DOES the world need another international day? Only if it gives people a reason to act.
A day on the calendar cannot end hunger, improve diets or secure farmers' livelihoods by itself. But it can focus attention, bring people together and keep an important issue in public discussion.
That is why I believe an International Tropical Fruits Day is worth pursuing and why, over time, it could help lay the groundwork for a World Fruits Day.
I proposed the idea at the International Tropical Fruits Network's (TFNet) 9th General Assembly and 17th Board of Trustees Meeting in Darwin, Australia, in September last year. The country members present supported it unanimously, and the initiative was included in TFNet's Triennial Work Plan 2025–2028. For TFNet, the task now is to turn that support into a meaningful, continuing effort.
Food security is often discussed in terms of whether enough food is available. Nutrition security asks whether people can access the variety and quality of food needed for a healthy diet.
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026 report estimates that about 645 million people (7.8% of the global population) faced hunger in 2025. That is the third consecutive annual decline, but progress remains uneven.
About 2.1 billion people experienced moderate or severe food insecurity, and nearly one-third of the world's population could not afford a healthy diet.
The challenge is not simply to produce more food. People must also be able to access and afford nutritious food.
Fruit is not a complete answer to hunger or malnutrition, and it must be part of a diverse diet. But its place in that diet deserves more attention. The World Health Organisation recommends that adults eat at least 400g (about five portions) of fruits and vegetables a day. A recurring day could help keep fruit visible in public health, food and agriculture discussions.
Why begin with tropical fruits? Because they connect nutrition to livelihoods, trade, research, culture and the sustainability of food production.
FAO estimates that 99% of tropical fruit production originates in developing countries, mainly in Asia and Latin America with a smaller share in Africa. Combined exports of the four major tropical fruits (avocado, mango, papaya and pineapple) account for only about 5% of their production volume. The rest is consumed or otherwise used domestically.
These fruits are also part of the identity and knowledge of communities around the world. Celebrating them means recognising farmers and others along the value chain, as well as the many varieties and production systems that rarely receive international attention.
It gives us a reason to discuss practical priorities: climate resilience, better post-harvest handling, reduced food loss, responsible trade and improved market access.
The United Nations designated 2021 as the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables with FAO leading efforts to raise awareness of their contribution to nutrition, food security, health and sustainable development. That one-off observance made an important contribution.
An annual International Tropical Fruits Day would carry the conversation forward with a specific focus on tropical fruits and the people and places connected to them.
If the initiative earns broad support, it could one day grow into a World Fruits Day, an occasion that brings together fruit-producing countries and communities across climates and regions.
That should be a shared ambition, developed with partners rather than declared in advance. Governments, producer organisations, research institutions, schools, businesses and international bodies would all have a role in shaping it. A World Fruits Day could celebrate the diversity of fruits while highlighting their contributions to healthy diets, local economies, culture and sustainable agriculture.
For now, the task is to make International Tropical Fruits Day useful. TFNet can convene its members and partners around annual themes, knowledge-sharing and activities that connect public awareness with practical work. Schools could introduce young people to local fruits and the farmers who grow them. Researchers and producers could share solutions. Governments and organisations could use the day to examine how nutritious fruits can become more available and affordable.
An international day should be judged by what it helps people do, not by what it is called.
International Tropical Fruits Day can be a starting point: a recurring platform for attention, cooperation and action around tropical fruits.
If partners across the world choose to build on it, it may eventually become something larger, a World Fruits Day that gives all fruits a stronger place in the global conversation about food and nutrition.
MUHAMED SALIM MOHD ALI
CEO
International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet)
Serdang
