In a recent perspective paper published in the European Journal of Nutrition, researchers summarized and analyzed the findings from the 9th EGEA Conference, which took place in Barcelona, ​​Spain, from 20 to 22 September 2023. The paper focuses on current understanding of the role of fruits and vegetables (FV) in human and planetary health.

Discussions among nearly 150 scientists and stakeholders found that fruits and vegetables have a protective effect against type 2 diabetes (T2D), cardiovascular disease (CVD) and some cancers. However, further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms of cancer prevention, beyond the known link between dietary fibre and bowel cancer.

In addition to their health benefits, fruits and vegetables have a lower environmental impact than many other foods, suggesting environmental sustainability. However, the significant water consumption in fruit and vegetable production remains a major challenge, requiring sustainable management measures. However, global fruit and vegetable consumption is still suboptimal. Therefore, increased promotion of consumption is needed to contribute to promoting a healthier and more sustainable future.

Overview

The food system is an umbrella term that refers to all activities related to the production and consumption of food and their impacts on the economy, health and environment. In the face of unprecedented global population growth, the food system faces a unique challenge: Meeting growing human nutritional needs while balancing ecological and environmental costs.

“It is estimated that current food systems are responsible for 20-35% of greenhouse gas emissions and are a major driver of land conversion, deforestation and biodiversity loss. At the same time, nearly 690 million people worldwide suffer from hunger, representing 8.9% of the global population, and nearly 1 in 10 people report being severely food insecure, while 3 billion people lack access to a healthy diet.”

Recent research highlights the importance of fruits and vegetables (FV) in meeting the requirements of the food system, as they provide a nutritious food source, have the potential to save costs, and have a significantly lower environmental impact than meat and other food groups. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has affirmed the important role of FV, stating that increased consumption of this food group can contribute to improved personal health.

Consuming vegetables and fruits improves personal health

Unfortunately, fruits and vegetables are still underutilized, especially in Western countries. Many complex factors hinder their widespread consumption, including lack of public awareness, taste preferences, marketing strategies, social influence, accessibility, availability and sometimes high economic costs.

To address this problem, the One Health system aims to mobilize interdisciplinary experts and stakeholders to share data, discuss and find solutions to promote sustainable planetary health in the long term. One Health is an integrated, unified scientific research field, aiming to balance and optimize the health of humans, animals and ecosystems in a sustainable way.

EGEA Conference

The EGEA Conference is an international event that facilitates scientists and stakeholders to develop evidence-based policy recommendations to promote the consumption of fruits and vegetables in a nutritious and sustainable diet. The conference was established in 2003, and the most recent (9th) edition was hosted by Aprifel in Barcelona, ​​Spain, from 20 to 22 September 2023.

The key themes of the 9th EGEA Conference were:

• The role of fruits and vegetables in the prevention of chronic disease.
• Sustainability and planetary health.
• Factors influencing consumer food choices.
• Proposals to put fruits and vegetables at the heart of future One Health discussions and research.

Key themes of the EGEA Conference

This paper summarizes the four key outcomes of the conference:

• The role of fruits and vegetables in One Health, supported by scientific evidence.
• Gaps in current knowledge.
• Uncertainties.
• Recommendations for future research and policy.

Numerous scientific studies have highlighted the health benefits of consuming fruits and vegetables, especially in preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) – the leading cause of death worldwide. Eating about 400g of fruits and vegetables per day can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), thanks to their high content of fiber, vitamins, potassium, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds. Notably, this effect is dose-dependent: the higher the intake (up to 800g/day), the greater the benefit.

Research emphasizes that vegetables and fruits contain many nutrients.

New research also shows that fruits and vegetables can help regulate the gut microbiome and have potential benefits for brain and mental health. In addition, the distinction between healthy and unhealthy plant-based diets has been clarified, highlighting the importance of nutritional quality.

In terms of sustainability, fruits and vegetables help strengthen regional cohesion and reduce conflicts between neighbourhoods. They are one of the richest sources of nutrients but have a lower environmental impact than other food groups such as meat.

However, current production methods are often water-intensive, a problem that can be overcome with sustainable agricultural techniques such as precision irrigation, water-saving drip irrigation, organic mulching and other ecological farming methods.

In addition, over-reliance on synthetic pesticides and fertilizers is also a challenge, but widespread adoption of biopesticides and agro-ecological fertilizers can address this problem in the near future.

Consuming fruit has less of an environmental impact than other foods like meat.

Despite the overwhelming evidence supporting increased fruit and vegetable consumption, most countries are still not meeting the recommended daily intake, either due to lack of knowledge or high economic costs. To address this, the EGEA Conference made seven policy recommendations:

• Adapt dietary recommendations to local cultures, traditions, market conditions and food preferences.
• Ensure the availability, appeal and affordability of fruit and vegetables in nutrition education programmes.
• Solutions should be developed in collaboration with beneficiaries.
• Monitor dietary intake.
• Use effective marketing strategies to make fruit and vegetables as appealing as high-fat, high-salt and high-sugar (HFSS) products.
• Support local market infrastructure and build the capacity of small businesses to improve the food environment.
• Apply a comprehensive and systematic approach to develop effective and cost-effective policies.

EGEA conference makes recommendations to promote fruit and vegetable consumption

Hopefully, through this article, readers have gained more useful information about the important role that fruit and vegetable consumption plays in reducing the risk of disease, especially chronic diseases.

This emphasizes the importance of building a healthy diet rich in plant-based foods. To maximize health benefits, measures are needed to encourage wider consumption of fruits and vegetables, and raise public awareness of their role in maintaining long-term health.