Improving fruit and vegetable intake and production in Sri Lanka: An evaluation of the FRESH end-to-end approach

Nadia Koyratty, Quinn Marshall, Neha Kumar, Renuka Silva, Dilini Hemachandra, Sonja Y. Hess, Mohamed Aheeyar and Deanna K. Olney

No 1, Other briefs from International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Abstract: Inadequate diets are a major contributor to malnutrition and the leading risk factor for morbidity and mortality worldwide. Low fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake contributes significantly to these burdens. F&Vs are essential sources of micronutrients, and their production has a lower environmental footprint compared to other nutrient-dense foods, making them critical for both health and sustainability. Despite these well-documented benefits, global F&V intake remains below the recommended 400 grams (about 5 servings) per person per day. This is particularly true in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where less than 20% of adults meet this target. This is likely due to a complex interplay of factors including availability, affordability, accessibility, and other context-specific barriers. Narrowing F&V intake gaps requires a nuanced understanding of the interconnected factors influencing their consumption. The approach must be comprehensive and encompass addressing factors across the food system. Generating high-quality, context-specific evidence on these factors is essential to designing effective strategies that enhance F&V desirability, affordability, accessibility, and availability, ultimately supporting healthier, more sustainable diets.

Keywords: fruits; vegetables; food intake; food production; project evaluation; Sri Lanka; Asia; Southern Asia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-02-12
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:fpr:othbrf:181539

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