African Vegetable Breeding Consortium (AVBC)

African Vegetable Breeding Consortium (AVBC) 

The Africa Vegetable Breeding Consortium (AVBC) is a joint initiative of the World Vegetable Center and the Africa Seed Trade Association (AFSTA), created to strengthen the vegetable seed sector across Africa.

Established in 2018, the AVBC enables companies to:

  • Learn about the latest developments in vegetable breeding research.
  • Obtain improved breeding material such as varieties, inbred lines and hybrids.
  • Meet breeders and researchers to strengthen their technical networks.
  • Share knowledge with seed companies across Africa.
  • Invest in joint projects aligned with company needs.

Membership is open exclusively to AFSTA members in good standing and supports small, regional, and international seed companies.

WorldVeg is an autonomous, non-profit agricultural research institute committed to improving vegetable biodiversity, varieties, and production systems through global partnerships.

Special Project: New Tomato & Pepper Varieties

WorldVeg proposes a collaborative breeding strategy where AVBC members jointly support the development of new tomato and pepper cultivars adapted to African markets. WorldVeg provides genetic resources, training, and technical backstopping.

Objective

Strengthen tomato and pepper breeding programs among AVBC members to accelerate the development and release of varieties suited to African conditions.

Activities

WorldVeg may annually share selected breeding lines for observation nurseries, evaluation trials, and demonstrations. Trial protocols will be provided to member companies.

  • Germplasm sharing: 20 pepper and 20 tomato breeding lines with proven multi-location performance across Sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Capacity strengthening: Hands-on training for up to two staff members per company at the WorldVeg regional office in Benin.
  • Technical backstopping: Support for hybrid testing at WorldVeg stations in Benin, Mali, and Tanzania.