Fruits and Vegetables: high potential for food and nutrition security!?
The horticultural sector, in particular the production of vegetables and fruits, is of growing interest to agricultural entrepreneurs of various scales in low- and middle-income countries. It is also an area of particular attention for Dutch Embassies, the Top Sector Horticulture and Starting Materials (TopSector TU), several Dutch NGOs and the network AgriProFocus. In recent months, these key stakeholders within the Food & Business Knowledge Platform (F&BKP) were highly productive with regards to knowledge sharing and learning in this sector. The Office of the Platform has commissioned an explorative study on the potential of the Fruits and Vegetables sector for Nutrition Security.
The Office has contracted LEI-Wageningen UR to conduct this desk study on the potential of the Fruits and Vegetables sector for Food and Nutrition Security, in close collaboration with TopSector TU. The study is expected to provide an overview of research-based and other relevant literature; build on the information and opportunities aggregated in the discussion paper “Picking the fruits“; and test the assumption that the ‘development’ return on invested capital, particularly the positive effect on Food & Nutrition Security, is higher in the Fruits and Vegetables sector than in other economic sectors in which Dutch government investments are made.
While the study is global in nature, more specific case material is being gathered from Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda and Indonesia. Several experts and network contacts have been approached by LEI-Wageningen UR during the past few months, and the research team has started their analysis of findings.
The preliminary results will be discussed during a meeting with a small group of experts from the sector on March 3, 2015. The study report is expected to be published in March 2015 and form the basis of a further knowledge agenda on Fruits and Vegetables. If you have a particular interest in this topic, please contact the F&BKP Office: .
