For the first time an International Conference on Indigenous Vegetables and Legumes is being jointly organized by AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Bioversity International, the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) and the Global Horticulture Initiative, at ICRISAT's Patancheru campus from 12 to 15 December.

More than 220 scientists working on indigenous vegetables and legumes are participating in this Conference. The Conference aims to create awareness on the importance of indigenous vegetables and legumes to food security, crop and food diversification, and improvement of nutrition and health (of both humans and livestock).

Eminent agricultural scientist, Dr MS Swaminathan will be the Chief Guest at the inaugural function to be held on 12 December morning. Dr Mangala Rai, Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR); Dr William Dar, Director General of ICRISAT; Dr Thomas Lumpkin, Director General of AVRDC; and Dr Emile Frison, Director General of Bioversity International, will also be present for the inaugural session and the Press Meet that follows the session.

The International Conference will help focus the attention of the scientists and policy makers on indigenous vegetables and legume crops. The four-day Conference is expected to create a forum of experts in the field of indigenous vegetable and legume research and development. This forum will develop strategies and work to promote the use of indigenous vegetables and legumes worldwide.