It is also expected to create 13,000 new jobs in regional communities, and lead to a $1.4 billion reduction in healthcare costs.
The six-year program 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 135g, 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,” Hort Innovation chief executive officer Brett Fifield said.
“The chronic under consumption of veggies affects all Australians, which means eating one more veggie every day, will have a positive impact on all of us.
“By tapping into what will really drives behaviour change, we believe this research program will help us work towards both a healthier Australia and a prosperous vegetable industry.”
The program will run until 2030 and is expected to see every dollar invested yielding a $12.30 return over six years.
