The United Nation’s (UN) International Year of Fruits and Vegetables (IYFV2021) officially closed on February 24, 2022, highlighting the year-long activities that increased awareness of the critical role of fruits and vegetables to improve farmer incomes, create decent jobs, and attain food and nutrition security through transformation of agrifood systems.
It was led by Dr. Qu Dongyu, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with the Chile Vice Minister of Agriculture, Jose Ignacio Pinochet. Other VIPs include Raquel Arbaje de Abinader, First Lady of the Dominican Republic, Stefano Patuanelli, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry of Italy, and Lawrence Omuhaka, Deputy Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock Development, Fisheries and Cooperatives of Kenya.
A panel discussion was held with Patricia Araya, Alternative Representative, Permanent Mission of Chile to the United Nations Agencies based in Rome and chair of the IYFV International Steering Committee; Dilara Koçak, a social media influencer from Turkey; Sylvia M. Kuria, a young farmer leader engaged in Kenya’s organic movement; Tahmina Isayeva, Food Hero and Entrepreneur, Azerbaijan; Benny M. Corcolon, Vice President, Research and Development, Tagum Agricultural Development Company, Inc, Philippines; Ted M. DeJong, Distinguished Professor and Pomologist Emeritus, Department of Plant Sciences, University of California-Davis, USA.
TFNet as an active member of the IYFV International Steering Committee, highlighted the importance of fruits and vegetables in improving diets and sustaining smallholders livelihoods through best practices.
For more infomation, visit the FAO website.