Closing Ceremony of the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables 2021 Opening Remarks
by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
24/02/2022
Closing Ceremony of the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables 2021
Opening Remarks
By
Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
24 February 2022
Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. Today we close the very successful International Year of Fruits and Vegetables.
2. This Year has brought global and valuable attention to the many health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables, and the importance of their agrifood systems.
3. My sincere congratulations to everyone that has contributed!
4. My particular thanks go to the Government of Chile for being the champion of this initiative.
5. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the fragility of our agrifood systems, especially for perishable fruits and vegetables.
6. The measures and effects of the pandemic also posed many challenges for this International Year.
7. I am proud that, despite the difficult circumstances, we have succeeded in achieving all four of the Year’s key objectives:
• ONE: To raise awareness of, and direct policy attention to, the nutrition and health benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption;
• TWO: To promote diversified, balanced and healthy diets;
• THREE: To reduce losses and waste in fruit and vegetable agrifood systems; and
• FOUR: To share best practices on sustainable production for small-scale farmers.
8. During the Year, stakeholders around the world undertook many important activities.
9. Numerous national and regional multi-stakeholder events highlighted the health and nutritional benefits of eating fruits and vegetables.
10. They also underlined what is needed to ensure they are produced, distributed and consumed in a sustainable manner.
11. For example, the International Workshop on Fruits and Vegetables held in Chile developed policy recommendations to increase production and consumption.
12. A joint publication by FAO and CIRAD provided guidance to decision-makers and growers on options for improvements throughout the value chain.
13. Production systems can be adapted to different environments and market types by capitalizing on our vast diversity of fruits and vegetables.
14. To this end, we have reinforced our collaboration with the International Society for Horticultural Science, stressing the importance of innovation, research and development.
15. Ensuring access to sufficient and diverse foods also requires efficient, transparent markets.
16. To support responsible business conduct and increased sustainability, we organized peer-learning workshops with producer organizations along tropical fruit value chains,
17. And we drew attention to the challenge of high levels of loss and waste of fruits and vegetables.
Dear Colleagues,
18. The fruit and vegetable sector is essential to improving human and planetary health, enhancing contribution of agrifood systems, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
19. The FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 seeks to support the 2030 Agenda through the transformation to more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable agrifood systems,
20. For better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all – leaving no one behind.
21. Even though the International Year has ended, our work must continue!
22. We have sown the seeds for many new collaborations and partnerships.
23. Let us continue to work hard together in an effective, efficient and coherent manner,
24. To build on the momentum and on our achievements,
25. So we can enjoy every meal with fresh fruits and vegetables everywhere!
26. Thank you.