António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, said, “By declaring 2021 as the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, we aim to draw attention to this important sector and provide a holistic perspective on a production and consumption approach that will ensure healthier people and the environment.”
In his message on the subject, Secretary-General Guterres said that fruits and vegetables are the main components of a healthy and varied diet, contributing to the introduction of many nutrients into the human body, strengthening the immune system and reducing the risk of a number of diseases. "We don't consume enough," he said.
Stating that one of the important stages of the International Fruit and Vegetable Year will be the Food Systems Summit, Guterres said, "All parties will be invited to intensify their efforts to make food systems more inclusive, resilient and sustainable."
Reminding that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development emphasizes the role that food systems play in combating hunger, ending poverty and protecting our planet, the Secretary General said, “However, the increasing population, increasing urbanization, reduction of natural resources, pollution of the environment due to agriculture and changes in field use and the effects of climate change will affect our food systems. It shows how fragile it is.”
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Guterres stressed that COVID-19 continues to impact the health and livelihoods of people around the world, and that the international community must unite to ensure that nutritious food, including fruits and vegetables, reaches the most vulnerable, and that no one is left behind.
“Let's use this international year to rethink how we produce and consume food,” said Guterres, Secretary-General. Let's re-examine our food systems and promise a healthier, more resilient and sustainable world where those in need can access and buy different foods.”