Vegetable Science International Network (VEGINET)

Abstract

At the International Conference on Vegetables held 11–14 Nov. 2002 in Bangalore, India, about 700 participants from 37 countries across the globe discussed more than 600 papers and posters presented on its 13 theme areas of scientific, technological, and economic importance. It was recognized that this phenomenal knowledge and much more of it that is globally available and will be available in the future should be collected, consolidated and easily retrieved and shared for appropriate use by the stakeholders. Therefore, the General Assembly of the Conference ICV-2002 decided to establish the Vegetable Science International Network (VEGINET). The goal of VEGINET will be to strengthen partnership and inter-institutional cooperation among the member organizations of the vegetable sector toward improved production and utilization of vegetables. The main objectives will be to strengthen/promote vegetable research and development by facilitating inter- and intra-regional and inter-institutional cooperation; promote partnership between public and private sectors for improving vegetable production; facilitate development of human resources; promote improved and sustainable production of vegetables for food; develop a collaborative network for dissemination of information among the member organizations; and facilitate building of a sustainable infrastructure from the farm to the consumer and processor. The rising challenge, structure and membership, partnership, human resource development, mandate and strategy, activities, and resource generation of the VEGINET will be explained during the presentation.