New technologies are becoming increasingly relevant in the production and distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables. This was a conclusion at the meeting held this Tuesday on the Codex Alimentarius at the headquarters of the Ministry of Economy in Mexico City. This was the Twenty-third Session of the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (CCFFV23).
Codex Alimentarius
Andrea Genoveva Solano, chair of CCFFV23, pointed out that international market expectations are increasingly demanding and consumer preferences in terms of freshness, appearance and quality vary from region to region.
This therefore calls for a balance between standardization and the flexibility needed to respect local production characteristics.
“Another crucial challenge is the integration of new technologies in the agri-food sector, innovative methods such as vertical farming, digital traceability systems and advanced preservation techniques are transforming the way those of us who produce and distribute fresh fruits and vegetables,” she said.
Solano is also head of the Standards, Competitiveness and Competition Unit of the Ministry of Economy.
Climate change
The Codex Alimentarius is a set of international standards that were created to ensure food quality and safety and facilitate global trade. It was established in 1963 by FAO and WHO.
“We cannot ignore the impact of climate change on agricultural production, the variability of climatic conditions affects harvest cycles, water availability and distribution, in this case of pests and diseases, represents an additional challenge in defining standards that can adapt to these changes,” Solano added.
She urged reflection on the future of the Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables and Codex in general, the modernization of regulations, adaptation to technological changes and the sustainability of agricultural trade.
From his perspective, the inclusion of small producers in trade, both local and international, must also be strengthened, ensuring that these regulations do not become barriers to their growth, but rather tools that will enable them to access new markets and improve their competitiveness.