stories from the March 2019 Fresh
Amaranth amazes in Africa
Farmers in Kenya are ready to help select improved amaranth cultivars.
Seed consortium for Africa takes root in Tanzania
The new African Vegetable Breeding Consortium (AVBC) held its first workshop on 11-12 March 2019 at the World Vegetable Center Eastern and Southern Africa office in Arusha, Tanzania. The 41 participants included scientists from WorldVeg headquarters and all regional centers, nine diverse African vegetable seed companies, the Tanzanian Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), the Tanzania Seed Trade Association (TASTA), and AFSTA.
A difficult moth to manage
More than 70 researchers from around the world have gathered at World Vegetable Center headquarters in Shanhua, Taiwan to participate in the 8th International Conference on Management of the Diamondback Moth and Other Crucifer Insect Pests. Organized in conjunction with Cornell University, the conference is exploring how Plutella xylostella, a difficult-to-control lepidopteran pest, is responding to climate change. The conference runs from 4-8 March 2019.
Seed links Taiwan, Thailand and WorldVeg
Improved vegetable varieties developed by Taiwan seed companies and trialed in Thailand can invigorate the seed industry in Southeast Asia.
AARDO and WorldVeg renew MoU
MoU RENEWED: The Afro-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) and WorldVeg renewed a Memorandum of Understanding on 19 February 2019 to explore opportunities and coordinate efforts to address sustainable diversification of food systems, good agricultural and manufacturing practices, and safe and sustainable development of vegetable value chains. The ultimate objective of this collaboration is to contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG1 and SDG2. AARDO, formed in 1962, is an inter-governmental organization with 17 members from Africa, 14 from Asia, and 2 associate members.