A NEW research and development program to increase the daily vegetable consumption of Australians by one serve a day is expected to contribute $3.3 billion to vegetable growers and across the supply chain, create 13,000 new jobs in regional communities, and lead to a $1.4bn reduction in healthcare costs – contributing a total $4.7bn in net economic benefit. The six-year program funded by Hort Innovation through the Frontiers Healthy Living Investment Theme has been developed in direct response to alarmingly low and declining daily vegetable consumption and will incorporate insights and lessons from global best practice programs to maximise outcomes for industry and growers. Australians today are only consuming on average 1.8 serves of vegetables per person per day - which is 135 grams, or around half a cup of vegetables - instead of the recommended five pieces per day. Increasing daily vegetable intake by just one serve per person per day adds up to more than 9.1 billion additional serves annually, or 680,000 tonnes of vegetables consumed. "We know that only 6.1 per cent of Australians are eating the recommended five serves of vegetables and two serves of fruit per day,” Brett Fifield, CEO of Hort Innovation said. "The chronic underconsumption of vegies affects all Australians which means eating one more vegetable every day will have a positive impact on all of us. "Consider better health, less pressure on our health system, our growers prospering, job creation, less waste - and all of this leads to a positive impact on the broader economy. “In fact, by increasing the number of vegies consumed by just one serve, we would expect to see a $3.3 billion increase in value to the vegetable industry.” “By tapping into what will really drive behavioural change we believe this research program will help us work towards both a healthier Australia and a prosperous vegetable industry.” The research program – overseen by Hort Innovation – has been co-designed by more than 48 cross-sector organisations spanning industry, research science, healthcare, government and community outreach to understand the most effective ways to get Australians to eat an extra serve of vegetables each day. The program is being led by AUSVEG and will be supported by The Growth Advisory, Fiftyfive5 – part of Accenture Australia, Akcelo, and AgEcon. Michael Coote, CEO of AUSVEG said the critically low and declining vegetable consumption in Australia has been a major concern for many years. "Not only is it extremely worrying for the health of Australians, but it presents major concerns for the long-term viability of Australia’s vegetable industry," Mr Coote said. “By boosting vegetable consumption, there’s a multi-billion-dollar, triple-bottom-line of benefits to be realised – it’s good for Aussie vegetable growers, it’s good for the national economy, and it’s good for the health of all Australians. “AUSVEG is excited to be working with Hort Innovation to lead this important work to get all Aussies eating one more serve of delicious, nutritious and affordable Australian-grown vegetables.” The program will run until 2030 and is expected to see every dollar invested yielding a $12.30 return over six years.
