Launching the African Vegetable Biodiversity Rescue Plan

The African Vegetable Biodiversity Rescue Plan was launched on 2 September 2024 during a side event at the start of this year’s African Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Rwanda. Attended by more than 300 people, WorldVeg Director General Marco Wopereis put forward a strong case for the urgent need for action, as part of a global initiative that is gaining momentum. Maarten van Zonneveld, WorldVeg Head of Genetic Resources then presented the ten-year plan that will conserve and use African vegetable biodiversity for current and future generations. Sarada Krishnan Director of Programmes at the Crop Trust also shared their involvement in this African rescue plan as a crucial component of global efforts.

Download the full rescue plan here (50 pages)           Download the summary brief here (2 pages)

That such a large and diverse group of professionals were present, added weight to emphasizing the value of investing in a sustainable future for vegetable conservation and use. After the opening remarks, an expert panel shared their views, including Mary Onyango from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture in Kenya, Clement Adjorlolo of AUDA -NEPAD representing the African Union, Sognibe N’Danikou, WorldVeg Traditional Vegetable Scientist, Gloria Otieno from the Alliance of Biodiversity International and CIAT, Nelson Mavuso from the Eswatini Ministry of Agriculture, and Micheal Bittrick, Senior Advisor for the US Department of State’s Office of Global Food Security.

Honorable Mizengo Pinda, Chairman of the Tanzania Presidential Food and Agriculture Delivery Council and former Prime Minister of Tanzania, was also introduced by Gabrial Rugalema, WorldVeg Associate Director General – Africa, and who provided insights of the growing concerns from malnutrition, and underlined the urgent need for increased access to more diverse diets including nutrient dense foods such as vegetables.

The launch also opened doors conversations for more than 30 bilateral engagements that followed. Deep dive discussions regarding the rescue plan and other WorldVeg initiatives continued during side meetings, including a session on knowledge market platforms hosted in partnership with CIMMYT. Another first was a meeting of more than 80 people at a ‘Friends of WorldVeg’ event, where initial results of a survey on the future of the organization were shared and more inputs were received from partners, and that helped to refine the WorldVeg 2026-2033 strategy, under development. WorldVeg also had a booth that attracted more than 250 visitors, who were keen to learn more about the Center’s research and development initiatives.

Roundtable discussion with CIMMYT, WorldVeg and partners

For a selection of new stories, see:

News stories

Rescue plan for the endangered African indigenous vegetable varieties launched | The Citizen
Climate change wiping out Africa’s traditional vegetables
$12m needed annually to save endangered African vegetables – The New Times

Interview with Gabriel Rugalema, WorldVeg Associate Director General – Africa

Rescuing Africa’s endangered vegetable species for posterity – CNBC Africa