The Center recently changed its e-mail system and mail sent to avrdc.org addresses will no longer be received. Please check the contacts above for current e-mail addresses.

Our mission
To alleviate poverty and malnutrition in the developing world through
the increased production and consumption of safe vegetables.

News

Bitter gourd: High value, high input

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) is regarded as one of the world’s major vegetable crops and has great economic importance. It also is a promising candidate as a remedy that can help millions in the developing world who suffer from metabolic disorders such as type-2 diabetes. These positive features may make bitter gourd look like an all-purpose crop; however, to be successful on a global scale, this indigenous crop requires attention from breeders as well as production system specialists. Read more

Scoring high:
High beta-carotene tomatoes for West Africa

Vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem in more than half of all countries, especially in Africa and Southeast Asia, hitting hardest young children and pregnant women. High beta-carotene tomatoes could be a principal crop in the battle to fight vitamin A deficiency in sub-Saharan Africa. Beta-carotene is converted by the human body into vitamin A. Two high beta-carotene lines from AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center, CLN2366A and CLN2366B, recently have been evaluated for adaptation to the semi-arid conditions in West Africa. The results are promising. Read more