TRANSFORMING THE VEGETABLE SECTOR

A three-pronged approach to making vegetables available, accessible, affordable, and acceptable

To realign agro-food systems with innovations to provide healthy diets with nutrient-dense vegetables in a sustainable manner, there is a need to address three agendas at the same time: Push (production and supply), Pull (demand and engagement), and Policy (legislation and governance).

PUSH:

BOOST THE SUPPLY OF SAFE, NUTRIENT-DENSE VEGETABLES IN A SUSTAINABLE MANNER

  • Build effective and sustainable vegetable seed systems
  • Raise vegetable productivity
  • Extend the growing season
  • Curb postharvest losses of vegetables
  • Transport vegetables along the food value chain

PULL:

CREATE DEMAND FOR VEGETABLES

  • Target consumer behavior with public policies, strategies, and interventions to shift consumption patterns toward increasing intake of nutrient-rich vegetables.
  • Use social media, radio and TV programs, mobile phone apps, celebrity endorsements, and nutrient-based guidelines at point-of-sale (retail) and point-of-service (food service) to increase knowledge about the importance of vegetables.
  • Establish home gardening programs engaging children, and school gardening programs involving parents.
  • Provide nutrition/vegetable education programs in schools.
  • Hold farmers’ markets, festivals, awards, and virtual events to inspire vegetable consumption.

POLICY:

ENSURE A HEALTHY DIET FOR ALL

  • Align food policy with public health initiatives.
  • Address the lack of vegetables through ‘reverse thinking’, starting with the objective to provide adequate and affordable healthy diets for all.
  • Offer incentives to encourage the production of nutrient-rich vegetables
  • Provide quality vegetable seeds adapted to local environments
  • Investment in cold-chain and transport infrastructure to reduce vegetable losses
  • Promote labeling and traceability to ensure food safety of marketed vegetables
  • Process vegetables into a wide variety of products to add value.
  • Invest in effective initiatives, research and development, and partnerships to change the way nutrient-rich vegetables are produced and consumed.
  • Provide better access to data and knowledge and improved governance to balance the interests of all actors involved in vegetable-rich food systems.

The profound shift to vegetable-rich food systems will:

  • Increase significant employment opportunities beyond farm production to include activities along food value chains such as food processing, transportation, retailing, digital platforms, restaurants, and other services.
  • Provide jobs for women and the growing number of youth in urban areas.
  • Sustain the environment, as vegetable-rich food systems lead to much greater reductions in CO2emissions

A STRATEGY FOR IMPACT

With more than 2 billion people worldwide lacking the vitamins and minerals needed for good health, and another 2 billion struggling with overweight, obesity and the chronic diseases they cause, it’s clear our food systems must change—to nourish people, not merely feed them.

In 2016-2017, World Vegetable Center staff, board members, and partners embarked on a series of meetings and discussions to develop a new strategy that better orients the Center to realize the immense potential of vegetables to improve nutrition and incomes.

World Vegetable Center Strategy 2017-2025: Healthier lives, more resilient livelihoods introduces a new structure in which discovery research, piloting innovations, and scaling best technologies and practices continuously inform and improve the Center’s work and impact.

Linkages between strategic research flagships, partners, outcomes and impact

The Center implements its science for development agenda through three outcome-oriented ‘flagship programs’:

and one cross-cutting flagship program:

These flagship programs are based on relative strengths, identified trends, and potential for impact. They bring together WorldVeg staff and partners from the public and private sector, from research and development organizations, and from farmer organizations and civil society.

EVOLUTION of the World Vegetable Center logo

The World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg) was established in 1971 as the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC) in Taiwan.

To reflect its activities in Asia and beyond, in 2008 the institution began using the name AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center.

In 2017, recognition of the Center’s expanding global reach led to a new strategy, a new logo, and a shorter, more memorable name: World Vegetable Center.

Our refreshed logo highlights the color and vitality of vegetables and emphasizes the importance of horticulture to the world. This brighter perspective serves as a reminder of the Center’s dedication to the Sustainable Development Goals.