2019 ASHS Annual Conference

Progress towards global nutrition targets, including reduced stunting, under-nutrition, anemia, diabetes, overweight and obesity has been very poor in many countries. Consumption of fruits and vegetables positively contributes to achievement of these goals, but global consumption remains below recommended levels. In addition, we are not producing sufficient quantities of fruits and vegetables globally to supply this healthy diet, however, we are producing a surplus of whole grains, oils, and sugar over what is needed for a healthy diet. We need to place more effort promoting consumption of fruits and vegetables with advertising budgets closer to those used for snack foods and electronics. At the same time we increase demand, we need to increase production and reduce postharvest losses, especially in emerging economies and developing countries. The Horticulture Innovation Lab has funded research to enhance productivity of fruits and vegetables in emerging economies, including efforts to identify better-adapted varieties, test grafted plants with superior scions and resistant rootstocks, enhance access to irrigation systems for small-scale farms, and test various types of protected culture and conservation agriculture techniques. Postharvest practices in the developing world are generally rudimentary and losses are very high. Research into improved practices such as small-scale cold rooms, better packaging, and simple processing methods have been supported. Agribusiness development and market linkages have been identified as key needs for successfully improving delivery of fruits and vegetables to consumers and returns on investment to farmers. Demand generation is also critically needed. An overview of lessons learned from the Horticulture Innovation Lab's ten-year research portfolio will be highlighted.