01 · Kokonas
Photo: © European Union / Fiona Goodall · CC BY 4.0
Saraoutou · Espiritu Santo · Vanuatu
Welkam long VARTC
Vanuatu's agricultural research centre since 1962 — the seeds, palms, herds and people behind the nation's gardens and farms.
Wan naesfala ples we i hid
A hidden national jewel
On Santo's east coast, between the sea and a volcanic-ash plateau, a research station has bred better coconuts, yams, cocoa and cattle for more than sixty years.
World-class coconut science — In the early 2000s Saraoutou was described as the second-largest coconut research facility in the world, after India's CPCRI.[1]
A living treasure house — 463 yam, 288 aroid and 330 cassava varieties, 44 coconut populations, 86 cocoa clones and 150 breadfruit (2016).[2][3][4]
Seed for every province — A national seed-bank network with 18 Provincial Seed Bank Officers linked to VARTC.[5]
Photo: VARTC (2016 website)
Visen · Mison · Valiu
Vision, mission & values
Vision
“Centre of tropical agricultural research excellence of Vanuatu” — Strategic Plan 2023–27 aim, as reported.[12]
[TO CONFIRM official vision wording]
Mission
Official wording to be supplied by VARTC [TO CONFIRM]
Values
Official values to be supplied by VARTC [TO CONFIRM]
Stat long 1962
Since 1962
Six decades, five names, one station. Scroll the story.
Photo: VARTC (2016 website)
1962
A coconut station is born
IRHO, the French oil-crops institute, founds the Saraoutou coconut research station: coconut breeding, agronomy and cattle grazing under the palms.
Photo: J.P. Labouisse (CIRAD)
1960s
The disease that made a breeding programme
Exotic palms die of a new wilt while the local Vanuatu Tall stays healthy — the discovery of Coconut Foliar Decay Virus. Tolerance becomes the station's guiding trait.
Photo: VARTC (2016 website)
1967
Charolais under the coconuts
A Charolais crossbreeding programme begins. Crossbred cattle later lift the productivity of the coconut grove by about 15%.
Photo: VARTC (2016 website)
1982
Cocoa and coffee
IRCC opens a coffee and cocoa unit at Valeteruru; soon after, both institutes become part of CIRAD.
Photo: VARTC (2016 website)
1994
A national centre
The station becomes the Vanuatu Agricultural Research and Training Centre. In 1998 yam, taro, sweet potato, cassava and kava join the mandate.
Photo: VARTC (2016 website)
2003
VARTC by law
The VARTC Act creates the statutory Vanuatu Agricultural Research and Technical Centre — CTRAV in French — with a CEO, Board and Scientific Advisory Council.
Photo: VARTC (2016 website)
2017
Yams named for heroes
Hybrid yams 'Dr Roger', 'White Waelu' and 'Jerome' honour a scientist and two farmers.
Photo: VARTC (2016 website)
Today
Seed for the nation
A first Strategic Plan (2023–27), new varieties, and a national seed-bank network anchored at Saraoutou.
Ol namba
By the numbers
Only figures we can source. Each links to its evidence.
1962
Year the Saraoutou research station was founded
44
Coconut varieties and populations in the collection (2016)
463
Yam varieties conserved (2016)
86
Cocoa clones in the collection (2016)
355,000
Improved Vanuatu Tall seednuts a year: seed-garden capacity
18
Provincial Seed Bank Officers (2026)
4,729
Research publications in the VARTC Knowledge Hub
Risej
Our research programmes
Seven programmes, each with its own collections, breeding and services for farmers.
Photo: VARTC (2016 website)
From Saraoutou to your garden
Improved seednuts, cocoa pods and seedlings, grafted citrus, pepper, root-crop planting material, Panicum C1 pasture, breeding bulls and heifers, and Santo coffee.
Get planting materialOl hero blong VARTC
Heroes of VARTC
The Centre's greatest harvest is its people. Meet the scientists, field staff and farmers who built it — starting with our featured hero.
VL
Dr Vincent Lebot
Root-crops and kava scientist; head of the CIRAD-VARTC root-crops programme since 1998; mentor of Dr Roger Malapa, the first ni-Vanuatu PhD in science.
Enter the Hall of Fame64 years of milestones
1962
IRHO · The coconut station
IRHO · The coconut station
1982
IRCC · Cocoa and coffee
IRCC · Cocoa and coffee
1984/85
CIRAD · One station, one research family
CIRAD · One station, one research family
1994
VARTC / CARFV · A national centre is born
VARTC / CARFV · A national centre is born
Nius
Latest news
Vanuatu Daily Post
Department of Climate Change
DoCC monitoring visit to Santo highlights progress in climate-resilient agriculture
5 May 2026
Vanuatu Daily Post
VARTC showcases innovation and legacy in agricultural research
12 Jul 2025
Trening
Train with us
Farmer courses, school visits, university internships and research attachments. Roger Malapa became the country's first PhD in science — the next one could be you.
Training & InternshipsPhoto: VARTC (2016 website)
Built together
Six decades of partnership with Vanuatu's government, Pacific and international research, donors and NGOs.
CIRADACIARSPCNew Zealand MFATEuropean UnionDARDMALFFBCrop TrustCOGENTBioversity / IPGRIIACAsian Development Bank
Sources on this page
- Vanuatu Daily Post, 12 Jul 2025 (Bruce Tamata)
- VARTC website, Root Crops Section (2016)
- VARTC website, Coconut Section (2016)
- VARTC website, Horticulture Section (2016)
- Dept of Climate Change (DoCC), May 2026 — CFF monitoring visit
- VARTC website, History (2016)
- Labouisse et al. 2004, OCL — coconut improvement in Vanuatu
- Coulon, Chazal & Calvez, IRHO Saraoutou cattle-under-coconut review
- Vanuatu Daily Post, 28 Jun 2017 — hybrid yam named after late Dr Roger
- VARTC website, Cocoa Program (2016)
- UNCTAD coconut summit presentation (VARTC)
- Vanuatu Daily Post, 15 Jul 2023 — First VARTC Strategic Plan launched