FRESH Science Conference in Tanzania convenes stakeholders to explore innovations to address food systems barriers to increasing fruit and vegetable consumption

On August 26-27, 2024, more than 150 researchers, practitioners, and policymakers gathered in Arusha, Tanzania, for the FRESH Science Conference, a two-day event dedicated to sharing research and innovations to support improving diets by boosting fruit and vegetable consumption.  

The conference was organized by CGIAR Research Initiative on Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets (FRESH) partners, including the World Vegetable Center, the International Food Policy Research Institute, and Sokoine University of Agriculture. Through engaging presentations, insightful discussions, and hands-on experiences, the event offered a platform for stakeholders to exchange knowledge and explore food systems solutions for healthier diets. 

A call for collaboration
A central theme of the conference was the critical role of collaboration in addressing barriers to the desirability, affordability, accessibility, and availability of fruit and vegetables. By bringing together diverse voices, the FRESH Science Conference served as a pivotal opportunity for partnership building and capacity sharing across sectors.  

The conference commenced with a welcome message from Dr. Gabriel Rugalema, Director of the World Vegetable Center – Africa. This was followed by introductory remarks from distinguished government representatives, including the Regional Commissioner of Arusha, Honorable Paul Christian Makonda, and Dr. Nyamizi Bundala, Assistant Director for Livestock Products, Food Safety, and Nutrition at the Tanzanian Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries. 

Dr. Deanna Olney, FRESH Initiative Lead and Director of IFPRI’s Nutrition, Diets, and Health Unit, delivered the opening presentation, underscoring the importance of taking a systems approach to address barriers to healthy diets. This perspective framed discussions throughout the event, prompting attendees to share insights, explore potential synergies, and apply the systems approach to their work.

Session highlights
The conference program featured a wide range of sessions, focusing on key topics related to fruit and vegetables, including: 

• Dietary patterns: Presenters provided an overview of diets and nutritional status in Tanzania, discussing patterns in fruit and vegetable consumption. 

• Innovations in vegetable seed systems: Researchers shared examples of improved vegetable varieties and their impact on seed systems. 

• Safe and sustainable production: Presenters discussed sustainable irrigation techniques, safe pesticide use, and business opportunities for farmers.

• Post-harvest management: Presentations focused on reducing waste and maintaining quality, safe produce through improved packaging and storage. 

• Leveraging food environments: Discussions centered on how food environments shape fruit and vegetable consumption, and how policies can support healthy diets. 

• Policies and practices: Researchers shared interventions, policies, and strategies to address fruit and vegetable demand, supply, and food environments.

Complementing the oral presentations, a poster session showcased emerging research, further facilitating the exchange of ideas. Additionally, moderated panel discussions allowed attendees to directly engage with experts in nutrition, breeding, agronomy, post-harvest management, food systems, and policy. The breadth of knowledge shared by presenters and panelists highlighted both the opportunities and challenges facing the fruit and vegetable sector moving forward.

“It was a great pleasure to be part of the FRESH Science Conference,” said Maria Ngilisho, Senior Research Officer in Nutrition at the Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre. “From the proceedings, I was able to identify possible areas of research, learn about production practices, identify new work connections, and widen my knowledge.“

The final session of the conference featured a panel discussion on future research, programs, and policies that take a food systems approach. Panelists included representatives from the Tanzanian government, research institutions, non-profit organizations, and the private sector. Following the discussion, closing remarks were delivered by Ramadhan Rajabu Sizya, Directorate of Trade Development for Tanzania, urging attendees to continue working together to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. 

Field visits: Innovation in action
One of the highlights of the conference occurred at the end of day two, when participants ventured into the field to witness innovative solutions in action. Attendees could select from two options: visit one of FRESH’s vegetable production hubs to learn about sustainable production techniques, or go to a local market to observe how fruit and vegetable vendors are implementing food safety measures.  

These field visits provided a direct connection to the topics discussed throughout the conference. The immersive experiences not only showcased FRESH’s work on the ground, but also sparked ideas for future collaborations.

“Seeing the way farmers are working with FRESH was interesting,” said Susuma Susuma, Tanzania Country Program Coordinator at Farm Radio International. “We partner with community radio programs to share information with local farmers and promote indigenous knowledge. We want to see how we can partner with FRESH or the World Vegetable Center in the future to share this experience on the radio.” 

Key takeaways
In addition to advancing dialogue on fruit and vegetables in Tanzania and beyond, the FRESH Science Conference reinforced the need to address barriers across the entire food system. By bridging research with practical solutions, the conference laid the foundation for impactful partnerships, uniting stakeholders around a shared goal of increasing fruit and vegetable consumption to achieve healthy diets for all. 

FRESH Science Conference in the news:

• Fruits and vegetable stakeholders convene in Arusha to discuss interventions

• Tanzania sets new targets to boost fruit and vegetable consumption

The FRESH Initiative is being implemented by CGIAR researchers from IFPRI, CIMMYT, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, IWMI, and CIP in close partnership with the World Vegetable Center, Applied Horticultural Research, the University of Sydney, the Institute of Development Studies, Wageningen University & Research, the University of California, Davis, Borlaug Institute of South Asia, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka and the Philippines Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute, along with other partners.  

Header image: Plenary session during the 2024 FRESH Science Conference.