The seed strains have different strengths and weaknesses, which make them fit for some environments but not for others. The AVRDC has three related goals: to breed strains which can resist tropical diseases; to raise the seeds 'level of nutrition; and to develop new kinds of vegetable seeds.
研究重點是設法在熱帶地區育成既能抵擋主要病蟲害，增加營養價值，又能提高產量的蔬菜新品種。然而，糧食種類多得很，為什麼以蔬菜為研究重點？