Africa needs to improve the conservation of plant genetic resources, not only to reduce the risk of extinction of underutilized species, but also to ensure that they contribute to healthy diets and poverty alleviation. One of the centers dedicated to addressing this problem is the World Vegetable Center in Arusha, Tanzania. The center's genebank identifies, collects, and conserves genetic resources of traditional African vegetables, including endangered vegetables from across Africa to maintain the continent’s biological diversity as well as to improve food crops for future generations.