AVRDC was set up in 1973 as a joint effort between the ROC, the U.S., Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, and West Germany. The Center is part of Crop Genetic Resources, a worldwide organization that receives and disseminates seeds in bulk all over the globe.
而亞蔬中心負責這項工作的單位是「種源種子研究室」（Genetic Resources and Seed Unit）。亞蔬中心成立於民國六十二年，是一個國際性的農業研究中心，它由美國、西德、日本、泰國、菲律賓、韓國及我國組成，由會員國成立理事會，下設中心。