— Healthier lives, more resilient livelihoods through greater diversity in what we grow and eat —
Our Featured Projects
Engaging women and youth in vegetable production and distribution networks to close the ‘vegetable gap’ and improve livelihoods and nutrition in Ethiopia and Kenya.
Sustainable and climate-smart agricultural and post-harvest practices to increase vegetable consumption in urban and peri-urban areas of West Africa.
Conserve and use African vegetable biodiversity to address malnutrition by increasing the production and consumption of nutritious vegetables.
The World’s Largest Public Vegetable Genebank
The World Vegetable Center genebank maintains a large collection of public domain germplasm for the current and future use of all humankind. We distribute seed samples of our germplasm accessions and advanced breeding lines worldwide.
With 65,152 accessions encompassing germplasm of 133 genera and 330 species from 155 countries, the World Vegetable Center genebank includes globally important vegetables such as tomato, onion, peppers and cabbage as well as more than 10,000 accessions of traditional vegetables.
Each year the Center distributes about 10,000 seed samples to researchers across the globe. Over the past four decades this has led to the release of hundreds of new vegetable varieties with particular impact in developing countries.
WorldVeg’s Global Presence and Impact
Center researchers lead and participate in projects throughout Asia and Africa. We have about 400 staff engaged in this spread of activities, and seek to partner with governments, nongovernmental organizations, universities, research institutes, and the private sector to promote prosperity for the poor and health for all.
Africa
Amaranth – a new crop becomes a turning point for women in Zanzibar
Amaranth – a new crop becomes a turning point for women in Zanzibar More women in Zanzibar are becoming engaged in vegetable production. This gives them more food for their families, generates cash [...]
A step forward in turning ‘forgotten foods’ into ‘opportunity crops’
A step forward in turning ‘forgotten foods’ into ‘opportunity crops’ The prestigious scientific journal, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS), announced the winners of its Cozzarelli Prize on 18 March 2024. [...]
A Sustainable Agrifood Systems Approach for Sudan (SASAS): Vegetables for Income, Nutrition and Employment in Sudan (VINES), 2022-2024
A Sustainable Agrifood Systems Approach for Sudan (SASAS) A Sustainable Agrifood Systems Approach for Sudan (SASAS): Vegetables for Income, Nutrition and Employment in Sudan (VINES), 2022-2024 Funder: USAID Project lead: CIMMYT [...]
WorldVeg’s Offices in Africa: 📍 Eastern & Southern Africa Office – 📍 West & Central Africa Office (Dry Regions) – 📍 West & Central Africa Office (Humid Regions)
Asia
Bitter gourd bounty – second of a series on our wonderful world of vegetables
Bitter gourd bounty – second of a series on our wonderful world of vegetables This tells the story of the bitter gourd, from its origins in Africa and its spread to Asia [...]
New pepper varieties released in Taiwan and Nigeria
New pepper varieties released in Taiwan and Nigeria In Taiwan, bell pepper seeds are mostly imported from abroad, are susceptible to impacts of international trade, and many varieties are not suitable to [...]
Towards deeper collaboration between WorldVeg and the Republic of Korea
Towards deeper collaboration between WorldVeg and the Republic of Korea During Vegetable Science Day on 2 November 2023, at the start of the golden jubilee celebrations of the World Vegetable Center at [...]
WorldVeg’s Offices in Asia: 📍 Headquarters in Taiwan – 📍 South & Central Asia Office – 📍 East & Southeast Asia Office
Latin America / Caribbean
CARDI and WorldVeg sign MOU to strengthen fruit and vegetable value chains in the Caribbean
Sustainably developing production and distribution of produce to benefit people across the Caribbean.
Growth Habit
Perspectives to expand your view of vegetables
Asia-Pacific seed trade slowly emerges from COVID-19 lockdowns
In early April surveys showed reduced demand for sowing seed of all crops, problems in seed production, and difficulties in international seed shipment. Two months on, there have been clear improvements in nearly all aspects, though challenges remain.
Build diverse food systems for post-COVID-19 world
The crisis underlines three important points: the importance of science and innovation; the vulnerability of billions of people at the bottom of the pyramid; and the need for more diversified, nutritious, and resilient food systems.
Asia-Pacific seed trade reeling from COVID-19 lockdown
Severe restrictions on the movements of people and goods imposed in recent weeks are having widespread negative effects on the seed industry in the Asia-Pacific region with international seed trade particularly affected, a survey of seed companies finds.
Diets in a time of coronavirus: Don’t let vegetables fall off the plate
Vegetables are a key source of essential nutrition and play a crucial role in healthy diets. Jody Harris, the World Vegetable Center's Lead Specialist for Food Systems, explains that vegetable production, trade and consumption are particularly affected by COVID-19 because of their highly seasonal nature, high labor needs, perishability, and the need for good storage and distribution logistics—with significant implications for nutrition security.
RECENT RESEARCH
Visit HARVEST, the WorldVeg digital document archive:
MY SUCCESS
Vegetable innovations key to unlocking potential of women farmers
In Tanzania, exposure to best farming practices opens new opportunities for enterprising farmer Pendael Paulo.
Tiny, tasty, and packed with nutrients
Ms. Adolat Berdieva produces cherry tomatoes in a low-cost greenhouse she built herself.
Traditional vegetables ease farmers’ finances
Farmer groups pay down debt as demand for healthy traditional vegetables goes up.
Cultivating a taste for traditional African vegetables
Omari Hamisi uses a proven marketing method to develop a customer base for his vegetable crops in Pemba.
WorldVeg’s Donors
Support for World Vegetable Center activities is provided by project donors and the following long-term strategic donors.
Thanks to UK aid from the UK government, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the governments of Taiwan, Germany, Thailand, the Philippines, South Korea and Japan.
