The World Vegetable Center, also known as AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center, is an international nonprofit research and development organization. It focuses on vegetable research and development to improve the livelihoods and nutrition of people, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The center researches vegetable genetics, breeding, production, and post-harvest technologies, aiming to develop high-yielding, nutritious, and resilient vegetable varieties suitable for diverse agroecological conditions. Additionally, it provides training, capacity building, and technical assistance to farmers, researchers, and policymakers worldwide.

The World Vegetable Center is also commonly referred as “WorldVeg” for short. It’s a convenient abbreviation that reflects its focus on vegetable research and development.