Fresh produce ranks #1 as healthy and sustainable food!

Sustainable food systems play a critical role in achieving food and nutrition security for all, while at the same time safeguarding the health of our planet. Achieving sustainable food systems is fundamental for progressing toward many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out in the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda, including Zero hunger (SDG2), Good health and wellbeing (SDG 3), Decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), Climate action (SDG 13), Responsible production and consumption (SDG 12), Life below water (SDG 14), and Life on land (SDG 15).

Collective responsability towards sustainability goals

The global fresh fruit and vegetable industry recognizes our collective responsibility in achieving global sustainability goals, be they related to the well-being of people (social), the health of our planet (environmental) or prosperity (economic). The produce industry finds itself in a unique position to make the global food system healthier for both people and planet. That’s because it supplies healthy food with a limited environmental impact. This briefing note focuses on that environmental impact. It Will highlight the low environmental footprint of fruits and vegetables as compared to other food categories; demonstrate that the production of fruits and vegetables has positive impacts on the environment.

The environmental footprint of fruits and vegetables

Shifting dietary patterns to emphasize fresh fruits and vegetables is widely recognized as a doubly beneficial strategy. Not only does this shift help combat the growing prevalence of diet-related diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers, and obesity, but it also plays a key role in reducing the environmental impact of global food systems. Indeed, fruits and vegetables are not only essential for good health; they also tend to have a significantly lower environmental footprint compared to other foods, both in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and in terms of land and water use.

The champions of low CO2 emissions and low processing

A comprehensive meta-analysis (the largest of its kind) published in Science

Number one in the ranking of most healthy and sustainable food

The Briefing Note shows that the fruit and vegetable business finds itself in a unique position to make the global food system healthier for both people and planet. That’s because our industry is a source of healthy food with a limited environmental impact—and because it is firmly committed to limiting that impact even further. Fruits and vegetables not only lead the ranking of most sustainable foods across sustainability indicators, including greenhouse gas emissions and land and water use; our industry is also at the forefront of efforts to develop and implement innovative technologies and practices to build a more sustainable global food system.

Further action

The Global Coalition of Fresh Produce calls for continued action, collaboration and knowledge sharing between the global fresh fruit and vegetable industry, policymakers and other stakeholders to identify gaps in current sustainability efforts, develop strategies for improvement, and leverage our products’ beneficial attributes for society and the environment.

For more information on the coalition and its research for the industry, you can write here.