Across the tropics and subtropics, farmers face a tightening squeeze: rising pest pressure, declining soil fertility, unpredictable rainfall, and the escalating cost of chemical inputs. What the new Vetiver System biological‑control module makes clear is that a single, elegant solution—vetiver…
Liyu Xu, China Vetiver Network Coordinator, and his team from The National Institute of Soils (Nanjing), as well as many others, notably Xia Hanping (South China Institute of Botany), Lu Zhong-Xian (Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of…
Across the tropics, farmers are fighting a battle on two fronts: declining soil health and rising pest pressure. For decades, the response has been predictable—more chemicals, deeper tillage, and higher costs. But a quiet revolution is spreading across Africa, Asia,…
For decades, root‑knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) have quietly undermined tropical agriculture, reducing yields in bananas, chilli peppers, tomatoes, cassava, sweet potato, and dozens of other crops. Their damage is often misdiagnosed as drought stress or nutrient deficiency, leaving farmers with…
The Microbial Engine Behind Vetiver’s Exceptional Performance . Across the tropics, vetiver grass has earned its reputation as one of the world’s most resilient biological tools for soil and water conservation. Its deep, fibrous roots anchor slopes, its dense hedges…
The Five Non‑Negotiables for Successful Vetiver System Establishment Effective vetiver installations don’t happen by chance. They require disciplined quality management with trained supervision to ensure every step—from cultivar selection to long‑term maintenance—meets Vetiver Grass Technology (VGT) design and application standards. When these…
The Vetiver System in 2025 The most outstanding aspect of the Vetiver System in 2025 were the people of the VS global community. WhatsApp groups in India and Latin America, the monthly Latin American Conversatorios, and numerous active Facebook groups…
From Scarred Mines to Blueberry Fields: A Story of Restoration from South China. In Baisha Town, Yingde City, the scars of illegal rare earth mining once defined the landscape. Jagged rocks and barren soil stretched across Mendong Village’s Fourth Pond,…
A testimonial from Alois Kennerknecht : The Vetiver System – a multipurpose plant in an urban community in Peru A few months ago TVNI launched a “Vetiver Testimonial Campaign” with an open call, asking you to share your stories and…
Can AI help accelerate the scaling and uptake of the Vetiver System? As we are all aware, communities across the Global South are experiencing the accelerating impacts of climate change — soil erosion, flooding, drought, and degraded farmland. For hundreds…