The State of Investments in Fruit & Vegetables

Sowing the Seeds for a Colorful Revolution in Food Systems

Led by Responsible Innovations in collaboration with global partners—including the World Vegetable Center, CGIAR’s FRESH Initiative, UC Davis, and the University of Bonn—this global study examines current investment patterns in fruit and vegetable research and development (R&D).

Using participatory, expert-driven methods, the report convened expert panels across nine countries—the Philippines, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Benin, Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, Guatemala, and Honduras—to estimate investment levels, diagnose implications of underinvestment, and co-identify strategic opportunities for action.

Despite their vital role in nutrition, climate resilience, and inclusive economic growth, fruit and vegetable (F&V) R&D remains significantly underfunded compared to other crops.

This study delivers the first cross-sector, expert-driven estimates of F&V R&D investments across multiple countries. The findings are clear: underinvestment is holding back innovation, productivity, and equitable access to fruits and vegetables. The report identifies where gaps exist—and where targeted action can unlock meaningful gains.

How the Study Was Conducted

The analysis is grounded in participatory research methods, including expert elicitation and consensus-building approaches such as Delphi and Q-methodology.

These methods were used to estimate current investment levels, surface systemic gaps, and identify strategic priorities for advancing fruit and vegetable research and development globally—ensuring that findings reflect both technical evidence and lived experience across diverse food systems.

Why Fruit & Vegetable Investment Matters

Fruit and vegetables are essential to healthy diets, diversified livelihoods, and resilient food systems, yet remain chronically underfunded relative to their importance.

Targeted, strategic investment in fruit and vegetable R&D is critical to:

• Closing global nutrition gaps

• Supporting smallholder farmers and value-chain actors

• Strengthening climate resilience

• Accelerating equitable agricultural innovation

This report demonstrates why redirecting and scaling investment toward fruits and vegetables is not optional—it is essential.