Increasing the competitiveness of the agro-industrial complex is inextricably linked with the development of science that ensures the development of innovative methods, the introduction of new knowledge and achievements of agricultural science in production. In order to provide scientific support to the vegetable-growing industry in 2017, the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Federal Scientific Vegetable Center” was founded. The main directions and tasks of the Center are presented in the article. Brief results of research work for the current year are given: 47 new varieties and hybrids have been created; more than 200 gene sources and 30 donors of especially valuable features were allocated, 28 patents for selection achievements, inventions and utility models were obtained. The publication activity of the center for 2017 is 159 publications in the RINC system, as well as 22 articles in the journals included in the Web of Science, Scopus and RSCI databases. Citation of FSBSI FSVC articles on the RINC database -1075.

November 25, 2012 the international scientific community of geneticists and plant breeders will be celebrating the 125thanniversary of the birth of botanist and genetics, agronomist, geographer and founder of the national school of biology and breeding, Academician Nikolai Ivanovich Vavilov. A III-rd International Scientific-Practical Conference «Modern trends in plant breeding and seed production of vegetable crops. Traditions and Prospects» took place in VNIISSOK in August 2012, dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the birth of the scientist.