• Milestones
• Goals

• Recognizing the need for increased vegetable production and consumptioon in the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Singapore moved to institute a collaborative network on vegetable research and development in the region. Subsequently, the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) at the 20th meeting held in Hanoi, VIetnam, 17-18 September 1998, approved Singapore's initiative in establishing the ASEAN-AVRDC Regional Network on Vegetable Research and Development, also known as AARNET. The meeting came to a conclusion that AARNET will promote sustainable and improved production of good quality and safe vegetables for consumption and trade. The Network will also enhance vegetable R&D cooperation as well as the development of indigenous vegetable related industries within ASEAN.


• The first meeting of the AARNET was held in Singapore, 24-25 August 1999. During the meeting, Singapore was unanimously voted as the chair of the network. The meeting also set the goals of AARNET. Subsequently, the 21st AMAF meeting held in Brunei Darussalam, 28-29 October 1999, endorsed the recommendation of the AARNET meet.
• The second meeting was held in Singapore, 14-15 September 2000. Eight projects were proposed as platforms for regional collaboration.More on the Proposed Projects of AARNET>>
• The 22nd AMAF meeting, 26-27 October 2000, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, resolved that: "Regarding the importance of vegetable production in improving the nutrition and income status in ASEAN, the Ministers approved eight projects proposed by AARNET. The Ministers acknowledged that close cooperation between ASEAN and AVRDC would contribute to the development of vegetable production in ASEAN."
• The AARNET forum, held on 24-26 September 2001, was organized by Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center, Agri-food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore and the Secretariat of the ASEAN. The forum's objectives are to (1) review the progress made in each ASEAN member country on the implementation of the proposed projects, and understand the factors that limit progress; (2) agree on necessary adjustments in the proposed projects based on the main findings from the priority questionnaire survey to ensure the relevance and effectiveness of the projects; (3) capitalize the experts' views on the opportunities that lie ahead in relation to the proposed projects; (4) explore the possibility of interacting and collaborating with other on-going ASEAN working groups, regional networks, bilateral projects, and national programs in ASEAN to reinforce regional complementaries; (5) agree on a clear agenda for collaboration, feasible work plans, draft project proposals, and workable logistical arrangements.

::Goals

1. Foster partnerships among ASEAN Member countries in order to narrow the gap in vegetable research and development capacity in the region;
2. Develop collaborative research on common problems through a more efficient use of available expertise and resources within ASEAN;
3. Facilitate the generation and adoption of improved materials and technologies through collaborative research, information exchange and scientific consultation;
4. Strengthen linkages with the international agricultural research community to channel resources and expertise to the region.

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