Nutritional Quality Of Diet Research Articles

Prospective association between several dietary scores and risk of cardiovascular diseases: Is the Mediterranean diet equally associated to cardiovascular diseases compared to National Nutritional Scores?

Mediterranean diet has been consistently negatively associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) but the superiority compared to official nutritional guidelines has not been tested yet. Our objective was to prospectively investigate the association between several nutritional scores and incidence of cardiovascular diseases. A total of 94,113 participants from the NutriNet-Santé cohort were followed between 2009 and 2018. The participants have completed at least three 24 h dietary records during the first two-years of follow-up to compute nutritional scores reflecting adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MEDI-LITE), American dietary guidelines (AHEI-2010) and French dietary guidelines (mPNNS-GS). Sex-specific quartiles (Q) of scores were computed. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the associations between scores and incidence of CVD, documented using Hazard Ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Thus, 1399 incident CVD events occurred during the follow-up (mean follow-up = 5.4 years). Comparing Q4 versus Q1 quartile, HR for the MEDI-LITE and AHEI-2010 were 0.79 (95% CI: 0.67-0.93, P-trend = .004) and 0.75 (95% CI: 0.63-0.89, P-trend = .002) respectively. These associations remained similar when removing early cases of CVD, when analyses were restricted to participants with >6 dietary records and when considering transient ischemic attacks. In this last case, association between CVD' risk and mPNNS-GS become significant. A better nutritional quality of diet is overall associated with lower risk of CVD. The future version of the PNNS-GS, based on the updated version of the French dietary guidelines, should strengthen the CVD protective effect of French recommendations.

Food security, food safety & healthy nutrition: are they compatible?

Food security, food safety, and healthy nutrition are key aspects of food systems with important implications for population health. Food safety addresses food-borne illness, and covers the handling, preparation and storage of food. Healthy nutrition is about the nutritional quality of diets. Food security encompasses both food safety and healthy nutrition, as well as a wider set of concerns related to food availability, access, utilization and stability. These three aspects of strong food systems are not only compatible, as important objectives and outcomes of food systems, but are complementary in principle, with important synergies existing between them in terms of their impact on population health outcomes. Yet tensions exist between food safety, healthy nutrition and the distinct aspects of food security. In practice, they are much less compatible, with political trade-offs between addressing them evident. This article critically assesses the compatibility of these concepts as a framework for achieving coherent food policy and global health.

Association of meal and snack patterns with micronutrientintakes among Greek children and adolescents: data from the Hellenic National Nutrition and Health Survey.

The present study aimed to examine how different meal and snack patterns are associated with micronutrient intakes and diet quality among a nationally representative sample of Greek children and adolescents aged 1-19years from the cross-sectional Hellenic National Nutrition and Health Survey (n=598). Meal and snack patterns were derived using 24-h dietary recalls. Mean adequacy ratio (MAR) was used as an overall measure of diet quality. Multiple linear regression adjusted for covariates was conducted to examine associations between eating patterns, nutrient intakes and MAR. Four most frequently reported eating schemes were identified including breakfast (B), lunch (L), dinner (D) and two snacks (S) (20.9%); B, L, D and 1S (16.2%); B, L, D and 3S (10.8%); and B, L and D (7.9%). Based on these schemes, the daily consumption of all main meals from the majority of the sample was highlighted. In children and adolescents aged 4-19years, increasing snack frequency was positively associated with intakes of vitamin D, vitamin K, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, folate, magnesium, copper and selenium. An inverse association was recorded for vitamin E, vitamin B6 , calcium and iron. Among children aged 1-3years, only niacin and copper were significantly associated with number of snacks, with the group of 'B-L-D-2S' presenting the highest intake. As for the overall diet quality, among all participants, there was no significant association of MAR with the type of meal and snack pattern, and thus the snack frequency. Snacking behaviour is a common practice among children and adolescents. Modifying current snack foods with nutrient-rich choices could lead to an improvement of their diet's nutritional quality.

The simplified nutrient profiling system (SENS) adequately ranks foods in relation to the overall nutritional quality of diets: a validation study

Background/objectivesWe aimed to validate the simplified nutrient profiling system (SENS) algorithm based on its ability to rank foods across the four SENS classes in relation to overall nutritional quality of both observed diets and nutritionally optimized diets.Subjects/methodsFoods and beverages from the French nutritional composition database were classified according to SENS. Diets consumed by French adults in the latest national dietary survey (>19 years, n = 1719) were divided into four nutritional quality levels, and average daily frequencies (number of portions per day) of foods from the four SENS classes were compared between the four levels. Then, for each individual observed diet, one iso-caloric and nutritionally adequate diet was optimized, and variations in daily frequencies of foods from each SENS class between observed and optimized diets were estimated.ResultsIn observed diets, as overall nutritional quality level of diet increased, daily frequency increased for Class-1 foods (3.5 to 8.7 portions/d) and decreased for Class-4 foods (6.8 to 3.0 portions/day). From observed to optimized diets, daily frequency increased for Class-1 foods for 98.4% of individuals and decreased for Class-4 foods for 94.2% of individuals. Class-2 and Class-3 foods also followed patterns that fit the expected ranking.ConclusionsResults from two WHO-recommended validation approaches showed that the SENS algorithm adequately ranks foods according to their contribution to overall nutritional quality of diets, which is a pre-requisite to use for simplified nutritional labeling in Europe.

Out-of-Home Food Consumers in Brazil: What do They Eat?

Considering the increased contribution of foods consumed outside home and their potential impact on diet, this study aims to identify eating out patterns and their association with nutritional dietary quality in Brazil. We used the Individual Food Intake Survey 2008–2009, conducted with 34,003 individuals aged 10 and up. We used factor analysis by principal component to identify out-of-home eating patterns and linear regression to explore the association between patterns scores and dietary quality. We identified three food patterns. The “Traditional meal” pattern carried more rice, beans, meat, roots and tubers, pasta, vegetables and eggs. The “typical Brazilian breakfast/tea” pattern carried more fresh bread, margarine, milk, cheese and butter. The “Ultra-processed food” pattern carried more ready-to-eat meals and soft drinks. The “traditional meal” pattern was positively associated with calories from proteins, fiber, iron, potassium and sodium densities, whereas “typical Brazilian breakfast/tea” and “ultra-processed food” patterns were positively associated with energy density, the percentage of calories from lipids or carbohydrates, trans fat and free sugar. Out-of-home eating may have a negative impact on nutritional dietary quality when based on ultra-processed food. However, it is possible to maintain a healthy out-of-home diet with adherence to traditional Brazilian cuisine.

Overnutrition and Scholastic Achievement: Is There a Relationship An 8-Year Follow-Up Study

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the association between overnutrition and scholastic achievement (SA). Methods: A representative and proportional sample of 477 children of the 5th elementary school grade of both genders was randomly chosen during 2010, in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. SA was measured through the 2009 Education Quality Measurement System (SIMCE) tests of language (LSA), mathematics (MSA) and understanding of the natural environment (UNESA). Current nutritional status was assessed through the body mass index Z-score (Z-BMI). Nutritional quality of diet, schedule exercise, socioeconomic status, family, and educational variables were also recorded. Four and 8 years later, SA was assessed through the 2013 SIMCE and the University Selection Test (2017 PSU), respectively. Results: Socioeconomic status, the number of repeated school years, and maternal schooling were strong predictors of 2009 SIMCE and the independent variables with the greatest explanatory power for LSA (Model R^{2 =} 0.178; p < 0.00001) variances, besides of gender for MSA (Model R² = 0.205; p< 0.00001) and UNESA (Model R² = 0.272; p < 0.00001). Overnourished children did not have significantly lower 2009 and 2013 SIMCE and 2017 PSU outcomes. Conclusions: These results confirm that overnourished children did not achieve significantly lower SA.

Viewpoint: Future of food safety and nutrition - Seeking win-wins, coping with trade-offs

The possible implications of global trends such as climate change and resource scarcity on food security are high on the political agendas. While the food sufficiency aspect of food security takes centre-stage, the future of food safety and nutritional quality of diets often seems to be taken for granted. This paper builds on the results of a foresight study on EU food safety and nutrition towards 2050 to discuss potential future points of tension for food policy. Increasing food production while using fewer resources and reducing food waste while ensuring food safety are just two examples. Innovation at different levels in the food system will be needed to address future challenges. Fast technology uptake and the launch of new food-related products can put pressure on the ability to deliver timely risk assessments, the scope of which might also need to cover other legitimate factors. Future food policies need to be more sensitive to impacts on food safety and nutrition and health aspects. A holistic food systems approach must be taken to identify and discuss in advance possible tensions and trade-offs and to address them upfront in a systematic and transparent manner.

Dietary species richness as a measure of food biodiversity and nutritional quality of diets

Biodiversity is key for human and environmental health. Available dietary and ecological indicators are not designed to assess the intricate relationship between food biodiversity and diet quality. We applied biodiversity indicators to dietary intake data from and assessed associations with diet quality of women and young children. Data from 24-hour diet recalls (55% in the wet season) of n = 6,226 participants (34% women) in rural areas from seven low- and middle-income countries were analyzed. Mean adequacies of vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, calcium, iron, and zinc and diet diversity score (DDS) were used to assess diet quality. Associations of biodiversity indicators with nutrient adequacy were quantified using multilevel models, receiver operating characteristic curves, and test sensitivity and specificity. A total of 234 different species were consumed, of which <30% were consumed in more than one country. Nine species were consumed in all countries and provided, on average, 61% of total energy intake and a significant contribution of micronutrients in the wet season. Compared with Simpson's index of diversity and functional diversity, species richness (SR) showed stronger associations and better diagnostic properties with micronutrient adequacy. For every additional species consumed, dietary nutrient adequacy increased by 0.03 (P < 0.001). Diets with higher nutrient adequacy were mostly obtained when both SR and DDS were maximal. Adding SR to the minimum cutoff for minimum diet diversity improved the ability to detect diets with higher micronutrient adequacy in women but not in children. Dietary SR is recommended as the most appropriate measure of food biodiversity in diets.

Honey bee-collected pollen in agro-ecosystems reveals diet diversity, diet quality, and pesticide exposure.

European honey bees Apis mellifera are important commercial pollinators that have suffered greater than normal overwintering losses since 2007 in North America and Europe. Contributing factors likely include a combination of parasites, pesticides, and poor nutrition. We examined diet diversity, diet nutritional quality, and pesticides in honey bee‐collected pollen from commercial colonies in the Canadian Maritime Provinces in spring and summer 2011. We sampled pollen collected by honey bees at colonies in four site types: apple orchards, blueberry fields, cranberry bogs, and fallow fields. Proportion of honey bee‐collected pollen from crop versus noncrop flowers was high in apple, very low in blueberry, and low in cranberry sites. Pollen nutritional value tended to be relatively good from apple and cranberry sites and poor from blueberry and fallow sites. Floral surveys ranked, from highest to lowest in diversity, fallow, cranberry, apple, and blueberry sites. Pesticide diversity in honey bee‐collected pollen was high from apple and blueberry sites and low from cranberry and fallow sites. Four different neonicotinoid pesticides were detected, but neither these nor any other pesticides were at or above LD50 levels. Pollen hazard quotients were highest in apple and blueberry sites and lowest in fallow sites. Pollen hazard quotients were also negatively correlated with the number of flower taxa detected in surveys. Results reveal differences among site types in diet diversity, diet quality, and pesticide exposure that are informative for improving honey bee and land agro‐ecosystem management.

The share of ultra-processed foods determines the overall nutritional quality of diets in Brazil.

To estimate the dietary share of ultra-processed foods and to determine its association with the overall nutritional quality of diets in Brazil. Cross-sectional. Brazil. A representative sample of 32 898 Brazilians aged ≥10 years was studied. Food intake data were collected. We calculated the average dietary content of individual nutrients and compared them across quintiles of energy share of ultra-processed foods. Then we identified nutrient-based dietary patterns, and evaluated the association between quintiles of dietary share of ultra-processed foods and the patterns' scores. The mean per capita daily dietary energy intake was 7933 kJ (1896 kcal), with 58·1 % from unprocessed or minimally processed foods, 10·9 % from processed culinary ingredients, 10·6 % from processed foods and 20·4 % from ultra-processed foods. Consumption of ultra-processed foods was directly associated with high consumption of free sugars and total, saturated and trans fats, and with low consumption of protein, dietary fibre, and most of the assessed vitamins and minerals. Four nutrient-based dietary patterns were identified. 'Healthy pattern 1' carried more protein and micronutrients, and less free sugars. 'Healthy pattern 2' carried more vitamins. 'Healthy pattern 3' carried more dietary fibre and minerals and less free sugars. 'Unhealthy pattern' carried more total, saturated and trans fats, and less dietary fibre. The dietary share of ultra-processed foods was inversely associated with 'healthy pattern 1' (-0·16; 95 % CI -0·17, -0·15) and 'healthy pattern 3' (-0·18; 95 % CI -0·19, -0·17), and directly associated with 'unhealthy pattern' (0·17; 95 % CI 0·15, 0·18). Dietary share of ultra-processed foods determines the overall nutritional quality of diets in Brazil.

Growth of Pacific White Shrimp Fed Diets Containing a Mixture of Soybean Meal and Tuna Silage

AbstractThis study evaluated the use of tuna by‐product silage (TBS) in diets based on soybean meal (SBM) for the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. A diet based on fish meal (FM, positive control) only was compared with five isonitrogenous formulations (35% crude protein) based on SBM containing increasing dietary levels of TBS (0, 14.9, 29.8, 44.7, or 59.6%) replacing 0% (TBS0, negative control), 25% (TBS25), 50% (TBS50), 75% (TBS75), or 100% (TBS100), respectively, of the protein derived from SBM. A diet containing tuna by‐product meal (TBM) as the sole protein source and one using a commercial feed as reference were also included. Each diet was tested on shrimp in triplicate over 41 d using 70‐L fiberglass tanks in a closed recirculating system. Each tank was stocked with 10 juvenile shrimp (mean initial weight, 1.09 g). Shrimp fed diet TBS25 grew as well as those fed diets with 100% of the protein from FM. The growth differences were mainly attributable to differences in the nutritional quality of diets. Whole‐body composition was significantly affected by diet. The broken‐line regression model using thermal growth coefficient data allowed us estimate that the maximum inclusion level of TBS in shrimp fed the SBM‐based diet was 26.31%. To reduce the cost of shrimp feed, the ratio of 75% SBM and 25% TBS proteins seems to be the best formulation for juvenile Pacific white shrimp diets.

The share of ultra-processed foods and the overall nutritional quality of diets in the US: evidence from a nationally representative cross-sectional study

BackgroundRecent population dietary studies indicate that diets rich in ultra-processed foods, increasingly frequent worldwide, are grossly nutritionally unbalanced, suggesting that the dietary contribution of these foods largely determines the overall nutritional quality of contemporaneous diets. Yet, these studies have focused on individual nutrients (one at a time) rather than the overall nutritional quality of the diets. Here we investigate the relationship between the energy contribution of ultra-processed foods in the US diet and its content of critical nutrients, individually and overall.MethodsWe evaluated dietary intakes of 9,317 participants from 2009 to 2010 NHANES aged 1+ years. Food items were classified into unprocessed or minimally processed foods, processed culinary ingredients, processed foods, and ultra-processed foods. First, we examined the average dietary content of macronutrients, micronutrients, and fiber across quintiles of the energy contribution of ultra-processed foods. Then, we used Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to identify a nutrient-balanced dietary pattern to enable the assessment of the overall nutritional quality of the diet. Linear regression was used to explore the association between the dietary share of ultra-processed foods and the balanced-pattern PCA factor score. The scores were thereafter categorized into tertiles, and their distribution was examined across ultra-processed food quintiles. All models incorporated survey sample weights and were adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, family income, and educational attainment.ResultsThe average content of protein, fiber, vitamins A, C, D, and E, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium in the US diet decreased significantly across quintiles of the energy contribution of ultra-processed foods, while carbohydrate, added sugar, and saturated fat contents increased. An inverse dose–response association was found between ultra-processed food quintiles and overall dietary quality measured through a nutrient-balanced-pattern PCA-derived factor score characterized by being richer in fiber, potassium, magnesium and vitamin C, and having less saturated fat and added sugars.ConclusionsThis study suggests that decreasing the dietary share of ultra-processed foods is a rational and effective way to improve the nutritional quality of US diets.

The share of ultra-processed foods and the overall nutritional quality of diets in the US: evidence from a nationally representative cross-sectional study

The share of ultra-processed foods and the overall nutritional quality of diets in the US: evidence from a nationally representative cross-sectional study

Behavioral and morphological responses of an insect herbivore to low nutrient quality are inhibited by plant chemical defenses

Animals have several strategies to contend with nutritionally poor diets, including compensatory consumption and enhanced food utilization efficiencies. Plants produce a diversity of defense compounds that affect the ability of herbivores to utilize these strategies in response to variation in food nutritional quality. Little is known, however, about effects of allelochemicals on herbivores utilizing integrated behavioral and morphological responses to reduced food quality. Our objectives were to (1) examine how variation in diet nutritional quality influences compensatory responses of a generalist insect herbivore, and (2) determine how plant defenses affect these processes. Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) larvae were administered one of nine combinations of diet having low, moderate, or high nutritional quality and 0, 2, or 4 % purified aspen (Populus tremuloides) salicinoids. We quantified larval growth, consumption, frass production, and biomass allocation to midgut tissue over a 4-day bioassay. In the absence of salicinoids, larvae compensated for reduced nutritional quality and maintained similar growth across all diets through increased consumption, altered midgut biomass allocation, and improved processing efficiencies. Dietary salicinoids reduced larval consumption, midgut biomass allocation, digestive efficiencies, and growth at all nutritional levels, but the effect size was more pronounced when larvae were fed nutritionally suboptimal diets. Our findings demonstrate that integrated behavioral and morphological compensatory responses to reduced food quality are affected by plant defenses, ultimately limiting compensatory responses and reducing larval performance.

“Shifting agriculture”: the changing dynamics of Adivasi farming in the forest-fringes of a tiger reserve in south India

ABSTRACTThis article examines trends in farming and livelihood activities among forest-dwelling Adivasi farmers (Soligas) in a tiger reserve from 2008 to 2015. In-depth semistructured interviews were conducted in two contrasting, but representative, villages, where traditional mixed-crop farming was being replaced by cash crops such as coffee, maize, and cotton. Access to state-subsidized food supply and increase in cash income through wage labor, coupled with increasing depredation of food crops by wild animals, were some causes for the shift to cash crops. Declining supply of non-timber forest produce (NTFP) and the subsistence cash it provided has also impacted farmer livelihoods and indirectly contributed to this shift. The changing aspirations of younger Soligas and inadequate state support for mixed-crop farming also could be contributing factors. Soligas consistently maintained that increased wildlife depredation of food crops, reduction in supplies of wild foods, and the decline in NTFP was due to poor forest health. The transition to cash crops improved cash flows but exposed the Soligas to market risks. While food security also improved, the nutritional quality of diet declined. Soligas are adopting new farming practices, diets, and livelihood strategies, and importantly, leveraging rights historically denied to them, all a reflection of their social resilience.

Nutritional quality of diet and academic performance in Chilean students.

ObjectiveTo explore associations between the nutritional quality of diet at age 16 years and academic performance in students from Santiago, Chile.MethodsWe assessed the nutritional quality of diet, using a validated food frequency questionnaire, in 395 students aged 16.8 ± 0.5 years. Depending on the amount of saturated fat, fibre, sugar and salt in the foods, diet was categorized as unhealthy, fair or healthy. Academic performance was assessed using high school grade-point average (GPA) and tests for college admission in language and mathematics. Academic results on or above the 75th percentile in our sample were considered good academic performance. We tested associations between nutritional quality of diet and good academic performance using logistic regression models. We considered sociodemographic, educational and body-mass index (BMI) factors as potential confounders.FindingsAfter controlling for potential confounding factors, an unhealthy diet at age 16 years was associated with reduced academic performance. Compared to participants with healthy diets, those with unhealthy diets were significantly less likely to perform well based on language tests (odds ratio, OR: 0.42; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.18–0.98) mathematics tests (OR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.15–0.82) or GPA (OR: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.09–0.56).ConclusionIn our sample, excessive consumption of energy-dense, low-fibre, high-fat foods at age 16 years was associated with reduced academic performance.

Effects of diet nutritional quality on the growth and grazing of Noctiluca scintillans

Effects of diet nutritional quality on the growth and grazing of Noctiluca scintillans

A Systematic Review of the Conceptualization and Measurement of Sustainable Diets

There is currently no clear operational conceptualization or metric of a “sustainable diet”. We aimed to identify the range of conceptualizations of and approaches to measurement of sustainable diets through a comprehensive, systematic review of the scientific and grey literatures. Two independent reviewers screened the titles and abstracts of 719 articles that were identified through the systematic searching of 15 databases using a uniform set of search terms focused on use of the term “sustainable diet”. In total, 95 empirical and conceptual articles were included in the final review. Few empirical studies have attempted to directly measure the sustainability of diets. We identified only 24 such studies, nearly all (n=23) centered on high‐income countries. All but five of the identified studies assessed sustainability through measurement of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) associated with the production, processing, and transport of a limited variety of foods. Six studies considered the nutritional quality of diets in addition to GHGE and these primarily emphasized differences between meat‐based and vegetarian diets. Five studies examined the economic costs of diets alongside environmental considerations. Conceptualizations of the sustainability of diets spanned a range of environmental, social, economic, and health‐related domains. Empirical data measuring the sustainability of diets are limited, particularly in low‐ and middle‐income countries, and emphasize only one of several principal domains of sustainability.

Evaluating the sustainability of diets–combining environmental and nutritional aspects

Abstract This study examined two methods for jointly considering the environmental impact and nutritional quality of diets, which is necessary when designing policy instruments promoting sustainable food systems. Both methods included energy content and 18 macro- and micronutrients in the diet, the climate impact, land use and biodiversity damage potential. In Method 1, the content of different nutrients in the diet was normalised based on recommended intake or upper levels for average daily intake and presented together with the environmental impacts, which were normalised according to estimated sustainable levels. In Method 2, the nutritional quality of different diets was considered by calculating their nutrient density score, and the environmental impact was then expressed per nutrient density score. Three diets were assessed; a diet corresponding to Nordic recommendations, the current average Swedish diet and a lifestyle Low Carbohydrate-High Fat (LCHF) diet. Method 1 clearly showed that the climate impact was far beyond the sustainable level for all diets, while land use was within the sustainability limit for the recommended diet, but not the other two. Comparisons based on nutrient density scores depended on the score used, but the current and LCHF diets had more impact than the recommended diet (less livestock products) for all but one score. Over- and under-consumption of nutrients were clearly shown by Method 1 but not possible to distinguish with Method 2, as normalisation was not possible, making it difficult to evaluate the absolute scale of the impacts when nutrient density scores were used. For quantitative information on the environmental and nutritional impacts of diets as support in decision-making processes, it is important that data presentation is transparent. There is limited value in reducing results to a low number of indicators that are easy to read, but difficult to interpret, e.g. nutrient density score. Method 1 allows combined assessment of diets regarding environmental impact and nutritional intake and could be useful in dietary planning and in development of dietary recommendations and other policy instruments to achieve more sustainable food systems.

VEGETABLE RESEARCH IN CENTRAL ASIA AND THE CAUCASUS TO ENHANCE NUTRITIONAL SECURITY AND LIVELIHOODS

The eight independent countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan - have a combined land area of 4.2 million km2, of which about 70% is classified as agricultural land. The region has a population of approximately 79 million people, with about 30 to 50% of the poor living in rural areas. Vegetable crops help ensure nutritional security for the region; in 2010, vegetables were cultivated on about 783,200 ha and gross production was 17,468,700 t. Yet average productivity of vegetable crops is below potential; there is little off-season production, with only 15% of total vegetable production available from November to March. Vegetable production in Central Asia and the Caucasus has good prospects, provided the required infrastructure is created, production is intensified and diversified, improved cultivars and appropriate technologies are introduced and adopted, postharvest operations and marketing are strengthened, and capacity building is carried out. All countries in the region have agricultural research development strategies linked to national priorities for science. To assist in the development of market-oriented vegetable production systems and to promote vegetable research strategies for national partners, AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center established the Central Asia and Caucasus Regional Network for Vegetable Systems Research and Development (CACVEG) in 2006. The network strengthens regional capacity in vegetable production through academic studies, training and farmers' days, and has been instrumental in ensuring new varieties of vegetable crops are tested in state trials and released in the region. These new varieties play an important role in farm diversification, crop rotation, improving the nutritional quality of diets, and increasing farmers’ income.