AGRA, WorldVeg join forces to put vegetables at the heart of Africa’s food future

AFRICA – Vegetables are set to take a bigger role in Africa’s agriculture as AGRA and the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg) formalize a new partnership to boost supply, improve diets, and create jobs.

For decades, most agricultural research and funding in Africa has centered on staple crops such as maize, rice, and beans.

While these crops remain essential for food security, experts are calling for greater attention on vegetables, which can help improve nutrition, generate income, and give farmers more options in the face of climate change.

“Vegetables have significant potential across the domains of diets, employment and resilience in Africa,” said Marco Wopereis, Director General of WorldVeg. He signed the agreement with AGRA President Alice Ruhweza in Dakar, Senegal, during the Africa Food Systems Forum.

“This agreement lays the foundation for the central role of vegetables in the future of African food systems.”

The partnership builds on earlier work in Mali and Tanzania, where the two organizations developed youth-focused vegetable market gardens. The new deal expands this collaboration to cover seed systems, policy support, and farmer training.

Seeds, skills, and stronger systems

Millions of African farmers still struggle to access affordable, good quality vegetable seed, leaving them vulnerable to poor harvests and unstable incomes. The agreement aims to change this by supporting local seed enterprises and improving distribution networks.

Training programs for women and youth will also play a key role. These programs will help farmers adopt climate-friendly practices and boost yields, while also improving diets in both rural and urban communities.

Policy support is included, ensuring that governments can create stronger frameworks for vegetable production and consumption.

“This is a fantastic moment for WorldVeg to formally partner with AGRA – a pan-African institution that is leading the transformation of Africa’s food systems,” said Gabriel Rugalema, WorldVeg Associate Director General for Africa.

“The landscape is rapidly changing for vegetables, with more and more organizations seeing their potential to contribute to multiple Sustainable Development Goals. We’re really forward to working with AGRA to realise the power of vegetables for farmers and consumers across Africa.”

A broader global strategy

The agreement comes just a week after WorldVeg launched its new Global Strategy 2026–2033 in Dakar. The strategy places vegetables at the center of the fight against malnutrition, poverty, and climate change. It introduces the Push-Pull-Policy Framework, which tackles supply, demand, and policy barriers to maximize both production and consumption.

“During uncertain times, we must stay aligned with the world’s most pressing societal and environmental challenges,” said Wopereis. He noted that vegetables can address shifting diets, rapid urbanization, climate change, and rising health burdens.

WorldVeg plans to double its annual operating budget from USD30 million to USD60 million to strengthen its research programs and expand its work in Africa and other regions.

The organization will continue to focus on improving key crops like tomato and pepper while promoting traditional vegetables such as amaranth, which hold promise for African farmers.

By aligning the AGRA partnership with its new global strategy, WorldVeg hopes to build momentum for vegetables as a central driver of healthier diets, better incomes, and more resilient food systems in Africa and beyond.

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