The acronym IVTC has become well known in agricultural research circles in Asia over the years. The first International Vegetable Training Course (IVTC) was organized by the World Vegetable Center in 1983 at their Research and Training Station in the Kamphaengsaen Campus of Kasetsart University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. And held every year since in the same place, unbroken over four decades, the 40^th was held on 13-24 November 2023.

Funding and support from the Taiwan allowed the participation of eight agricultural officers from seven member countries of the African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO); one each from Bangladesh, India, Jordan, Namibia, Oman and Pakistan, and two from Malaysia. Include this year’s intake, this means that to date, a total of 990 people (30% women) from 59 different countries, have benefited from the knowledge, insight and experience gained from these in-depth and hand-on training courses.

This training course focused on safe vegetable production. Topics included: good agriculture practices for vegetable crops (GAP certification), developing GAP standards using a case study approach, assessment diseases of vegetable crops and their management related to GAP standards, a global perspective on disease management as part of safe vegetable production, principles of regenerative agriculture for better soil health in vegetable production, vegetable grafting, sustainable soil fertility management, nematode diseases of vegetables and their management, use of protected cultivation for vegetable crops, integrated pest management for key vegetable crops, and postharvest management and processing.

Appreciating good agricultural practices

Assessing fruit quality

Assessing soil health

Practicing vegetable grafting

Sharing postharvest experiences

Understanding nematode diseases

Experts in involved in the training came from Kasetsart University, the Royal Project Foundation, Plant Protection Research and Development Office, National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards Bangkok Thailand, National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), and the World Vegetable Center. Training included a blend of classroom lectures, hands-on exercises, and field visits.