ARC-VEGETABLE AND ORNAMENTAL PLANT INSTITUTE (ARC-VOPI) ________________________________________________________________________________________

ARC-VOPI (ARC-Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute) is doing innovative, need-driven, environment friendly research, technology development and technology transfer on potatoes, vegetables (hydroponic production as well as indigenous vegetables) and indigenous flowers. Research is aimed at both the commercial and developing agricultural sector.

The institute has established a proud record of service to the agricultural industry and a large number of the potato and vegetable cultivars planted in South Africa at present, have been developed by ARC-VOPI. The improvement of indigenous ornamental plants has also received a great deal of attention, as has indigenous vegetable crops, natural products and indigenous medicinal plants.

ARC-VOPI is also a recognised roleplayer in the field of plant biotechnology.

Training courses on vegetable production, including potato, sweetpotato, indigenous and medicinal plants for resource poor farmers, were developed by the institute. These range from basic courses, dealing with the basic principles of vegetable production, to more advanced courses.

This institute was established in 1949 when the Roodeplaat farm was bought. The head office of the institute is situated about 25 km north of central Pretoria, on the Moloto/KwaMhlanga(R573) road; GPS coordinates: 25,56S;28,35E. The farm covers approximately 4 000 ha, of which only 650 ha is irrigable land.