methodology and planning from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), and was co-hosted with the Arusha Sustainable Food Systems Platform. This group, coordinated by Rikolto, is one of two key stakeholder groups with which the FRESH Initiative has established ongoing connections in Tanzania. The platform was established in 2020, to reflect the broadening of the interests of the Arusha Food Safety Committee, created in 2018, and facilitates multi-stakeholder dialogues to address food system change in Arusha.
Mapping the path to healthy diets: A StoryMap of Colombo’s food environments
(Presentation, 2024-08) Salm, Leah
Leveraging the role of MSMEs for healthier diets and nutrition: Insights from fruit and vegetable value chain studies across five countries
(Working Paper, 2024-12-31) Nguyen, Trang; Termeer, Emma; Berkhout, Ezra; Mekonnen, Daniel Ayalew; Dijkxhoorn, Youri; de Steenhuijsen Pieters, Bart
In most low and middle-income countries (LMICs) the food system falls short in providing sufficient amounts of healthy foods to a burgeoning population. The growing awareness of how food systems are stressing planetary boundaries and failing to provide sustainable healthy diets and livelihoods has prompted the widespread call to transform the global food system (Béné 2022; FAO et al. 2020, 2024; Webb et al. 2020). Transforming food systems requires engaging various groups of actors with diverse perspectives and challenges (Leeuwis et al. 2021), including setting up alliances with the informal sector (Brouwer & Ruben 2021) and a strengthened focus on the role of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Globally, MSMEs represent about 90 percent of all businesses and account for 60 to 70 percent of employment and 50 percent of GDP. In the current food system, by being present at all value chain stages and better linking small-scale farmers to markets, MSMEs can offer affordable food to both urban and rural areas, create jobs and opportunities for young and female entrepreneurs, and support sustainable, circular food practices (IFAD 2021). These promises can be fulfilled if certain barriers that can hinder their contributions, such as high rates of food loss and waste (FLW), food safety concerns, and the uncertain informal context in which the majority of them operate are addressed (Termeer et al. 2024).
D4N2024 Resources – Learning Lab 1b: Nudging for good: Real-time AI-driven diagnostics and behavior change to improve adolescents’ diets and nutrition in Sri Lanka
(Presentation, 2024-12-03) Silva, Renuka; Dilhani, Sachintha; Perera, Thushanthi; Karunarathna, Nilmini
Children's dietary data from Food Africa Project conducted in the communes of Bopa and Houeyogbe, Benin
(Dataset, 2024) Bodjrenou, Fifali Sam Ulrich; Termote, Celine; Koukou, Elie; Amoussa Hounkpatin, Waliou; Mitchodigni, Medeme Irene; Ntandou Bouzitou, Gervais Deleuze
The purpose of this study is to assess Infant and young children's feeding practices and explore how they meet energy and nutrient intake requirements. Also, this study aims to explore the dietary contribution of local biodiversity to children's diets in the communes of Bopa and Houeyogbe, Benin.
A value chain analysis of two fruit and vegetable production hubs in south-Benin
(Report, 2024-11-19) Egah, Janvier; Termeer, Emma; Dijkxhoorn, Youri; Raoult, Justine
Key Findings • Inadequate packaging, poor road conditions and lacking infrastructure in both hubs lead to high transportation costs and significant post-harvest losses, impacting the profitability and efficiency of the value chain. • Trust issues between farmers and traders, particularly regarding credit transactions, lead to conflicts and financial losses. • The use of chemical fertilizers results in poor quality produce, which accelerates spoilage. Combined with the lack of proper storage facilities, this makes it difficult to maintain the quality of produce until it reaches consumers.
Challenges in vegetable production & marketing in Benin, Tanzania, Sri Lanka & Philippines
(Brief, 2024-11-13) CGIAR
Nutrition and diet profile: Benin
(Brief, 2024-11-12) Diatta, Ampa Dogui; Olney, Deanna K.; Honeycutt, Sydney; Mitchodigni, Irene Medeme; Bliznashka, Lilia
Key Findings: -In Benin, undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent, and the prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing. -Diets in Benin have declined in quality over time, particularly among children. For example, low dietary diversity and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption are prevalent. -Food-based dietary guidelines exist; however, awareness of the guidelines is unknown. -Most nutrition policies in Benin lack guidance on promoting fruit and vegetable intake. -Stronger evidence related to how to improve diet quality and combat malnutrition in Benin is needed to develop relevant interventions and policies.
ඵලදායී කෘෂිකාර්මික පිළිවෙත් හරහා සෞඛ්‍යාරක්ෂිතව සහ තිරසාරව එළවළු වගා කරන්නේ කෙසේද?
(Video, 2024-03-12) International Water Management Institute
How to grow vegetables, safely and sustainably, through effective agricultural practices in Sri Lanka? This instructional video demonstrates how soil preparation, fertilizer application, seed planting and integrated pest management has successfully helped farmers increase their crop yield, reduce cultivation costs, and harvest safe vegetables. Over 75 farmers from Boralanda, Welimada and Damahana, Balangoda in Sri Lanka have learned about these agricultural practices to provide safe, diverse and abundant vegetables to consumers year-round. This is part of a collaboration between the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Department of Agriculture of Sri Lanka to improve agricultural practices among Sri Lankan farmers. IWMI researchers worked with field coordinators and farmers through the CGIAR initiative on “Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable and Healthy Diets” (FRESH).
How did households in Chad cope with covariate shocks between 2018 and 2023? Exploration of a unique dataset
(Report, 2024-10-30) Marivoet, Wim; Hema, Aboubacar
The objective of this analysis is to gain more insight into the coping behavior of households in Chad when facing covariate shocks and stressors of different kinds. To achieve this, we rely on a unique dataset, which consists of eleven waves of cross-sectional household data combined with an extensive list of shock indicators compiled from external sources. Apart from a detailed profiling of both dimensions, this analysis relies on a data mining algorithm to uncover interesting associations between covariate shocks and coping strategies. Among the main findings of this study is the pronounced diversity in shock and coping profiles observed across time and place, which in turn complicates any straightforward identification of common and consistent patterns in household coping behavior. This said, political violence has increased until 2022 and then fell back; food prices hiked in 2022 and 2023; rainy seasons were underperforming in 2021 and 2023; extreme weather events reached a peak in 2022; while four departments in 2023 suffered from four distinct shock domains at the same time. While coping prevalence and coping intensity are roughly aligned over time, they are only weakly correlated in geographical terms in 2023. Further, the biggest change in people’s coping behavior involves keeping children from school when confronted with severe political violence coupled with severe climate change and light seasonal performance shocks – while many distinct combinations apply for different subpopulations. Finally, this analysis also very much reveals the need for additional research on the same integrated and enhanced dataset.
The future of fruit and vegetables in Benin’s food system: visioning alternative scenarios toward 2060
(Report, 2024-10-30) Mitchodigni-Houndoloa, Irene Medeme; Iruhiriye, Elyse; Egahc, Janvier; Afed, Ogouyôm Herbert Iko; Madoded, Yann Emeric; Ayenana, Mathieu A.T; Salaoue, Abdou Mouizz; Videglaf, Euloge; Schreinemachersg, Pepijn; Pitersh, Bart de Steenhuijsen
Fruits and vegetables (F&V) share health benefits due to common phytochemicals (e.g., phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids), vitamins (e.g., vitamin C, folate, pro-vitamin A), minerals (e.g., potassium, calcium, magnesium) and fibers (Kalmpourtzidou et al, 2020). According to World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) guidelines (2003), the recommended consumption of fruits and vegetables is at least 400 g/day (WHO & FAO, 2003). Unfortunately, F&V intake is far below this recommendation, and the situation is alarming, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) (CGIAR, 2021). Poor diets are a primary cause of malnutrition and the leading cause of non-communicable disease (NCD) worldwide. Improving diets, including F&V intake, could save one in five lives annually. However, the extent and nature of the problem are poorly understood due to insufficient dietary data, particularly in LMICs. Increasing F&V intake will require starting with consumers, understanding dietary patterns, and addressing desirability, accessibility, affordability, and availability barriers through cost-effective solutions using the end-to-end approach. Solutions to the intractable problem of low F&V intake must be multifaceted and interconnected, requiring a holistic end-to-end approach such as the approach undertaken by the FRESH Initiative. This report describes the results of expert and stakeholder consultations held from 4 to 8 March 2024, organized by the CGIAR Research Initiative on Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets (FRESH). The exercise aimed to explore the future role of fruits and vegetables in Benin's food system. These crops are critically important to healthy diets and generate income to value chain actors. It is, therefore, important to understand which trends and uncertainties may shape the future food system and what actors can do to steer developments in the desired direction. In this report, the approach to such foresight analysis is explained, as well as the current state of fruits and vegetables in Benin's food system. Alternative futures are explored regarding their consequences and options for anticipatory policy and stakeholder engagement.
Assessing sustainability in smallholder vegetable farms in Benin Republic: A matrix approach
(Journal Article, 2024-12) Fassinou Hotegni, Nicodeme V.; Nouhougan Alexandre Guidimadjègbè; Ayenan, Mathieu A.T.; Singh, Ravi Gopal; Odjo, Sylvanus
This study aims to assess the level of sustainability in vegetable-based agrifood production systems in Benin and to propose actions to enhance sustainability, food safety, and year-round production in the vegetable production systems. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 200 vegetable farmers in contrasting agroecological areas (with areas of extensive production of staples and intensive production of vegetables), using the “Indicateur de Durabilité des Exploitations Agricoles” (IDEA) framework (an on-farm sustainability index). Most of the surveyed vegetable farmers produced a wide range of crops, including leafy vegetables (amaranth, African eggplant, and African basil) and peppers, grown by more than 50% of the farmers. The average scores achieved by the vegetable farms regarding three dimensions of sustainability—ecological, social, and economic—were 35, 41, and 63, respectively, out of a maximum score of 100. All three sustainability dimensions of the vegetable farms were, on average, at a low level and improvements were needed for them to reach an acceptable standard. The vegetable farms located in the south of Benin had, on average, a higher sustainability score than those in the north: around 50% of vegetable farms in the south had a medium score, while the sustainability level of almost 75% of vegetable farms in the north was low. Interventions seeking to improve the sustainability of vegetable farms in Benin should focus on the promotion and adoption of eco-responsible practices that improve on-farm biodiversity, water conservation, and the effective allocation and management of land and labor, to mitigate the environmental impacts of vegetable production.
Shelf-life of four Philippine indigenous leafy vegetables influenced by banana leaf wrapping and evaporative cooling
(Report, 2023-12-31) Bayogan E.V.; Sampiano K.F.S.; Urquiola M.A.J.; Secretaria L.B.
Green leafy vegetables are considered important in the human diet due to their vitamin and mineral contents. While a number of green leafy indigenous vegetables easily grow under Philippine tropical conditions, its consumption is generally low among Filipinos. In addition, there is a lack of knowledge on the proper postharvest management contributing to the high losses, which in turn reduces the availability of these vegetables for consumption. This study evaluated the quality of some indigenous green leafy vegetables [fiddlehead fern or pako (Diplazium esculentum), Green sweet potato tops or tinangkong (Ipomoea batatas ‘Green Variety’), Malabar spinach or alugbati (Basella alba ‘Green Variety’), and moringa or malunggay (Moringa oleifera) using banana leaf as wrapping material under a brick-walled evaporative cooler (BEC) storage system. The shelf life of pako, alugbati, and malunggay was 2 days while tinangkong was acceptable for 3 days regardless of intervention used. Weight loss, however, was reduced by 14.38% in pako to 35.47% in malunggay when packed with banana leaves under BEC storage. Differences in visual quality, wilting, and decay were noted until 2 d for pako, alugbati, and malunggay and up to 3 d for tinangkong. The intervention used has also a slight influence on the marketability of the vegetables.
Improving fruit and vegetable intake and production in Tanzania: An evaluation of the FRESH end-to-end approach
(Brief, 2023-12-31) Bliznashka, Lilia; Kumar, Neha; Kinabo, Joyce; Mwombeki, Wiston; Hess, Sonja; Marshall, Quinn; Azupogo, Fusta; Olney, Deanna K.
Poor diets are a primary cause of malnutrition and the leading cause of disease worldwide. Improving diets, including increasing fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake, could save one in five lives annually. Micronutrients are essential for health; those obtained from F&Vs have a lower environmental footprint than those obtained from other foods making F&Vs essential to sustainable healthy diets. Globally, F&V intake is below recommended levels. However, the extent and nature of the problem is poorly understood due to insufficient data on dietary intake and food environments, especially in low- and middle-income countries. More than 3 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet. Often, F&V are among the least affordable foods. Even when F&V are accessible and affordable, intake is too low6 highlighting the role of desirability in F&V intake. Solutions for improving diet quality, in part by increasing F&V intake, will need to be multifaceted and interconnected. Solutions should start with understanding dietary patterns, and addressing barriers across desirability, accessibility, affordability, and availability using an end-to-end approach.
Consumption and dietary intake of fruits and vegetables in Sri Lanka with a focus on traditional and indigenous fruits and vegetables
(Working Paper, 2023-07) Silva, R; Sitisekera, H; Ranathunga, T; Perera, T; Hunter, D.; Borelli, T
Suboptimal diets are a significant preventable risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) often consume insufficient levels of fruits and vegetables (F&V), falling below recommended dietary intakes. To address this issue, detailed individual-level dietary data are needed to determine the extent and underlying factors contributing to inadequate F&V consumption. Additionally, understanding variations in F&V consumption across different life stages, genders, and demographic and socio-cultural factors is essential. In Sri Lanka, the Fruit & Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets (FRESH) project, launched by One CGIAR, aims to tackle these challenges. FRESH takes an end-to-end approach, focusing on increasing F&V intake, enhancing diet quality, improving nutrition and health, and simultaneously promoting sustainable livelihoods. The project also prioritizes empowering women and youth while mitigating negative environmental impacts. By implementing a comprehensive approach, FRESH strives to make significant improvements in the food environment and eating habits in Sri Lanka. Through research, partnerships, and community engagement, FRESH aims to raise awareness, facilitate behavior change, and create an enabling environment that supports increased F&V consumption. By doing so, the project aspires to enhance the overall health and well-being of the population while promoting sustainable development. The aim of the present report is to provide a comprehensive overview of the status, challenges, and opportunities related to the conservation, use, and consumption of traditional vegetables and specifically to understand the dietary patterns of the Sri Lankan population along with drivers for these patterns and their associated health and nutrition problems. The current consumption of F&V in Sri Lanka is significantly lower than the WHO recommendations for these food items across population groups and geographic locations. Among the factors recognized as affecting F&V intake are quality, freshness, price, safety, seasonality, affordability, and distance to market. Contributing to these patterns is a general lack of understanding of the long-term benefits of consuming F&V for improved nutrition and health. Recommendations are provided in the latter part of this document to encourage greater consumption of F&V in Sri Lanka.
Proteomic and low-polar metabolite profiling reveal unique dynamics in fatty acid metabolism during flower and berry development of table grapes
(Journal Article, 2023-10-19) Olmedo, Patricio; Vidal, Juan; Ponce, Excequel; Defilippi, Bruno G.; Pérez Donoso, Alonso G.; Meneses, Claudio; Carpentier, Sebastien C.; Pedreschi, Romina; Campos Vargas, Reinaldo
Grapevine development and ripening are complex processes that involve several biochemical pathways, including fatty acid and lipid metabolism. Fatty acids are essential components of lipids, which play crucial roles in fruit maturation and flavor development. However, the dynamics of fatty acid metabolism in grape flowers and berries are poorly understood. In this study, we present those dynamics and investigate the mechanisms of fatty acid homeostasis on ‘Thompson Seedless’ berries using metabolomic and proteomic analyses. Low-polar metabolite profiling indicated a higher abundance of fatty acids at the pre-flowering and pre-veraison stages. Proteomic analyses revealed that grape flowers and berries display unique profiles of proteins involved in fatty acid biosynthesis, triacylglycerol assembly, fatty acid β-oxidation, and lipid signaling. These findings show, for the first time, that fatty acid metabolism also plays an important role in the development of non-oil-rich tissues, opening new perspectives about lipid function and its relation to berry quality.
Assessing food security among young farmers in Africa: Evidence from Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda
(Journal Article, 2023-02-23) Adeyanju, Dolapo; Mburu, John; Gituro, Wainaina; Chumo, Chepchumba; Mignouna, Djana B.; Ogunniyi, Adebayo; Akomolafe, John Kehinde; Ejima, Joseph
Food insecurity remains a serious challenge for many households in Africa and the situation is even more prevalent among young people. However, there is a dearth of empirical evidence on youth food security status in Africa. We assessed the level and determinants of food security among young farmers in Africa. We adopted a multi-stage sampling technique to select 400, 429, and 606 young farmers in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda, respectively. Individual food consumption was assessed following a 7 days recall method. The Food Consumption Score, which combines dietary diversity and consumption frequency was used to assess food security status while the determinants of food security were identified using a logistic regression model. Results suggest low dietary diversity across the three countries. Also, the majority of the respondents had an unacceptable food consumption score, suggesting that despite being food producers, young farmers are still food insecure. The odds of being food secure was positively determined by access to extension services, participation in the ENABLE TAAT business incubation programme, and access to market information but, negatively by access to credit, number of employees, Covid-19 pandemic, and location. Additionally, the food security status of young female farmers was positively influenced by age, suggesting that younger youths are less food secure compared to older ones. These results suggest that more efforts should be directed towards improving the food security of young African farmers and that policy- and programme-level interventions should support access to extension services, market information, and land. Additionally, more investments should be directed towards developing need-based agribusiness incubation programmes with an effort to scale existing programmes beyond the regular one-time period.
Loss assessment of fruit and vegetables in selected public markets in Mindanao, Philippines
(Working Paper, 2022-12-01) Secretaria, L. B.; Pasilan, M.V.O.; Sampiano, K. F. S.; Bayogan, E. V.
This assessment produced by FRESH Initiative partner Applied Horticultural Institute, in collaboration with University of the Philippines, Mindanao, provides a multi-method assessment of postharvest losses at a market in urban Mindanao. A structured survey that captured a range of information on the source of the produce, transport methods, vendor preferences, and perceived produce losses was administered to fruit and vegetable vendors. Additionally, a postharvest loss assessment was conducted on randomly selected vendors. The report provides evidence of perceived and actual postharvest losses, and identifies how and when in the value chain for this categorization of vendors that interventions could reduce those losses.

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