Mission:
The alleviation of poverty and malnutrition in the developing world through the increased production and consumption of nutritious and health-promoting vegetables.

Founding
The Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center was founded on 22 May 1971 by the Asian Development Bank, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Thailand, USA, Vietnam, and the Republic of China (Taiwan) with a mandate to work in tropical Asia. The headquarters campus in Taiwan was dedicated on 17 October 1973.

Our name:
As the Center gained expertise and capacity, it expanded into sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, and South Asia. In 2008, the organization adopted a new name — AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center — to reflect its global scope.

Annual budget:
Approximately US$18 million, with the majority of funding from national governments and major private foundations. Donors include the Asia & Pacific Seed Association, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Germany’s GIZ/BMZ, Republic of China, United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, United States Agency for International Development, UK Department for International Development.

Management & Structure:
Independent, not-for-profit international agricultural research institute run by a management team that reports to an international Board of Directors. The organizational structure accommodates regional project management and efficient global coordination.

Staff:
Approximately 300 staff with around 50 internationally recruited scientists and professionals

Headquarters:
Shanhua, Taiwan.  The Center is the only international agricultural research center headquartered in a Chinese-speaking country.

Regional offices:

Sub-regional offices:

  • Central & West Asia and North Africa – Tashkent, Uzbekistan
  • National Horticultural Research Institute – Suwon, Korea

Liaison offices:

  • Yaounde, Cameroon

Training station:

  • East and Southeast Asia Research and Training Station – Kamphaeng Saen, Thailand

Outreach project offices:

  • Maroua, Cameroon
  • Sikasso, Mali
  • Java, Indonesia
  • Malang, Indonesia
  • Sigatoka, Fiji
  • Honiaria, Solomon Islands
  • Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Ranchi, Ludhiana, Bhubabeswar, Chickmagalur, and Raichur, India

Principal partners:
National agricultural research and extension systems and nongovernment organizations in developing countries; the private seed sector; research universities.