The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, today [15 December 2020] launched the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables 2021 (IYFV) with an appeal to improve healthy and sustainable food production through innovation and technology and to reduce food loss and waste.
Proclaimed at the 74th session the UN General Assembly, IYFV 2021 is dedicated to raising awareness about the important role of fruits and vegetables in human nutrition, food security and health.
FAO, the lead agency for celebrating the year in collaboration with other organizations, launched the year with an international virtual event.
Speaking at the event the FAO Director-General described the initiative as “a unique opportunity to raise global awareness”. He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had challenged people to find new ways of fighting hunger and malnutrition and said IYFV would highlight the role of digital technologies in improving nutrition and market opportunities.
“In the current health crisis we are facing around the world, promoting healthy diets to strengthen our immune systems is especially appropriate,” Qu said.
The FAO Director-General noted that food loss and waste in the fruits and vegetables sector remains a problem with considerable consequences, and that “innovative technologies and approaches are of critical importance”, as “they can help maintaining safety and quality, increasing the shelf life of fresh produce items and preserving their high nutritional value”.
Read full article FAO launches the UN’s International Year of Fruits and Vegetables 2021 at fao.org
