The future of African vegetable biodiversity ensured through a new genetic resources ‘rescue plan’

Representatives of plant genetic resources networks from across Africa validated a new African Vegetable Biodiversity Rescue Plan in Mbabane, Eswatini, on 15 December 2023. This followed a series of inclusive stakeholder consultations that helped to develop and review this crucial document. The two-day workshop was opened by the Minister of Agriculture of Eswatini, after welcome remarks from representatives of the African Union Commission, and the Taiwan Embassy in Eswatini, among others.

   

The now validated Rescue Plan provides a road map to guide future actions with three principal aims that will boost nutrition, income, and adaptation to climate change. These are, to (i) strengthen investment to rescue and conserve African vegetable biodiversity, (ii) engage in innovative research partnerships that promote sustainable use of African vegetable biodiversity, and (iii) include African vegetable biodiversity in policies to address national, regional and global challenges.

The development of the rescue plan was coordinated by the World Vegetable Center in partnership with technical Working Group on Plant Genetic Resources Management of the African Union Commission (AUC PGRM-WG), with financial support from the Republic of China (Taiwan), through the Taiwan Africa Vegetable Initiative (TAVI).

African Vegetable Biodiversity Rescue Plan validation workshop participants, December 2023, Mbabane, Eswatini

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