World Vegetable Center: Global Initiative for Vegetable Biodiversity Takes Root
23 March 2026
A year ago, a small but influential group of crop diversity experts gathered at the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center in northern Italy to discuss a shared concern: the loss of vegetable biodiversity – and how to stop it.
Hosted by WorldVeg, the get-together came amid growing concern that global food systems were failing both people and the planet, and that vegetables should play a much larger role in healthier, more sustainable diets. At the same time, vegetables – and the genetic diversity that underpins them – were underrepresented in research programmes, genebanks and development investments. Something needed to be done.
Stefan Schmitz, Executive Director of the Crop Trust, said: “Vegetables are central to food security. They are a foundation to build more resilient food systems and balanced, healthy diets. Yet this crop diversity has long been overlooked.
Opening our Power of Diversity Funding Facility to support Vegetables4Life creates a practical path for donors to support the collection, conservation and use of vegetable diversity worldwide.”