The Role of AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center in vegetable value chain

AVRDC -The World Vegetable Center is the principal international agricultural research center dedicated to vegetable research and development. Using an interdisciplinary approach, AVRDC works with its partners in various countries to develop and disseminate technologies and information on vegetable value chains. The Center collects, conserves, and distributes vegetable genetic resources. These resources are subjected to systematic evaluation and characterization to identify desirable sources for enhanced food and nutritional security, develop improved varieties and crop management options with potential to expand production opportunities, and meet market demand for nutritious vegetables with less health risk and environmental damage. The Center encourages the participation of smallholders and other actors along the supply chain in all research and development activities, and promotes consumption of diverse and safe vegetables with enhanced nutritional qualities and nutraceutical potential to improve the health of rural and urban poor consumers.