Implementation of European School Fruit and Vegetables Scheme in Spain (2009-2017)

Abstract

The School Fruit and Vegetables Scheme (SFVS) implemented by the European Union 11 during 2009/10 aims to improve the diet of school children and to support agricultural markets and 12 environmental sustainability. The objective of this study was to characterize the SFVS 13 implementation in Spain (2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016)(2017). A descriptive, longitudinal, observational and retrospective 14 study was carried out based on document analysis of annual strategies of the SFVS. We studied the 15 average budget for the EU, the number of students enrolled, the cost of the SFVS by student and by 16 day, the duration of the SFVS, the quantity of fruits and vegetables (FV) per student, the variety of 17 FV, the inclusion of local, seasonal and organic foods, and the education activities (EA). The results 18 were studied by autonomous community (AC). The budget increased from 7.4 million euros in /15, the increase came from EU funds, the number of students 20 increased from 18% in 2009 to 20% in 2016. The quantity of FV went from 2,579 to 4,000 tons, 21 duration increased from 9.8 to 19.6 days and the variety of fruits and vegetables increased from 20 22 to 21 and from 5 to 6 respectively. In AC there were important variations in EA, in the number of 23 enrolled students (7.4% to 45.6%), in the cost per student (2.3€ to 28€) and in the duration in days 24 (5.6 to 70 days). The inclusion of local, seasonal and organic foods was identified in 5 of the 8 years 25 studied. The development and reach of the SFVS in Spain is still insufficient to influence dietary 26 patterns and health in the school population. However, the SFVS has generated an economic market 27 for agricultural production. 29Health. 31public health thanks to their ability to lower the burden of disease [3] 35 From this perspective, the European Commission (EC) recognizes the importance of developing 36 a plan to promote the consumption of fruit and vegetables in schools, supported by the EU[4] 37 (Commission of the European Communities, 2007), and in the 2009/10 school year the School Fruit38and Vegetables Scheme (SFVS) was implemented. The SFVS aims to act on health, diet, agricultural 39 markets, social equality and regional cohesion [5,6]. 40The SFVS is carried out through annual projects financed by the European Commission, by the 41 central government and by regional governments ((autonomous communities) in the case of Spain) [7] 42 It also includes the distribution of free FV to school students, and a series of education activities (EA) 43 designed to stimulate healthy eating habits in the child population in the short and long term [5,7,8]. 45Preprints (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted:Following the international recommendations for promoting a healthy diet [2,9], the SFVS is an 46 integral and coordinated strategy among different sectors, that articulates agricultural production of 47 FV with consumption in schools [6]. This set up gives it potential to influence different determinants 48 of health such as e...

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