HORTICULTURE FOR HEALTH IN REVIEW
Current Status of Fruits and Vegetables Production and Consumption in Francophone African Countries - Potential Impact on Health
Published on 31st Oct 2009
J. Ganry, CIRAD, has recently published this article in Proc. IInd IS on Human Health Effects of F&V Acta Hort. 841, ISHS 2009 p. 249-255
This paper is a synthetic view of the situation of the production of fruits and vegetables and their availability for local consumption in francophone countries of Africa, in relation with some chronic diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. It is based on data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) and information collected through a survey made in each of the twenty francophone countries of Africa and Indian Ocean. The survey was in preparation of the workshop on “Promotion of fruits and vegetable for health in francophone African countries”, held in Yaounde, Cameroon, on 23-26th of October, in the framework of the FAO-WHO initiative.
There is a great diversity of situations related to the geographic position, the cultural traditions behaviour and economic situation. Very few countries are reaching the recommended intake of 400g of fruits and vegetables per capita and per day. These are humid-forest countries including Cameroon, Gabon, Guinea, Rwanda, and Burundi, where banana and plantains are the fruits most consumed. On the other side, the situation in Sahelian countries like Burkina-Faso, Chad, Mali, and Mauritania is even worse with an availability below one third of the critical level.
A first analysis of data from FAO and WHO is supporting the assumption of a relation between a low consumption of fruits and vegetable and a high prevalence of chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity in some conditions. (...full article)
PROFEL - Bulletin d'information will keep you Informed in Promoting Horticulture for Health in Africa
Published on 28th Oct 2009
Le lancement de ce bulletin s’inscrit pleinement dans cette dynamique de communication dont l’objectif est de maintenir les liens entre les participants à l’atelier de Yaoundé, d’y associer le pays qui n’ont pas pu y être représentés et de sensibiliser l’ensemble des acteurs concernés par cette initiative à l’importance de la promotion des fruits et légumes pour la santé face aux enjeux de sécurité alimentaire, de santé publique et de lutte contre la pauvreté en Afrique sub-saharienne.
The communication objective of this newly launched newsletter has the clear intent to support links between the participants in the workshop of Yaoundé, to link it the countries that could not be represented and to sensitize all the actors concerned with this initiative relating to the importance of the promotion of fruits and vegetables for health faced with the issues of food security, public health and conflict against poverty in sub-Saharan Africa.
Bulletin PROFEL en Afrique #5 Oct, 2009
Bulletin PROFEL en Afrique #4 Feb-Mr, 2009
Bulletin PROFEL en Afrique #3 Jan, 2009
Bulletin PROFEL en Afrique #2 Nov-Dec, 2008
Bulletin PROFEL en Afrique #1 Oct, 2008
PROFEL Poster: Les Pays du Sud Feb, 2009
Contact:Christelle Monier Agro-Ecologue INRA/CIRADInternational and National Cooperation in Horticultural Science CIRADTA B103/PS4Boulevard de la Lironde34398 Montpellier Cedex 5Tel: +33 (0)467615800, demander le poste 5482Fax : + 33 (0)467617564 christelle.monier@cirad.fr
Promotion de la consommation des fruits et légumes (PROFEL) / Promotion of the Consumption of Fruit and Vegetables (PROFAV)
Workshop on the Promotion of Fruit and Vegetables in Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa, October 23-25, 2007, Yaoundé, Cameroon
IRAD and CIRAD, on the initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), organized this workshop on the "Promotion of Fruit and Vegetables in Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa" (PROFEL) that was attended by 76 experts from 16 African countries, and many representatives of international organizations. The conclusion was that horticultre, health and education must work together to mitigate poor nutrition and poverty in Africa. GlobalHort offered to host further PROFEL information on its GlobalHort website and will provide further support in any way it can. At the meeting RADHort looked at the linkages between PROFEL and RADHort and suggestions were made pertaining to changes in its statutes and management.
International Fruit and Vegetable Summit, May 27-30, 2008, Paris, France.
The first International Fruit and Vegetable Summit, was held in Paris with the support of EGEA♣ (planners of the International Conference of the Health Benefits of Fruit and Vegetables), IFAVA (the International Fruit and Vegetables Alliance), in relation with WHO (the World Health Organization), FAO (the Food and Agriculture Organization) and UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). The focus was on a global and multisectoral approach geared to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. For many years, there have been parallel efforts across sectors to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, with research and education campaigns by the public health and scientific communities and nongovernmental organizations on the one hand, and marketing campaigns by the fruit and vegetable industry on the other. Building upon the strength of the EGEA and IFAVA conferences and symposiums, this joint international conference gathered key stakeholders to capitalize on cross-sectoral expertise to find solutions to this important issue. (...More in English; More in French)
♣ A series of conferences organized with commercial sponsorship from Freshfel and Aprifel. Egea refers to the first conference devised near the Egean (Aegean) Sea.
UPCOMING EVENTS
EGEA VI: Social and Health Benefits of Balanced Diet: The Role of Fruits and Vegetables
| What | Event |
|---|---|
| When | 5th to 7th May 2010 |
| Where | Brussels, Belgium (BEL) |
| More Info | http://www.egeaconference.com/ |
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Contibution of abstracts required by March, 2010
Conference contact: Saida Barnat Phone: +33.1.49.49.15.15
FAV Health 2009: 3rd International Symposium on Human Health Effects of Fruits and Vegetables
| What | Symposium |
|---|---|
| When | 18th to 21st Oct 2009 |
| Where | Avignon, France (FRA) |
| More Info | http://favhealth2009.com/ |
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Yves Desjardins initiated the first Fav health congress, which took place in Quebec in 2005, in order to stimulate and encourage the multidisciplinary dialogue. The 2nd Conference at Houston was chaired by Bhimu Patil who opened the discussion with socioeconomists and medical professionals.
Fruit and vegetables are recognized as essential to equilibrate our diet preventing numerous diseases. Fruits and vegetables are a food group containing a diversity of micronutrients (vitamins, minerals) and other bioactive substances with polyphenols, glucosinolates, carotenoids…However, more scientific evidence should be required for understanding the optimal levels of their intake and their functionality. Active research is carried out to explore functionalities of fruits and vegetables. The objective of FAV HEALTH 2009 is to continue providing a forum for horticultural scientists, nutritionists, food scientists, biomedical scientists, chemists, biochemists, clinicians, medical professionals, social economists to exchange information and bridge the communication gap between the agricultural sciences, nutrition and health sciences. Plenary sessions, oral communications and posters will cover a wide range of topics from plant breeding to consumption behaviour.
RESOURCES
Agence Fruits et Legumes Frais (APRIFEL)
Food and Agriculture Association of the United Nations (FAO)
International Fruit and Vegetables Alliance (IFAVA)
International Society for Horticultural Science Commission on Fruits and Vegetables and Health
World Health Organization of the United Nations (WHO)
Codex Alimentarius main purposes of this Programme are protecting health of the consumers and ensuring fair trade practices in the food trade, and promoting coordination of all food standards work undertaken by international governmental and non-governmental organizations
World Health Organization. Promotion of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Around the World (PROFAV or PROFEL)
INFOODS goal is to stimulate and coordinate efforts to improve the quality and availability of food analysis data worldwide and to ensure that anyone anywhere would be able to obtain adequate and reliable food composition data