Proceedings of the Expert Consultation Meeting for

the Establishment of “Regional Agricultural Biotechnology Network”

15-16 December 2007

Cairo-Egypt

Compiled by

AARINENA Secretariat

April 2008

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FOREWORD

Most countries in the Near East and North Africa are located in arid and semi arid zones which are characterized by severe weather conditions, lack of fresh water and widespread soil erosion. As a result, viable agriculture to produce food of both plant and animal origin is strictly limited and below consumption levels. Since population is expected to double within the next two decades, the courtiers of this region face a food supply problem of some magnitude. They already suffer from low standard of living, inferior quality of food, poor health and weak economies; this clearly indicates the need of these countries to gain access to the new advances and products of biotechnology. In order to transfer biotechnology applications these countries in this region, biotechnology network should be established for the generation of information, training, extension and inter-regional research and development programs. This network will contribute to more use of efficient technologies and sharing of expertise and experience for agriculture for sustained productivity and improved livelihoods of farmers in the WANA region. The Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA) in collaboration with Global Forum for Agricultural Research (GFAR), FAO, ICARDA and ARC-Egypt held an Expert Consultation Meeting on Regional Agricultural Biotechnology Network at Cairo on 15-16 December 2007. The objective of the Consultation Meeting was to discuss the establishment of Regional Network for Agricultural Biotechnology in the Near East and North Africa Region. These proceedings deal with the outcome of this meeting which includes the current status of agricultural biotechnology in the WANA region and a document on the establishment of Regional Agricultural Biotechnology Network. AARINENA thanks the cosponsors of this meeting: GFAR, FAO, ICARDA and ARC-Egypt and extend its gratitude to all biotechnology experts for their participation and contributions in establishing this network. Ibrahim Hamdan

AARINENA Executive Secretary

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Table of Contents

Subject Page No. Report on the Meeting 2 Annex 1: Agenda 5 Annex II: List of Participants 7 Annex III: Regional Network for Agricultural Biotechnology in the Near

East and North Africa 10

Annex IV: Country Profiles on the Status of Agricultural Biotechnology in the WANA Region

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1. Cyprus 21 2. Egypt 22 3. Iran 26 4. Jordan 28 5. Kuwait 36 6. Lebanon 46 7. Libya 51 8. Morocco 54 9. Oman 62 10. Saudi Arabia 66 11. Sudan 75 12. Syria 80 13. Tunisia 92 14. Yemen 97

Presentations: 106 15. APCoAB 16. ICARDA

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Report on “Regional Agricultural Biotechnology Network

Expert Consultation Meeting” 15-16 December 2007

Cairo-Egypt

Background: Recent advances in biotechnology provide good opportunities for immediate benefits to developing countries in this region. The innovations made in biotechnology applications include the development of micro propagation systems for many plant species and of new varieties with highly desirable characteristics. Additional biotechnological innovations were made producing many human and animal health products as well as food and feed ingredients. Biotechnological advances were further extended to the treatment and utilization of liquid and solid waste. These developments could have wide applications in agricultural production and environmental protection. Most of the biotechnological innovations and commercial applications have occurred in developed countries and much of the expertise is concentrated in the commercial private sector, there by restricting developing countries’ access to patented and proprietary technology. In order to transfer these technologies to developing countries in this region, a biotechnology network should be established for the generation of information, training, extension and inter-regional research and development programs. This network will contribute to more use of efficient technologies and sharing of expertise and experience for agriculture for sustained productivity and improved livelihoods of farmers in the WANA region. The Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA) in collaboration with Global Forum for Agricultural Research (GFAR), FAO, ICARDA and ARC-Egypt held an Expert Consultation Meeting on Regional Agricultural Biotechnology Network at Cairo on 15-16 December 2007. The meeting was held under the patronage of H.E the Minster of Agriculture and Land Reclamation of Egypt, the opening session was addressed by representatives of AARINENA, ICARDA, FAO, GFAR and ARC-Egypt. The objective of the Consultation Meeting was to:

1. Review the current status of agricultural biotechnology and identify areas of critical gaps in knowledge and establish collaborative partnerships skills in biotechnology in the region.

2. Establishment of a Biotechnology network governing body to provide: a. Guidance to the development of the program, plan of work and activities of the

Network b. Identify an Institution within the network for the management of the network c. Set rules to coordinate and govern the functioning of the network d. Set up technical working groups

Eighteen agricultural biotechnology experts from 14 countries of the region, besides AARINENA, ICARDA and APCoAB, participated in the consultation meeting. The program was organized under three sessions; 1) Opening Session, 2) Status of Agricultural Biotechnology in the Region, and 3) Establishment of Agricultural Biotechnology Network.(Annex I). The participants made presentations on the status of agricultural biotechnology in their respective countries and gave specific suggestions on the establishment of a network on agricultural biotechnology in the region. (Annex II) This was followed by presentation of the

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proposal for the establishment of “Agricultural Biotechnology Network in the WANA Region” by the Executive Secretary of AARINENA (ANNEX III). The proposal was adopted unanimously following which decisions were taken on the location of the network Secretariat, various office bearers, technical working groups and a program of activities to be taken up in the immediate future. The partcipants selected AGERI-ARC , Egypt to be the venue for the Network secrtariat and elected the following officers: Dr. Magdy Madkour from Egypt as the Network Secretary , Dr. Yousef Al-Shayji from Kuwait as board Chairman, and 4 technical working groups

(WG): o WG1 =Omics and Molecular Markers Technology (Iran –ABARII) o WG2 =Gene transfer, Expression and regulation (Tunisia-----SFAX) o WG3 =Bio-safety, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) (Syria-GCSAR) o WG4 =Bioinformatics and Knowledge Management (Egypt---AGERI)

Two Interregional activities with APCoAB were planned for in 2008:

1. Marker Aided Selection and Biosaftey to be held by APCoAB in Malaysia 2. Bioinformatics Training Course to be held by AARINENA at AGERI-Egypt

The efforts of APCoAB in promoting agricultural biotechnology in the Asia-Pacific region were highly appreciated and a close cooperation with APCoAB recommended to synergize the implementation of network programs. In this regard, Coordinator, APCoAB gave details of the training program on Marker Aided Selection and Expert Consultations on Biotechnology and Biosafety proposed to be held during 2008 and offered to accommodate participation of AARINENA biotechnology network nominees in these programs. After further discussion, it was decided to jointly approach GFAR for funding support for Bioinformatics Training Course to be held by AARINENA biotechnology network in Egypt, and Expert Consultations on Biotechnology and Biosafety to be held by APCoAB in Malaysia during 2008. Country Profiles and presentations on the status of Biotechnolgy in the WANA Region are included in Annex IV.

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ANNEX-I

Agenda

Saturday, 15 December 2007 08:30 – 09:00 Registration I) Opening Session (Chairman Dr. M. Madkour) 09:00 -09:10 - Statement of AARINENA 09:10-09:20 -Statement of ICARDA 09:20-09:30 - Statement of FAO 09:30-09:40 - Statement of GFAR 09:40-10:00 -Statement of HE Minister of Agriculture & Land Reclamation-Egypt 10:00-10:30 Coffee Break II) Status of Agricultural Biotechnology in the Region (Chairman Dr. A. El-Beltagy)

10:30-11:00 Overview of Recent Advances in Agricultural Biotechnology (Dr. M. Baum) 11:00-11:20 Status of Agricultural Biotechnology in Egypt (Dr. N. Taymour) 11:20-11:40 Status of Agricultural Biotechnology in Cyprus (Dr. I. Ioannides ) 11:40-12:00 Status of Agricultural Biotechnology in Iran (Dr. M. Khayam) 12:00-- 12:20 Status of Agricultural Biotechnology in Lebanon (Dr. Ms. L. Chalak) 12:20- 12:40 Status of Agricultural Biotechnology in Libya (Dr. M. Sharif) 12:40-13:00 Status of Agricultural Biotechnology in Syria (Dr. A.Abdelkader) 13:00- 13:40 Lunch (Chairman: Dr. M. Baum) 13:40-14:00 Status of Agricultural Biotechnology in Jordan (Dr. H. Migdadi) 14:00-14:20 Status of Agricultural Biotechnology in Kuwait (Dr. Y. Al Shayji) 14:20-14:40 Status of Agricultural Biotechnology in Morocco (Dr. D. Iraqi) 14:40-15:00 Status of Agricultural Biotechnology in Oman (Eng. Ms. A. Mamari) 15:00-15:20 Status of Agricultural Biotechnology in Saudi Arabia (Dr. N. Al-Khalifah) 15:20-15:50 Coffee Break (Chairman Dr. N. Taymour) 15:50-16:10 Status of Agricultural Biotechnology in Sudan (Dr. A. Ali) 16:10-16:30 Status of Agricultural Biotechnology in Tunisia (Dr. W. Hamada) 16:30-16:50 Status of Agricultural Biotechnology in Yemen (Dr. A. Mukred) 16:50-17:10 Agricultural Biotechnology Network in Africa (ABNETA),Present status and Future Prospects (Dr. A. AbdelKhalik) 17:10- 17:30 Progress on APCoAB and collaboration with the WANA Agricultural Biotechnology Network (Dr. Karihaloo) 19:00 Dinner

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Sunday 16 December 2007 III) Establishment of Agricultural Biotechnology Network (Chairperson Dr. L. Chalak)

09:00 - 09:30 Proposal for Regional Agricultural Biotechnology Network (Dr. I. Hamdan) 09:30 - 10:30 Discussion and Adoption of the Proposal

10:30 -11:00 Coffee Break (Chairman: Dr. I. Hamdan) 11:00-12:00 1) Election of Agricultural Biotechnology Network Officers:

a) Secretariat Seat & Coordinator b) Coordinating Board Chairman c) Technical Working Group Leaders d) Focal Points

2) Tentative Work Plan (2008/2009) 3) Identification of Inter-regional Activity (AARINENA, FARA & APAARI) 12:00 - 12:15 Closure 12:15 - 13:00 Lunch 13:00 -14:30 Tour of AGERI-ARC Facilities

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ANNEX-II

List of Participants

No. Participant Country 1. Dr. Ioannis Ioannides

Senior Agricultural Research Officer P. O. Box 22016, 1516 Nicosia, Cyprus Tel: +357 22403152 Fax: +357 22316770 e-mail: ioannide@arinet.ari.gov.cy

Cyprus

2. Dr. Magdy Madkour Supervisor of AGERI Agricultural Research Center 9 Gamaa street, Giza 12619, Egypt Tel: +202-35720944 – 35722069 Fax: +202-35722609 E-mail: magdy.madkour@bibalex.org

Egypt

3. Dr. Nasr Eldin Taymour Director AGERI Agricultural Research Center 9 Gamaa street, Giza 12619, Egypt Tel: +202-35720944 – 35722069 Fax: +202-35722609 e-mail: taymour47@yahoo.com

Egypt

4. Dr. AbdelKhaliq Egypt E-mail: aabdelkhalik@gmail.com

Egypt

5. Dr. Mojtaba Khayamnekouei, Tel: +98 261 2709485 Fax: + 98 261 2704539 Mail address: ABRII, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute Campus, Mahdasht Road. P.O.Box: 31535-1897, Karaj, Iran. E-mail address: mojtabakhayam@gail.com

Iran

6. Dr. Husein Migdadi NCARE Tel: +962-6-4725071

Jordan

7. Dr. Yousif Al-Shayji Department Manager, Biotechnology Phone: 00965-4989070 Fax : 00965-4989069 E-mail: yashayji@safat.kisr.edu.kw

Kuwait KISR

8. Dr. Lamis Chalak LARI Head of Biotechnology Department PO Box 287 Zahle Lebanon E-mail: lchalak@lari.gov.lb

Lebanon

9. Dr. Mohamed Mansour Sharif Head of the National Biotechnology Research Centre Libya Office Tel: 218-21-3616443 Fax: 218-21-5680035

Libya

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Mobile: 218-91-2202668 E-mail: sharifmmtj@yahoo.co.uk

10. Dr. Driss Iraqi Coordinator of Biotechnology Unit CRRA-Rabat Avenue de la Victoire, BP 415 Rabat P., Maroc Tel: +212-37-770955/772642 Fax: +212-37-770049

Morocco

11. Ms. Alghaliya Humaid Khamis Al-Maamari Biotechnology Researcher at Tissue Culture and Animal Technology Research Laboratory E-mail: agricop@omantel.net.om

Oman

12. Mr. Naser Al-Khalifah King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology P. O. Box: 6086 Riyadh 11442 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Tel: +966-505418524 E-mail: abujawad@kacst.edu.sa

Saudi Arabia

13. Prof. Abdelbagi M. Ali Head of Biotechnology Lab. Agricultural Research Corporation Wad-Medani P. O. Box 126, Sudan E-mail: aahamada56@yahoo.com

Sudan

14. Dr. Ahmad Abdul kader, Head Department General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR) Biotechnology Department Damascus, P.O.Box 35158, Syria Tel: + 963-11-57386311 (Office) + 963-11-5326833 (Home) / Mobile: + 963 – (0)- 95 674 9 671 Fax: + 963-11-5757992 / +963-11- 5746102 e-mails: gcsarpbio@mail.sy ahmad59@gmx.de

ahmadabd59@lycos.co.uk

Syria

15. Dr. Walid Hamada IRISA 30 rue Alain Savary 1002 Tunis Tel : +216-71-791056 Fax : +216-71-796170 E-mail: hamada.walid@iresa.agrinet.tu

Tunisia

16. Dr. Abdul Wahed Mukred Vice Chairman AREA Dhamar, Republic of Yemen tel: +967 733725348 Fax: + 967 6 423916 tel Off: + 967 423941 tel Home: + 967 6 423910 E.mail: awmukred@yemen.net.ye

Yemen

17. Dr. Ibrahim Hamdan Executive Secretary

AARINENA

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AARINENA C/O ICARDA WARP P. O. Box: 950764 Amman 11195 Jordan Tel: +962-6-5525750 Fax : +962-6-5525930 E-mail : i.hamdan@cgiar.org

18. Dr. J. L. Karihaloo Coordinator, APCoAB Asia-Pacific Consortium on Agricultural Biotechnology National Agriculture Science Complex Dev Prakash Shastri Marg (Near Todapur) Pusa, New Delhi -110012, INDIA Tel: 91-11-32472305 Fax: 91-11-25841294 Email: j.karihaloo@cgiar.org

APCoAB

19. Dr. Michael Baum ICARDA P. O. Box: 5466 Aleppo, Syria Tel: +963-21-2213433 Fax: +963-21-2213490 E-mail: m.baum@cgiar.org

ICARDA

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ANNEX-III

Regional Network for Agricultural Biotechnology in the Near East and North Africa*

Dr. Ibrahim Hamdan Executive Secretary

AARINENA

---------------------------------------------------------------------- *Prepared by AARINENA AND AGERI bio-computing unit for presentation to the Expert

Consultation meeting for the establishment of Regional Agricultural Biotechnology Network. Cairo-Egypt 15-16 December 2007

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Agricultural Biotechnology Network

A- Rationale Biotechnology offers new opportunities and challenges. But what is it? How-will it affect our food and agricultural system? Will it be good for consumers, Farmers and the environment? we will be better prepared to judge the contributions that biotechnology may make to our food and agricultural system, and how scientists might participate in the development, regulation, adoption, and use of agricultural biotechnology. Biotechnology and Agriculture Biotechnology is a set of tools that utilize living organisms or parts of organisms to make or modify products, to improve plants for agriculture, or to engineer microorganisms for specific purposes. People have been doing this for centuries using bacteria, yeast, and other living organisms to make such familiar foods as bread, cheese, beer, wine, sausage, pickles, and yogurt. Our understanding of biology and how to use it has grown tremendously over the last 200 years, and especially in the last 30 years Scientists' greater understanding of life and its processes has enabled them to develop newer, more specialized techniques These modern techniques using molecular biology have been labeled Biotechnology." Think of biotechnology as a scientific toolbox filled with many tools, Some of the tool, developed in recent years include cell and tissue culture, embryo transplantation, microbial fermentation, and genetic engineering Scientists use these tools, to do many things they make new food products, they breed improved plants, they do research on how living system interact, such as plants with insects and soil organisms. The techniques of biotechnology can be used to modify plants to change agricultural production system on the farm. But the use of Biotechnology in the food chain doesn’t stops with the farmer. Many foods processing techniques also are based on living systems. Food scientists can use biotechnology to modify food processing techniques and food ingredients. For plants, biotechnology research has focused on two fronts. One" to make crop production more efficient by developing crop varieties that can withstand environmental stresses such as drought, flood, frost, or extreme temperatures. A related area of research is adapting crops to regions where they are not normally grown because of climate, altitude, or rainfall. Biotechnology also is being used against plant pests such as weeds, insects, and diseases. These pests cause significant crop losses each year. Some researchers are using biotechnology to develop biological pest controls. Others have genetically engineered crops to resist diseases and insects. Herbicide tolerance has been engineered into some crops to increase weed control options. The second front of crop biotechnology research is the creation of "designer". Crops genetically engineering new varieties for specific purposes. Scientists are developing fruits and vegetables that have longer shelf lives, transport better, look or taste better, or that are higher in nutritional quality. Food processors sometimes desire crops with particular characteristics. For example, tomatoes containing less water have been developed to reduce processing and transportation costs. Some field crops, like corn or potatoes, could be more useful to food processors if there were varieties with better processing qualities or additional nutritional qualities such as protein or starch content. Crops also are being altered

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to develop varieties for specific industrial purposes. Oilseed crops such as soybeans and canola may be engineered to produce new fuels or industrial lubricants. The tools of biotechnology are being used to produce improved microbes, such as yeast and bacteria, which are used in food processing. Microbes are used broadly in such processes as baking bread, brewing beer, making wine, and fermenting milk to produce yogurt and cheese. Biotechnology has provided more pure and economical sources of a number of enzymes used to produce food. An example is the enzyme rennin, which occurs naturally in the stomachs of calves and has been used for centuries to produce cheese from milk. Scientists have isolated the gene responsible for rennin production and genetically engineered microbes to produce the enzyme in large quantities. Today, nearly all cheese in the United States is produced using rennin produced through biotechnology. Processed food commonly contains a number of additives to enhance aesthetic Characteristics (flavor, color, aroma, texture), nutritional value (vitamins, amino acids), or shelf life (antioxidants). After isolating the genes responsible for coloring agents, flavors, fragrances, or nutrients, scientists engineer bacteria to act as chemical factories to produce these ingredients. In other cases, scientists have learned to grow parts of plants in the laboratory that synthesize flavorings, such as vanilla or cocoa, so that it is no longer necessary to grow the whole plant. In some cases, vegetables or fruits may be engineered directly to produce either more or unique flavors, colors, and nutrients, eliminating the need for some food additives. Over the course of history, scientists, farmers, and food processors have focused on producing food that is more plentiful and higher in quality. As the world's population has grown, however, the total supply of land available for agriculture has remained about the same. In some regions, cropland has declined as a result of urban development and/or environmental degradation, such as soil erosion or salinity from irrigation. So the focus of agricultural research in recent years has been on how to use available land more efficiently and in a more environmentally friendly way. Gains in agricultural productivity in the United States over the last 75 years have been tremendous. Examples of technologies that have contributed to productivity gains are machinery, fertilizer, pesticides, animal genetics, hybrid seed, integrated pest management, and no till fanning. These technologies have increased yields and labor productivity, while also reducing soil erosion and pesticide use. Many people think that in the future biotechnology can help significantly increase agricultural productivity to feed a growing world population. There are several reasons for this. One is the complexity of nature. As biotechnology research progressed, researchers encountered unanticipated technical challenges. Each new stage or area of research, testing, and product development has had its own share of problems. So progress from the idea stage to the laboratory stage to the test plot stage to the final product stage has been slow. People's desire to "do the right thing" with biotechnology is another reason progress has been slow. Scientists have been cautious and careful with the new powers unleashed by biotechnology. Private sector, university, and government scientists have developed guidelines for contained laboratory research. They have sought input from local communities prior to outdoor testing of new products. This takes time. In addition to the guidelines scientists have developed, biotechnology is subject to government regulation.

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B- AARINENA Role in Establishing Regional Networks AARINENA Executive Committee recommended the establishment of agricultural biotechnology network in the Near East & North Africa Region. Upon recommendations from AARINENA General Conferences, AARINENA has established four commodity crop networks that is important for the region ( date-palm, cotton, olive and medicinal & aromatic plants) in addition to the establishment of regional water use efficiency network. Given the current status of the agricultural biotechnology in the different countries of the region, and in the absence of a coordinating body for the promotion of cooperation among these countries for the optimal utilization of the limited resources available for the development of the agricultural biotechnology, the establishment of a Technical Cooperation Network on Agricultural biotechnology is a matter of urgency. Technical cooperation networks have become an increasingly important means of action for AARINENA and are initiated and supported through FAO, GFAR and ICARDA. These networks have become a generic model for the establishment of functional mechanisms for collaboration and enhancement of communication and exchange of experiences among different countries in one region and/or different regions of the world. Networks were found to reduce duplicative efforts among national institutions in several countries and may provide a cost-effective instrument for information exchange and institution building (including training). When the resources are limited, networks become a more effective means for the optimal utilization of indigenous expertise and available resources among the countries themselves. An expert consultation for establishing Agricultural biotechnology Network for technical co-operation between member countries will be held during December 2007 to adopt this proposal. The roles of AARINENA, FAO, ICARDA and GFAR are to initiate action and provide technical support to the activities of the network C- Research & Development (R&D) in the Region . The support of scientific research and R&D has always been and is still insufficient. Most of the funding has come in the past from, governments with almost none from the private sector. Research institutions exist in many countries in the region. Most of them, however, are fragmented and lack adequate financial support and technical facilities and also lack coordination of policy and programs among themselves and other related departments. Serious efforts should be expended on the strengthening of these institutions and a plausible mechanism, based on the situation of each country, needs be established to bridge the existing gap between these institutions, the farmers and the private industry. The increase of productivity, the application of Agricultural biotechnology using innovative techniques remain major problems that need to be solved through capacity building and dissemination of information in the region. Such task requires urgent attention. .

D- Proposed Regional Agricultural Biotechnology Network The regional network will be comprised initially from all countries in the region but other countries may join upon request at a later stage. The International and Regional organizations which have interest in agricultural biotechnology as well as donor countries and the private sector, including all stakeholders in the agricultural biotechnology chain from cultivation to processing and marketing, may also join the network as members without voting rights.

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The network will be established as a partnership among all the different bodies and stakeholders in each of the participating member countries that are involved in any manner through out the overall agricultural biotechnology areas of research. Funding support include: NGOs ,Private Sector, Research Institutions (Both Governmental and Non- Governmental ) and universities as well as other national and international supporting organizations,. The roles of the FAO, ICARDA, GFAR and AARINENA are to initiate action and provide support to the programs.

Objectives of the Network:

The long term objectives of the network are to mobilize the collective efforts of the interesting institutions or countries in the region towards promotion of production, utilization, and economic return, enhancement of the product quality, conservation of the eco-system and natural resources and development of agricultural biotechnology applications. These could be achieved through the following:

a) Create awareness at various policymaking and technical levels within member

countries on the importance of the development of agricultural biotechnology through an integrated approach.

b) Facilitate exchange of information through the development of an information system for the collection and dissemination of information on advances in agricultural biotechnology research results

Allow joint programs to be developed for the exchange of experiences and expertise and organization of training courses, workshops and conferences for the effective use and sharing of transferable technical information and skills.

Enhance cooperation for the analysis and solution of common problems through joint research /development projects. Contribute to the formulation of national networks in each country to strengthen collaboration among national institutions, non-governmental organizations, private sector and universities.

The expected outputs are:

o Contribute to strengthening the capacities of specialized national institutions; o Organize workshops, information dissemination activities to stimulate the exchange

of experiences among scientists; o Organize several activities to bridge the gap between research and development;

and o Foster cooperation among participating countries.

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Network Composition

The network will consist of the following bodies (see Chart below):

Description

The regional network will be comprised initially of member countries in the WANA region. The International and Regional organizations which have interest in promoting biotechnology application as well as donor countries and the private sector, including all stakeholders may also join the network as members.. Coordinating Board:

The Coordinating Board includes members from each of the participating countries that may represent institutions identified as the focal points. Board representatives may be selected from the NGOs, Private Sector, Research Institutions (Governmental and non-governmental) and universities. The chairmanship will rotate every year among member nations, by election during the previous year. The Coordinating Board will meet every year and will be hosted by the institution, which the chairman represents.

The Coordinating Board may form Technical Advisory Committees and ad-hoc committees to study and follow up on certain technical matters and specific tasks, or attend to some specific issues.

The Coordinating Board may also establish a think tank of water use efficiency expertise from different technical backgrounds that can provide consultancy services to the different countries as per their needs and requirements and/or due to urgent circumstances.

“Regional Agricultural Biotechnology Network”

CCoooorrddiinnaattiinngg BBooaarrdd ooff tthhee NNeettwwoorrkk

SSeeccrreettaarriiaatt

FF FF FF FF FF FF 22 3311Regional States Level

NGOs

Research Institutions

Universities

Private Sector

FF Focal Point

WG2

WG1

WG3

F

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The Coordinating Board will have the following functions: 1) Planning, coordination and follow-up of research, training and other work

programs. 2) Review and approval of the annual budget as well as the work programs of the

sub-networks. 3) Fund raising from private donors, funding agencies and international

organizations for the strengthening of the network activities. 4) Facilitation of communication among the different focal points and working

groups and the Regional agriculture biotechnology Network. 5) Cooperation and coordination of activities with other national, regional and

international organizations involved in agriculture biotechnology. 6) Decision on policy matters including introduction of new member countries and

establishment of new working groups or changes in the existing ones. 7) Promotion of technology to the users in member countries.

The Secretariat:

The Agricultural Biotechnology Network includes participating institutions from the region, coordinated by a Secretariat entity. The secretariat consists of a full time Secretary assisted by staff appointed by him to carry out the functions of the Network. AGERI-Egypt was selected by the participants of the Expert Consultation meeting held in Cairo 15-16 December 2007 to be the host institution of the Network and shall provide all necessary facilities and operational logistics to enable the secretariat to implement the work plan of the network.

Criteria for the Location of the Secretariat

The following criteria are suggested for the selection of a national institution, which would host the Secretariat of the Regional Network.

a) The location of the institution should be centralized in the Region as much as

possible to ensure easy communication, transportation and contact. b) The host country should be accessible to all other member countries through the

granting of visas and internal travel. c) The institution should have adequate physical facilities and technical competence. d) The host country should be able to provide the required facilities.

Secretariat functions:

The Secretary, will be responsible to the chairman of the Coordinating Board of the Network on the following functions:

a) Provide AARINENA web–page with a comprehensive database on all aspects

relevant to Agriculture Biotechnology and an overall marketing and promotional program

b) Provide AARINENA newsletter for enhancement of dissemination of information and preparation of a biannual report highlighting the different activities and achievements of the different groups.

c) Collection, compilation and dissemination of all documents, reference material and correspondence as well as technical information

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d) Preparation and follow-up of work programs (research, training, workshops, conferences, etc) and budgets approved by the Coordinating Board.

e) Administrative responsibilities of the Network, including the preparation of the annual budget in co-ordination with the working groups in the different countries.

f) Preparation of evaluation criteria for the assessment of the performance and efficiency of the network. An outside team of experts will perform evaluation

Focal Points:

Institutions, identified as focal points in member countries, may be either universities, research institutions or other competent, well established and renowned institutions depending on the set up and organizational structure in each of the countries in the region, will be the linkage among other institutions, NGOs, private industry and all stakeholders as well as the Regional Network, and shall include representatives from the NGOs, Private Sector, Research Institutions (Governmental and/or Non- Governmental) and universities.

The Focal Point National Institutions will have the following functions:

1) Establishment of communication channels among all national organizations, research

institutions, private & non-governmental organizations, universities as well as other stakeholders through out the Ag biotechnology chain, and facilitation the exchange of information, concerns and aspirations of all groups.

2) Collection and dissemination of information at the national as well as regional level through the Network’s Secretariat.

3) Coordination of programs with other national institutions in the country as well as other non-governmental organizations, private industry, universities and all other stakeholders in the Ag biotechnology chain on research, training (particularly women), extension and marketing requirements.

4) Linkage with the Network on all activities (sub-regional and regional research projects, training courses, workshops, conference etc…)

5) Advice government agencies on matters related to policy, programs and coordinated activities for the development of Ag biotechnology.

Technical Working Groups:

Priority areas on a regional basis, in which, cooperation among participating countries is needed for the development of these areas. The working groups are located in the centers of excellence institutions in the region and were selected by the participants of the expert consultation meeting for the establishment of the agricultural biotechnology Network that was held at Cairo-Egypt 15-16, December 2007 as follows:.

WG1 = Omics and Molecular Markers Technology (Iran –ABARII) WG2 = Gene transfer, Expression and regulation (Tunisia-----CBS-SFAX) WG3 = Bio-safety, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) (Syria-GCSAR) WG4 = Bioinformatics and Knowledge Management (Egypt---AGERI)

For the optimal utilization of the limited resources available, Working Groups in the three areas identified above should prioritize, streamline and focus on the problems in each of the areas identified as priority areas. They should also seek to tie the existing activities of country members of the network rather than starting completely new programs, unless on a temporary basis, to address a specific research problem, using external funding.

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It is important to have precise and realistic work plans, which assign responsibilities to members and to the secretariat for each aspect of an activity. Some of the specific tasks that may have to be addressed by the working groups in each of these areas are summarized below. These should be looked at as only guidelines that have to be prioritized and may later be modified and updated as deemed necessary. They include the following.

The host institution of the working group would provide local facilities and expenses, but funds for regional programs and research activities, training and collection and dissemination of information would be sought from national and/or multilateral sources. Cost sharing among participating countries should be encouraged. FAO, GFAR, ICARDA, and AARINENA will continue to provide technical assistance for the activities of the working group.

Working Groups functions:

Each working Group will have the following functions:

1) Collection and dissemination of information through the Network

Secretariat. This information will be in the form of literature information, research and development results, patents consultancy services, institutional news, technologies, annual reports, etc.

2) Planning and implementation upon the approval of the Network’s Coordinating Board, training programs including seminars and workshops.

3) Planning and coordination of research and development programs in cooperation with other member institutions.

4) Provision of technical assistance to various national institutions. consultants from institutions in the Region would be used and from outside the Region whenever competence is not available within the Region.

This would require keeping an updated record of national institutions, expertise and technologies available in the region on agriculture biotechnology E. Financial Requirements The long-term objective of the network is to gradually become self-supporting and assume more of its own expenses. However, at the initial stages, external inputs and technical backstopping by FAO and ICARDA are essential. Contributions by various governments will be determined by the Co-coordinating Board in consultation with AARINENA. Other potential sources for covering up of some of the expenses include the following: Consultation fees when services of the expertise are utilized by any of the countries. A certain percent (about 25-35%) of the consultancy cost is retained by the network as an overhead, like it is being currently done in many universities and research institutions (consultation fees can be secured from international organizations and donors). Overhead cost for coordinating regional projects that are funded e.g. research, training, extension, conferences, etc.. (about 10% of the total) Charges (reasonable and affordable) for providing information to prospective users, including the private sector. Revenues from sale of developed promotional material, posters, standards, publications, etc.

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Revenues from advertisement on the web site of the Agricultural biotechnology network by the private sector and other concerned groups. Donations and funds from national, regional and international organizations as well as the private sector.

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ANNEX-IV

Country Profiles

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1. CYPRUS COUNTRY REPORT

Ioannis M. Ioannides, Ph.D Senior Agricultural Research Officer

The current status of agriculture biotechnology The agriculture biotechnology research and development takes place mainly at the Agricultural Research Institute (ARI). At a peripheral extent certain departments of the University of Cyprus and the Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics are mostly focused on the molecular treatment and analysis of human diseases. Their goals are to develop and foster research programs as well as post-graduate education in the areas of neurosciences, genetic and molecular medicine and other related areas, as well as post-graduate educational programs in these branches.

The ARI research concerns plants, animals and insects using advanced molecular techniques and state-of-the art laboratory equipment. Research activities on plants include the biological and molecular characterization of plant pathogenic bacteria, viruses and viroids in Cyprus. Other activities include the development of molecular markers on cereals. In animals, research concerns the genetic analysis of blood samples of Chios sheep to identify and select genotypes resistant to scrapie disease. For insects, research activities are focusing on the genetic and eco-ethology of the Cyprus honeybee Apis mellifera Cypria and the resistance of the olive fruit fly, Bactrocerae oleae Gmelin to organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides. Also the molecular mechanism of the resistance to spinosad of the olive fruit fly is under investigation. In addition, quantitative and qualitative tests for the presence of genetically modified seeds in imported corn and soybean are carried out. Constrains facing agriculture biotechnology The availability of large budget linked with human recourses and infrastructure consists one of the main constrains of the current status of biotechnology. The fact that there is no coordination body to assist the deferent organizations which deal with biotechnology it also one of the serious constrains. Recommendations for promoting agricultural biotechnology in the region

1. Increase available budget through collaborative projects among the countries in the region

2. Exchange know how and scientific expertise 3. Communicate to public scientifically sound information in a simple manner 4. Inform / educate public on biotechnology issues cause concerns.

Justification for establishing agricultural biotechnology network as a tool for regional and inter-regional cooperation and information dissemination

Such a network will: 1. facilitate the exchange of scientific expertise 2. enhance every effort at a national level 3. boost the R & D in the region towards levels enjoyed by more advance regions 4. allow for parallel actions 5. promote the interest of the public on biotech information.

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2. EGYPT COUNTRY REPORT

Dr. Taymour Nasr El-Din, Director, AGERI, Egypt Egypt hosts one of the oldest agricultural communities in the world and is among the centres of origin/diversity for important crop plants. Egypt has a total land area of one million km2 with a limited area of irrigated farmland (3% of the total area of Egypt) and a total population of about 70 million with an annual increase of 2.2%. In recent years, only 15% of agricultural commodity products have been exported as consequence of an increased domestic demand. In the same time Egypt has a relatively long tradition of agricultural research. The first school of agriculture was established in 1869and the first directorate of agriculture in 1875. Until 1971 the research was conducted within various departments of the ministry of agriculture. The research departments were then recognized into a single research body named the general authority for agriculture research which was then named the agriculture research centre (ARC). The Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute (AGERI) represents a vehicle within the agricultural area for the transfer and application of the new technology. The original establishment of AGERI in 1989 was the result of a commitment of expertise in agricultural biotechnology. The mission of AGERI is to promote agricultural sustainability for Egypt and , to develop biotechnology products biotics, abiotic stresses, and other important traits for Egypt as a vision of the Institute. In its quest for increasing food production, overcoming significant constrains of agricultural productivity and releasing pressure on natural ecosystems, the country embarked on the development and application of relevant biotechnologies as well as acquisition of biotechnologies and biotechnology products developed elsewhere. This induced the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (MARL) to issue two Ministerial Decrees, namely:

• the Ministerial Decree No. 85 (January 25, 1995) establishing a Biosafety Committee (BC) to regulate the research and contained field testing, introduction, and release of crop plants developed through modern biotechnology and at last the whole committee was reconstructed with another ministerial decree no 1017.

• Ministerial Decree No. 136 (February 7, 1995) which adopted the guidelines on the structure, composition, roles, and responsibilities of the NBC and the establishment of Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBC).

Because of wide implications, the BC was re-designated in 1997 as the National Biosafety Committee (NBC) and its membership expanded to include representatives from a variety of institutions. In 1996, the Ministry of Scientific Research and Technology approved and supported financially a National Strategy for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, with the explicit purpose of encouraging research leading to exploiting modern biotechnology commercially in 4 areas of application: health care, agriculture, industry and environment. The strategy addresses biosafety and the main actions to be taken in order to set up a biosafety framework. Research activities relating to LMOs release, use, and commercialisation will be extremely important and Egypt is providing significant support in this respect. To date the National Strategy for Biotechnology Development in Egypt alone disburses 54 Million Egyptian Pounds for research activities, but while little has been specifically earmarked for biosafety research, each project sponsored under it includes a clearly stated biosafety component.

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However, since the NBC was established by a decree of MARL under the Seed Certification Act and not by a national law, its scope is restricted and does not necessarily apply to the handling of ,LMOs not intended for seed certification, and even to laboratory research and field testing of seeds if there is no declared intention to apply for seed certification. The decree is also not sufficiently comprehensive with regard to procedures and does not mention penalties for not abiding by the decree. As a result, the vast majority of r-DNA research and testing in Egypt does not report to the NBC and IBCs exist only in some, not even in all, MALR institutions. In addition, in Egypt there is still no law, including Law 4 /1994 on Environment and the law on Intellectual Property Rights of 2002, which contains a legal definition and/or reference to LMOs,. 3. In this context, a major obstacle towards the transfer and application of biotechnology is

undoubtedly the lack of a comprehensive regulatory regime, which covers the use, transfer, release, and commercialization of living modified organisms (LMOs) into the environment. Since Egypt ratified the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in December 2003, it is now attempting and endeavouring to meet requirements/obligations as Party.

In order to design a National Biosafety Framework, each country that participated in the National Level Component was required to :

• Assess the exiting national capacity and roles in environmental release of LMOs and their products ;

• Develop methods , techniques, standard, guidelines, indicators for assessing and monitoring the environmental risks, and control and regulatory measure for those risks likely caused by the transportation, release, commercialization and application of LMOs;

• Facilitate the national capacity building for biosafety management and formulate a package of needs;

• Promote the establishment of institutional arrangements and operational mechanisms for biosafety management;

• Develop human resources for biosafety management through formulating and implementing a series of training plants to upgrade expertise in this field;

• Undertake publicity activities at the national and local levels to increase the understanding of the public and major decision makers on the potential benefits and risks of biotechnology application;

Enhance international co-operation and communication on scientific research, legislation, information exchange and personnel training in the field of biosafety. In this respect, biotechnology applications, if properly integrated into production systems, offer new opportunities to increase production and productivity and release pressure on natural resources and hence their degradation. The country is in the process of acquiring biotechnologies and biotechnology products and has plans for the release and commercialization of living modified organisms (LMOs) into the environment. Egypt has already established the Agricultural Genetic Engineering Institute (Agricultural Research Centre), the Biotechnology Centre (Cairo University), the Research Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (Mubarak City for Scientific Research), over 60 government financed research projects under the National Strategy for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering and is developing disease resistant and stress tolerant crop varieties, as well as a number of biotechnology-based therapeutic, diagnostic, industrial and environmental products for release and application. It is recognized that some LMOs are now treated internationally as commodities and their transboundary movements into and out of Egypt is inevitable. However, while potential benefits of these developments are well recognized, the relative limited experience with such organisms makes it necessary that they

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should be developed and applied in a precautionary and judicious manner However, a comprehensive regulatory regime and the full implementation of the national biosafety framework drafted for addressing questions of potential risk to the environment and human health has been hampered by inadequate financial resources and expertise and by limited regional and international cooperation. AGERI is seeking to fulfill in Africa and the Middle East, as an emerging centre of excellence for plant genetic engineering and biotechnology. AGERI act as an interface between elite centers, universities and the private sector in Egypt, the middle East and Africa. the major goal is to assist and provide the mechanism for proper technology transfer to benefit relevant agricultural mandates . The Goals of AGERI in the Agricultural community

• Advance agriculture using biotechnology and genetic engineering capabilities available world wide to meet contemporary problems of Egyptian Agriculture.

• Broaden the research and development capabilities and scope of the Agricultural Research Center in the public and private sectors and initiation of new program areas and application to wider array of crop species.

• Expand and diversify the pool of highly qualified trained professional in the area of biotechnology and genetic engineering.

• Provide opportunities for university trained professional, e.g. faculty researches and teachers, the Ministry of Agriculture ( professional researchers) and private venture companies to cooperate in agricultural genetic engineering researches.

• Promote opportunities for private sector development. • Achieve the desired level of self – reliance and self-financing within AGERI to

mobilize the funds necessary for maintaining laboratories. Research and Scientific Collaboration

AGERI has been successful in attracting funds to sponsor its research from the following international and national organization:

• The United Nation Development Program (UNDP), as a co-funding agency which

supported the initial research at NAGEL, currently AGERI. • A cooperative research agreement between AGERI and the Agricultural

Biotechnology for Sustainable Productivity (ABSP) project based at Michigan State University, which is funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Cairo, under the Agricultural Technology Utilization and Transfer (ATUT) project.

• The International Center Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA ), located in Aleppo, Syria, has contracted AGERI to conduct research on their mandated crops.

• Egyptian Academy of Science and Technology

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Examples of projects at AGERI • Genetic Engineering of virus resistance in a number of crops including: production of

potato resistant to important viruses in Egypt potato virus X ( PVX ), potato virus Y (PVY), potato leaf roll virus ( PLRV ); production of transgenic tomatoes resistant to geminivirus such as tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV); introduction of virus resistance in squash and melon against zucchini yellow mosaic virus ( ZYMV ); and finally the production of transgenic faba bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) and faba bean necrotic yellow virus(FBNYV) .

• Engineering of insect-resistant plants with Bacillus thuringiensis crystal protein genes. Bt genes are used in transformed cotton, potato and tomato plants to resist major insect pests.

• Genetic Engineering for fungal resistance using the chitinase gene concept for the development of transgenic maize, tomato and faba bean expressing resistance to fungal disease caused by Fusarium sp., Alternaria sp. and Botrytis fabae

• Cloning the genes encoding important economic traits in tomatoes, faba beans and cotton especially those related to stress tolerance i.e. heat shock proteins and genes responsible for osmo-regulation.

• Mapping the rapeseed genome in order to develop cultivars adapted to the constraints of the Egyptian environment.

• Genetic modification for drought and salinity in Egyptian wheat varieties • Developing efficient diagnostic tools for the identification and characterization of

major viruses in Egypt.

These projects are relevant to Egyptian agriculture since they reflect a significant positive impact on agricultural productivity and foreign exchange. Training courses at AGERI An international and local training courses on the different aspects of biotechnology were carried out at AGERI. The training program including

• Plant tissue culture and transformation techniques • Molecular markers and fingerprinting. • Application of PCR and ELISA in plant virus diagnostics • Methods in microbial molecular biology. • Bio- informatics in agriculture.

Future outlook Biotechnology should be part of an integrated and comprehensive agricultural research and development program that gives priority to problems of the country and the region. It needs to be responsive to the need of farmers and consumers to faster greater acceptance. Access to biotechnology through human resources development, scientific research and infrastructure upgrade are highly needed in the developing countries.

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3. STATUS OF AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY IN THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

Dr. Mojtaba Khayam Nekouie

Director General of Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII) Modern biotechnology, with an astonishing arrangement, is a combination of diverse related disciplines. This science finds one of its most important and promising application fields in agriculture, and even more specifically in the food industry. By improving food production, modern biotechnology will guarantee food security for the world, the population of which is rapidly increasing. Reducing the need for more land, more irrigation and more pesticides, this science will help the environment as well. The whole world today believes that the science of modern biotechnology is one of the seven key industries, which will determine the fate of 8 billion people who will be living on the Earth in the year 2030. Modern biotechnology is so novel that as yet many issues regarding the impact of its products on the environment and in relation to other species have not been clearly defined. Although there is no doubt regarding the role that biotechnology and genetic engineering will play in future development and progress of human societies, potential risks, which may arise as a result of neglecting biosafety regulations, should not be ignored. Thus, while emphasizing the importance of developing biotechnology and genetic engineering activities, it is necessary to compile regulations based on which the said activities may be monitored and supervised so that they can be carried out safely. The end purpose of such regulations should be to protect the environment and human health. In this report the status of biotechnology in the Islamic Republic of Iran is presented. The Iranian Government has been supporting the research and development in this area. National Draft for Biotechnology was prepared in 2004, and the National Biotechnology Council comprising representatives from number of the ministries and relevant organizations was established in 2005. Agricultural biotechnology structure in Iran involves biotechnology research institutes, universities and private sector. In the last two decades, a number of different institutes working on agricultural biotechnology with modern research equipments and facilities including Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII), have been established and recently several biotechnology divisions in different universities were created. Major research activities in the field of agricultural biotechnology in Iran involve transferring resistance genes into agricultural and horticultural plants for enhancement of biotic and abiotic stress tolerance using Agrobacterium-mediated and biolistic transformation methods, mass propagation of uniform and pathogen free plants, research and development of new tissue culture and transformation methods, haploid and doubled haploid production for development of new varieties, structural and functional genomics in crop plants, insects and micro-organisms, DNA fingerprinting , genome mapping, map-based cloning, isolation, characterization and modification of genes, proteomics and matabolimics and bioinformatics approach., and other important biological products and optimization of bioprocesses in pilot and industrial scales, secondary metabolites in medicinal plants, food biotechnology, and finally molecular animal breeding and cloning. About 3000 M.S and PhD biotech-specialists are working in different institutes and universities of Iran. About 600 specialists are working in the field of agricultural biotechnology. Private biotech-companies increases every year and now about 100 different companies are active in Iran. The country has made significant progress in the area of modern agricultural biotechnology, including animal cloning (sheep), and plant genetic engineering. Iran is the first country in the region providing two transgenic pest resistant plants (rice and cotton) which are under review by the National Biosafety Council.

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Furthermore, research on other biotic and abiotic resistant transgenic plants such as rapeseed, wheat, date palm, corn, alfalfa, sugar beet and potato is under investigation. In the last years, more than 250 million doses of traditional and recombinant vaccines and serums (livestock & Poultry) have been produced in Iran. Some other recent achievements are production of healthy potato seed lines in the country using tissue culture, micro propagation of date palm plantlets, pistachio, olive and ornamentals at the pilot level, fingerprinting and molecular identification of native pistachio, olive, pomegranate, wheat, etc varieties, mapping of genes controlling Fusarium Head Blight, development and implementation of national project on controlling lime witches broom disease, extraction of high value component materials including enzymes, vitamins, antibiotics, and other metabolites from agricultural wastes, identification and isolation of some genes in the native microorganisms for plant transformation, production of biofertilizers and biopecticides, designing bioreactors for production of microorganisms, Production of taxol (paclitaxel) from Taxus baccata, production of Selimarin from native medicinal plants, molecular breeding of wheat and rice using genomics and proteomics approaches. The fundamental and strategic policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, while emphasizing the development of systematic biosafety management in the country, insist upon protecting the environment from any harmful effect due to any process, factor and measure which result in polluting and disturbing the balance of the environment, and may end in environmental destruction. Thus, benefits as well as risks resulting from modern biotechnology should be studied at the same time. Actually, development of modern biotechnology and the elaboration of biosafety regulations should be carried out concurrently. Iran proved its commitment to biosafety issues by joining the Convention on Biological Diversity in August 1996. In addition, in 2001, Iran signed the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB). In November 2003, the Parliament of Iran ratified CPB and in February 2004, the protocol came into force. To implement the 22nd article of CPB, the biosafety capacity building project was performed with the co-operation of UNEP-GEF and Department of Environmental in 2002. As a result, the National Biosafety Framework (NBF) was compiled. The structure of the NBF is a combination of decision making, laws, technical and executive tools and equipment related to environmental safety and human health with the purpose of expanding modern biotechnology and creating living modified organisms. This structure, based on the format suggested by UNEP and GEF, has the following features: government policy on biosafety, regulatory regime on biosafety, creating a suitable system to handle requests, creating a suitable system for risk management and follow up, and developing mechanisms for public awareness. The last achievements in this area are establishment of The National Coordination Committee (NCC), a comprehensive survey of National Biosafety Law (NBL) of different countries and survey of national capacity, preparation of draft of NBL by working groups and NCC, approval of draft by National Biosafety Council and Cabinet. Future plan for this draft is ratification by Parliament and implementation of the NBL in the country.

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4. THE CASE OF THE HASHEMITE KINGDOM OF JORDAN

Dr. Hussein Migdadi, Head of Biotechnology Unit National Center for Agricultural Research and Extension

INTRODUCTION

The Hashemite kingdom of Jordan is located in the eastern Mediterranean between latitudes 29° 30' and 32° 31'. The land area of Jordan is approximately 8.92 million hectare and is characterized by the following topographical features: The Rift Valley and the Wadi Araba: occupy a deep depression extending from the Gulf of Aqaba in the south to the Dead Sea (394 m below sea level). Lake Tabaria is in the northern part (212 m below sea level).The Highlands: is composed of a narrow distinctive area, which lies almost parallel to the west side of the Rift Valley. The Steppe: is located to the east of the Highlands and bordered from the north by Syria and from the east by the Azraq-Wadi E-Sirhan Basin and the escarpment of Ras El-Naqab in the south. The Desert Zone: is located to the east side of the Steppe and extends east towards Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

Climate in Jordan varies a lot from one region to another. West of Jordan has Mediterranean climate, characterized by dry hot summer and mild wet winter and extreme variability in rainfall within and among years. Mild summer and a cold winter characterize the climate in the high lands of Jordan. Aqaba governorate and Jordan valley regions are very similar in their temperature pattern to subtropical climate; being hot in summer and warm in winter. The steppe and steppe desert regions have continental climate with large amplitudes of temperature. Topography of the land is the main factor controlling the spatial distribution of temperature. Rainfall occurs in the period from November to March. The annual rainfall averages (30-100) mm in the steppe desert while it exceeds 800 mm in some areas of the high lands, with large variability between and within the regions. Rangelands in the semi-desert regions constitute 91% of the total lands area. Of the approximately 8.1 million hectares of range-lands, about 5.9 million hectares receive less than 50 mm of rainfall annually while about 2.2 million hectares receive between 50 and 200 mm. The rainfall in the semi desert regions is irregular and of uneven distribution, and moreover, these lands suffer from general state of degradation due to harsh environmental conditions and misuse due to overgrazing and cultivation especially in the marginal areas.

Rainfall decreases considerably from west to east and from north to south. The average annual rainfall volume in Jordan is 8.5 billion cubic meters. About 12% of this volume is available for use from springs; runoff or groundwater while the remaining 88% is lost through evaporation.

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The land area of Jordan can be distributed into five Agro-Climatic Regions as shown below:

Zone

Annual Rainfall (mm)

Land use

Area (M ha)

% Total area

Semi Desert <200 Rangelands,irrigated cereal and forage 8.08 90.5

Arid 200-350 Wheat and Barley 0.51 5.7 Semi-Arid 350-500 Wheat, Barley and food

legumes 0.19 2.1

Semi-Humid 500 Fruit trees 0.10 1.1 Water Area -- 0.05 0.6 TOTAL 8.93 100.0

The land resources of Jordan are utilized as shown below

Utilization pattern Area (M Ha)

% Total area

Rangelands 8.07 90.4 Buildings & Public Utilities 0.17 1.9 Land used for Forestry 0.07 0.8 Land registered as Afforested 0.06 0.7 Water Area 0.05 0.5 Agriculture Land 0.51 5.7 Total 8.93 100.0

There were 92258 holdings in 2000, where 75978 land holdings with an average of 4 hectares per holding, and about 15 hectares for the rest. Areas of production in the rain fed areas and irrigated lands as well as the major crops grown on them are shown in the following tables

Area of crops grown in Jordan for the period from 2000-2005. (1000 ha)

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Field crops 116.0 138.1 138 118.4 148 Vegetables 32.9 30.6 34.3 34.4 36.9 Fruit trees (bearing & non-bearing)

86.9 87.4 88.3 85.8 86.0

Total 235.8 256.1 260.6 238.6 270.9

Farming system in Jordan is mainly dependent upon water availability. The average area under rain-fed agriculture in Jordan during 1980-1991 was 0.23 million hectare, 0.14 million hectare planted with winter crops (wheat, barley, lentils, broad beans and forages). The area planted with summer crops is 8.1 thousand hectare (chickpeas, sesame, corn, and tobacco). In addition, 8.1 thousand hectares are planted with vegetables (tomato, eggplant, squash, cucumber, cabbage, onions, potatoes, watermelon, lettuce, spinach, okra, and others) whereas; 70.7 thousand hectares are planted with fruit trees and about 10 thousand hectares with forages (Table 1-3 in Annex 1; NCARTT strategy, 1994). The average export for the country in 1997 was 181 million JD, whereas the average import was 686 million JD.

Due to scarcity of water and low rainfall, only about 380,000 ha are suitable for cultivation and only 17% of this area is irrigated, which accounts for less than 0.1 ha/capita. Jordan

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imports partly the basic food commodities (wheat, legumes, red meat and fish), and some vegetables. Rice and sugar are totally imported.

Government of Jordan practices different types of intervention in support of agriculture sector in form of price support, subsidies, enforcing cropping patterns, and adopting foreign trade policy aiming for ensuring reasonable income to producers. For example, the government purchases wheat, barley, chickpeas, and lentils in subsidized prices.

In 1989, the government adopted a comprehensive package of economic adjustment program aimed at increasing the rate of growth of gross domestic products. This economic adjustment program especially the removal of subsidy has mostly affected agricultural sector.

The policy of the government is concerned with increasing production of food commodities, improving the efficiency of resources allocation, adopting of new technologies to increase productivity of plant and animals, improving the quality of products, improving the standard of living, producing competitive agriculture products and encouraging the rural food industry. Current Status of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering in Jordan Jordan is estimated to be home to about 152 families of vascular plants, 700 genera and about 2500 plant species plus several hundred species of non-vascular cryptogams. The reason for which richness is to be sought in the unique position of Jordan, as a meeting point of four different phyto-geographical regions: the Mediterranean, the Irano-Turanians, the Sahara-Arabian and the Sudanian which include several taxa that have agro-ecological value and regarded as of great regional and global importance Biotechnology policies and Institutions: Similar to most other developing countries, biotechnology in Jordan attracts high attention but still in the early development stages. There are several research institutes and universities carrying out research in agricultural biotechnology. Biotechnology is considered an integral part of the national agricultural strategy. The Higher Council for Science and Technology (HCST) and the National Center for Agricultural Research and Technology Transfer (NCARE) have set policies and strategies for science, technology, and agricultural research, respectively. Public and Private Sector Institutions Conducting Biotechnology Research Most of the research on agricultural biotechnology is carried out at NCARE and universities. The number of private companies involved in agricultural biotechnology is rather limited. Universities concentrate more on education and so-called basic research rather than applied. In many cases, researchers at the universities do not have any responsibility for transferring or diffusing technology to the end users. Private companies might be willing to invest in agricultural biotechnology research if incentives were provided by government. Institutions and programs pertaining to biotechnology and biosafety Jordan Universities (Public and private). The main activities conducted and implemented in this field are:

1. Courses related to biodiversity, biotechnology, Pharmaceutical biotechnology and

biosafety 2. Graduate programs (MSc. And Ph.d) in the field of biotechnology

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3. Conducting researches pertaining to embryo transfer and artificial insemination and food hygiene

4. Plant tissue culture research and DNA, RNA and protein analysis 5. Researches related to biodegradation, Methane production and mutations in fungi 6. Production of secondary metabolites via in vitro culture (Anthocyanine, Thymol,

rosmarinic acid and others) 7. Development of Tomato Plants Resistant to Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus Complex

via Gene Silencing Technology at Al-Balqa’ Applied University 8. In vitro conservation and cryopreservation of endangered plant species (Wild pear,

Almond, Sour orange, Black iris and date palm). 9. Plant tolerate to salinity and water deficit 10. Plant breeding and crop improvement via haploid culture 11. Breeding awassi sheep using exotic breeds and the use of hormones sponges

technology for improvement of sheep productivity in Jordan 12. Research programs in gene isolation, gene identification and transformation. 13. Researches on use of haploid culture technology 14. Research programs in gene isolation, gene identification and transformation. 15. Finger printing – fruit trees, vegetables, crops University of Jordan recently establish a graduated program in the field of biotechnology offering M.Sc. and Ph.D program in addition to a establish a well equipped biotechnology laboratories. The most activities conducted in these labs are: 1. Functional genomics of beta-glucosidases –Tomato, Trithoraxgenes– Arabidopsis. 2. Genomic, cDNA library construction – crops (wheat, barley, lentil and chickpeas). 3. QTL analysis of drought – barley and wheat 4. Cloning of drought genes – tomato 5. Bacillus of Jordan – cloning crys. 6. Bio-pharming – human drugs 7. In Food industry :

a. production of Heath Food (improve feed) b. bioconversion of food waste (Compost), c. production of bioProducts from Camel's Milk d. Long storage of milk under room condition

8. production of Biodetergent

• National center for Agricultural Research and Extension (NCARE) Due to progress in modern researches in the biological science, Biotechnology Unit was established since 1996 at NCARTT. The main activities conducted at NCARE are:

1. Biodiversity studies of plant, animals as well as microorganisms at DNA level utilizing molecular markers

2. Genotyping and fingerprinting of organisms and crop cultivars. 3. Phylogenic studies of plants and animals. 4. Conducting training courses for researchers, graduate and undergraduate students in

the field of utilization of molecular markers for genetic diversity and fingerprinting of crops.

• The Higher Council for Science and Technology

The Higher Council for Science and Technology recently established a Virtual center of Biotechnology with the main purpose to stimulate interaction and knowledge sharing between Jordanian scientists working in the various fields of Biotechnology with the

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ultimate aim of nurturing cooperation, which would lead to practical results to explore the possibility of producing commercially viable monoclonal antibodies.

Mission of the Virtual Institute of Biotechnology

1. Create a knowledge map in specific fields. 2. Establish a searchable web site database of the expertise available, and make these

accessible to all participants. 3. Organize meetings of people in a specific field to brainstorm, develop ideas, and

stimulate cooperative research. 4. Help finance cooperative research and short exchange visits. 5. Help in developing a feasibility study for a project and a business plan. 6. Help in obtaining financing to start an identified feasible project. 7. Help in obtaining international patents. 8. Help in strengthening the ties between academic institutions and commercial

companies in the country.

Ongoing biotechnology Researches in Jordan

1. Tissue culture: Date palm, Potato, ornamental, wild almond, Grape free disease 2. Biological Control: Bacterial control of worms and insects on agricultural plants 3. Diagnostic studies on the genetic polymorphism 4. Yeast and Enzyme: plant by-products, enzyme production by bacteria 5. Monoclonal antibodies for diagnosis 6. Genetic engineering and their tests (Fingerprinting, GMOs) 7. Genomics and Functional Genomics cDNA library construction 8. Veterinary medicine and animal production: Uses of hormones sponges, PCR,

animal feed improvement, in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer ,production of immunological diagnostic kits andanimal vaccines.

9. Biogas production (Manures and olive cakes Setting priorities for agricultural biotechnology In plant biotechnology: The top priorities are as follows:

1. Developing tissue culture procedures for propagating crops, as well as for eliminating pathogens in these crops

2. Applying in vitro methods for selecting desirable traits in cell cultures 3. Applying diagnostic methods for the detection of viruses and of bacterial and fungal

pathogens; 4. In vitro conservation and distribution of germplasm of standard and recalcitrant plant

species; 5. Developing molecular markers, for use in plant breeding and selection; 6. Transfer of useful genes into plants in order to develop salt and drought tolerant. 7. Transfer of useful genes into plants in order to develop pest and disease resistance 8. Enhancing nitrogen fixation activity in symbiotic and associative microbes 9. Identification and utilization of indigenous plants of potential importance to farmers, 10. Use of microbes in bioconversion of natural materials for use as plant fertilizers. 11. Developing methods for the biological control of insect pests and diseases.

In animal production, the priorities are:

1. Applying diagnostic tools for the identification of diseases. 2. Developing improved vaccines to control selected diseases endemic in the region.

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3. Identification and cloning of genes for disease resistance and of genes that may confer superior reproductive performance in animals.

4. Embryo culture systems, embryo cloning, and invitro fertilization. The Regulatory Environment for Biotechnology There is an increasing public interest in Jordan about the rapid biotechnological advances and their socioeconomic implications and possible impacts to the environment. On anther hand lack of information could limit developing effective biosafety regulations. Regulations on biosafety and intellectual property rights should be handled as an integral part of the national biotechnology strategy National Policy and Regulatory framework The overall objective of Jordan policy on biosafety is to insure that the risks likely to be caused by the biotechnology and its products will be minimized to the level as low as possible and to protect human health, biodiversity and environment. The establishment of National Biosafety Framework (NBF) was facilitated by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and extensive support from Jordanian experts representing the public, academic and privet sector. The National Biosafety Framework is a combination of policy, legal, administrative and technical instruments that are developed to ensure an adequate level of protection in the field of the safe transfer, handling and use of LMO resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on the biological diversity and human health. Achievements:

1. National Biosafety Committee experts representing 17 public, academic and privet sector institutions was established as a first step in developing policies and procedures for the regulation of biotechnology.

2. Formulation a national by – low of biosafety Present Legislation and regulation include more than 250 articles pertaining to the environment, but we don’t have any regulation or articles dealing with LMOs or biotechnology products.The drafted by – low of biosafety covers the following features: Controlling transporting, dealing and using LMOs, Labeling the LMOs products .

Intellectual Property Rights Policies for the application of IPR to products arising from biotechnology are still under formulation. Jordan signed the TRIPS agreement and have been a UPOV membership since 2003. Considering the potential income generation from royalties and the licensing of novel materials and techniques, researchers and institutes where government funding is rather low may very well benefit from such legislation. The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) under the World Trade Organization, establishes minimum standards of IPR protection. According to the TRIPS agreement, plant varieties must be protectable either by patents or by a suigeneris system (such as the breeder’s rights provided in the conventions of UPOV-

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Constraints in the implementation of Biotechnology and Biosafety

1. Shortage of highly trained manpower: The human resources are scattered in different universities, private and governmental institution

2. Limitation institutional capacity for training in biotechnology 3. Lack of appropriate research environment and brain drainage 4. Lack of basic organized information, required data and many essential techniques 5. Lack of sufficient participation of the private sector in research support and activities 6. Lack of national biosafety guideline implementation 7. Insufficient funding 8. Inadequate of awareness on the important and potential use and application of

biotechnology and the related safety 9. Inadequate national systematic policy, strategies and structures. 10. Inadequate institutional collaboration and consultation in biotechnology resulted in

dilution of human resources. 11. Lack of sustainability and long term planning. 12. Little integration of biotechnology in national policy framework 13. Limited in public resources and investments 14. Tools for technology transfer inadequate and often inaccessible 15. Lack of institutional capacity 16. Dialogue among stakeholders lacking

Recommendations for promoting agricultural biotechnology research and development The 21st century will be the «Century of Biotechnology» and so building capacity, particularly of human resources and harmonization of regulations is the two areas where urgent action is needed to ensure an efficient and safe use of biotechnology in our region; Linkage relationships between national research institutions associated with strong networks should be encouraged by governments and regional organizations and due to limited resources in many countries of the region, international organizations should help raising funds for relevant national as well as regional biotechnology projects. The following recommendations could help in improvement of biotechnology research and development in agriculture:

1. Biotechnology should be part of comprehensive national agricultural policy, not a stand alone feature.

2. Biotechnology research must meet the needs of resource poor farmers. 3. Assessment of GMOs have to be on a case by case basis before release into the

environment or placed on the market; 4. Strong national capacity is a must for managing biotechnology and biosafety; 5. Facilitate access to improved germplasm. 6. Promote investments and enterprises. 7. Consider public–private partnerships necessary, from product development to

marketing 8. Increase options and choices for all consumers 9. Full engagement of all stakeholders through consultations and Increase

communication between decision makers and relevant stakeholders (farmers, civil society, industry and scientists among others).

10. Establishment of biotechnology Network 11. Close co-ordination and Cooperation with regional and international projects and

institutions (UNEP-GEF projects , FAO, ICARDA)

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Establishment of biotechnology Network Establishment of biotechnology Network is considered one of the most important factor play a vital role in biotechnology research and development. It is considered a national, regional as well as international Information Sharing Mechanism which could: • Improve the ability of countries to make decisions about biotechnology including

establishing objectives, defining needs and allocating resources; • Build stronger partnerships among Stakeholders in biotechnology management within

each country; and among countries • Increase understanding by Stakeholders in each country about the status of their

biotechnology • Increase the ability of countries to monitor changes in biotechnology activities over time; • Improve the quality of information about biotechnology status and dynamics; • Improve the access to and sharing of information about biotechnology on national,

regional and global levels; and • Enhance the capacity of countries to meet international reporting obligations A key element for the successful establishment and sustainable development of the biotechnology network is the involvement and participation of a wide range of National Stakeholders in each country. This critical task greatly depends on the National Focal Point’s ability to co-ordinate this participatory process and on the Stakeholders’ capacity to use it as a means to effectively enriches the National Program on biotechnology. In conclusion biotechnology network is a need to:

1. Enhance data management and information sharing to support existing data basis and increase awareness.

2. Enhance research infrastructure and capacity building in agriculture. 3. Establish stronger ties between research sector, private sector and government. 4. Promote the exchange of scientific and technical experience and information. 5. Strengthen collaboration within and outside the region to achieve greater degree of

self-reliance in food and agriculture. 6. Have a generic model for the establishment of functional mechanisms for

collaboration and enhancement of communication and exchange of experiences among different countries in the region and other regions.

7. Reduce duplicative efforts among national institutions in several countries and may provide a cost-effective instrument for information exchange and institution building.

8. Optimal utilization of indigenous expertise and available resources especially when the resources are limited.

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5. REPORT ON RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT IN AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY CURRENT STATUS & FUTURE TRENDS IN THE

STATE OF KUWAIT

Dr. Yousif Al-Shayji Department Manager, Biotechnology

Introduction Harsh climate conditions, poor soil fertility, and scarcity of water, insects and diseases have been the real limiting factors for agricultural development and have resulted in only partial use of Kuwait natural resources for agricultural production. Biotechnology is a very powerful tool in agricultural development in Kuwait. Coupled with other technologies, biotechnology could provide new solutions to many problems hindering sustainable agricultural development and achievement of food security. The technology also offers unique opportunities to solve environmental problems, some of which derive from unsustainable agricultural and industrial practices. Biotechnology has therefore received significant recognition in Kuwait as the science of the future which can provide solutions to many of these limitations.

The Government of the State of Kuwait has recognized the huge potential agricultural applications of genetic engineering and has formed a National Committee on Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in consultation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in 1989. The committee is acting also as a national Safety committee and has set up a National Plan for the development of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering in Kuwait. Kuwait also is a member of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB). Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) is the affiliated centre for ICGEB an the focal point for Biotechnology and Genetic affairs in Kuwait. In this regard, the committee has identified agricultural plant tissue culture and crop improvement amongst the priority areas for research. The interest in food sufficiency and food security after the 1990 Gulf war provided a strong reason for the development and applications of biotechnology and genetic engineering to modify and increase production in plant and animal agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture.

This report examines the current status of agricultural biotechnology research & development in Kuwait, progress made and the constraints facing research and development in this area. Current and Future Trends: An Overview The current research activities are directed to advance Kuwait's agricultural productivities and food security through the exploitation of a group of biological techniques; the following are some of these techniques and their key applications: Genetic Engineering DNA-based techniques include isolation, amplification, modification and recombination of DNA; genetic engineering to obtain Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs); use of markers and probes in gene mapping and in functional and structural genomics; and identification of genotypes through DNA fingerprinting. Recombinant DNA techniques are used for the production of transgenic individuals, which involves isolation, cloning, recombination and reinsertion of genetic material by various techniques. Several transgenic cultivars of major food crops have been released incorporating genes for resistance to herbicides and insects. Transgenic techniques offer tremendous potential for the development of strains of microbes, plants and animals with unique properties. The applications ranging from the production (through industrial processes and agro-processing) of recombinant vaccines and

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medicines such as insulin, growth hormones and interferon, enzymes and special proteins productions. Recombinant vaccines have considerable application: not only can they be produced inexpensively but they also offer the advantages of safety and specificity, and allow the easy distinction between vaccinated and naturally infected animals. Modification of organisms presents opportunities for improved, standardized properties and shelf life of milk, meat and vegetable products. The modification of starter microorganisms will lead also to a more predictable fermentation rates to facilitate mechanization and standardization of large scale production. For example, organisms have been developed for the enhancement of agricultural soil fertility and bioremediation of land and water, for biological control e.g., modified mycorrhizal and rhizobial strains for better nutrient uptake. Research is also underway to improve the rumen microbial digestive system through micro-organisms that enhance the accessibility and utilization of nutrients by the animal. DNA-based molecular markers in various forms can be used to construct linkage maps of different species so as to locate target genes. The mapped markers are used for speeding up selection in conventional breeding procedures. DNA fingerprinting uses molecular markers. Molecular markers, marker-assisted breeding and DNA fingerprinting are applicable to plants and animals but have greater potential in animal breeding in view of the value of individual animals, long breeding cycles and small offspring numbers. Somatic cloning, based on the very recent demonstration of reversal of DNA quiescence allowing somatic cloning in sheep, offers new possibilities in animal improvement, conservation of animal genetic resources, and as a tool for more cost-effective research and training. The related techniques of embryo transfer, cryo-preservation of embryos and semen and artificial insemination are also widely used, with significant impact.

Development of diagnostic kits based on the products of biotechnology (monoclonal antibodies, recombinant antigens) are also very important modern agricultural applications for identification of plant and animal pathogens, with significant economic implications for pathogen monitoring and control programmes. Agro- Industrial Applications Biotechnology offers considerable potential for improvements in the agro-industrial processing, particularly for the development of more environmentally friendly or energy efficient processes. There is untapped potential for increasing employment and adding value to agricultural products through agro-industry, through diversification and alternative utilization of raw materials (e.g., use of vegetable oils as biofuels). Food and Fodder Improvement Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering techniques can produce more nutritional and less perishable food and feed products. Cell and Tissue Culture Tissue culture is seen as a main technology for developing countries for the production of disease-free, high-quality planting material. In commercial applications, such as floriculture, Tissue culture techniques including micropropagation, plant regeneration from callus and cell suspension. These techniques are being used particularly for large-scale plant multiplication. Micro propagation has proved especially useful in producing high quality, disease-free planting material of a wide range of crops. Cell and tissue culture techniques have been successfully developed and used for mass production of a wide range of elite varieties of vegetable, fruits and ornamental plants in many countries. Fermentation Technologies Fermentation technologies have also been successfully exploited for the development of

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many products which served the productivity of the agriculture sector by either improving the soil fertility, or protecting the farm animals or crops against diseases and parasites. Organisms have also been developed for soil bioremediation of contaminated soil and water so the treated soil and water can be used for agricultural and landscape purposes. Agricultural Biotechnology R & D in the State of Kuwait Biotechnology in the developing countries is still at early stage and has been growing slowly, making only few breakthroughs now and then. Kuwait is considered one of the leading countries among the developing world that has put a serious effort in developing and applying biotechnological techniques in solving its national problems with emphasis on the food security and agriculture. The scientific research in this field is shaped by the need to solve national problems and the country has made and continues to make considerable efforts to foster the development and application of biotechnologies for its economic and social well- being. The majority of research and development in this field is curried out mainly within two institutions: Kuwait institute for Scientific Research, (KISR) and Kuwait University (KU). The funding for research in both institutions is primarily dependent on the state government and to a lesser extent on contract research with national agencies and ministries such as the Kuwait foundation for the Advancement of Science( KFAS) and the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources( PAAFR). For example, KFAS contribution for the year 2006 reached approximately US$13.9M, representing approximately 47 % of the total budget of US$29.9 M for 87 on-going and completed research projects. Only 31.5 % of KFAS contribution was funded to biological research projects Contributions of the private sector to conduct or support biotechnology and research and development are negligible.

Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research KISR was established in 1967 to support national industries by conducting scientific research in problem areas. It is the only scientific institution in Kuwait which has a defined biotechnology program. The program identifies local problems that and address them through biotechnology applications.

A special department for Biotechnology was established in 1980. The first major biotechnology project was on the production of single cell protein as animal feed. This was followed by a related project on the conversion of cellulose products to be used for animal feed. The current biotechnology program is focused on genetic engineering, cell and plant tissue culture, food technology, bioremediation and fermentation as priority areas, with emphasis on agriculture, animal health and environmental safety. The budget of the client funded research projects in biotechnology for the last five (5) years (2002 – 2007) is approximately US $13.5 million. Specific areas of R & D activities include: • Improvement of plants for stress tolerance and insect resistance through identifying the

genes concerned. • Bioremediatian and rehabilitation of oil-contaminated soils. • Development of molecular probes for disease diagnosis in livestock. • Increased production of plants through tissue culture techniques. • Food quality control and detection of contaminants. • Establishment of techniques to ensure trueness-to-type of cultured date palm. • Application of embryo transfer techniques for sheep production improvement. • Development of DNA fingerprinting techniques for marine species. • Carrying out field tests and development of an action plant for remediation of oil--

contaminated soils.

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• Development of microbial-based products, e.g. biosurfactants and bioinsecticides. The following is selected examples of relevant completed and on-going research projects at the Biotechnology Department, KISR.

1. Tissue Culture: Mass Production Techniques for High Quality Crops

BTD has achieved significant accomplishments in this area. During the past ten years of research, KISR has developed tissue culture technologies on mass production of elite date palm cultivars, superior quality seed potatoes, medicinal plants and native plants. These advanced plant production technologies developed at KISR can be used in sustainable agriculture to attain certain level of food security, greenery enhancements and healthy environment in Kuwait Currently, a pilot scale commercial delivery system of true-to-type plantlets of date palm and native plants through tissue culture is in operation. Similar advanced stages of project development have been reached with the bioremediation of oil-contaminated soils.

The tissue culture technology has also been used to develop new salt- tolerant elite date palm such as barhi and khalas. The recent expansion in planting tissue cultured date palms has caused an increase in the demand for male flowers for pollination. Tissue culture techniques have therefore been assessed for the propagation male date palm pollinators.

2. Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering techniques are currently being exploited to: a. Identify and isolate beneficial genes; b. Insert the target genes into plant genome; c. Regenerate whole plant from genetically programmed cell; and d. Develop molecular diagnostics for livestock and plant diseases.

Development and innovations in the following areas of Genetic Engineering will play a key role in the scientific and economic development of Kuwait. Amongst these areas such as a) transgenic Plants or "Designers Plants" with elite qualities of tolerance to a variety of biotic and abiotic stress, such as salinity, insects/pests and diseases; b) transgenic animals: or genetically programmed animals (livestock and fishes) with improved growth rate and productivity; and animals as bioreactors to produce pharmaceutical and health products; and c) transgenic microbes or

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genetically designed bacteria to produce at commercial levels such as non-sugar sweeteners; bio-surfactants; and novel types of bacteria capable of improving oil qualitative.

3. BioPlus: A Novel Soil Amendment for Desert Soil Enhancement

The escalation of world oil production rate along with the stricter sulfur emission regulations has is causing a glut of sulfur and sulfur waste. Historically, elemental sulfur was used primarily for the manufacture of sulfuric acid, the market of which is rapidly shrinking and sulfur prices are declining rapidly. Kuwait, like any other oil producing countries, is expected to have sulfur surplus and significant amounts of sulfur waste in the near future because of the expansion in oil refining capacities and construction of a fourth refinery. In the light of the above background, a

research project was conducted by the BTD with the main objective to develop a cost effective and environmentally safe alternative for dealing with sulfur and sulfur waste. A novel bioproduct "BioPlus" for improving desert soil fertility was successfully developed. The active ingredients of the product are: elemental sulfur and proprietary microorganisms isolated from local environment. A complete engineering process design was developed for the large scale manufacturing of this product. Green house and field tests showed that the application of Bioplus improved soil fertility and enhanced the growth of a wide range of ornamental and landscaping plants. The use of Bioplus at the proposed farm will enhance the soil fertility and plant growth, resulting in higher plant survival rates, improved productivity of agricultural crops and forages.

4. Soil Bioremediation: A Cost Effective Green

Technology for Soil Decontamination During the past fifteen years, the department of biotechnology at KISR has been actively pioneering research work into the remediation and rehabilitation of oil contaminated desert soil and the oil lakes caused by the Gulf War in 1991. These serious and diligent research efforts resulted in the development of cost effective bioremediation and physical chemical technologies for treatment of oil contaminated soils and oily sludge. These technologies were field demonstrated successfully at a large scale under Kuwait conditions. Bioremediation was shown to enhance significantly soil fertility and ability to support plant growth. The potential use of the bioremediated soil for landscape purpose was demonstrated by the establishment of a public park in Al-Ahmadi, Kuwait. The recent recommendations by the United Nations Compensation Governing Council (UNCC), selected bioremediation technology for the remediation of oil lake beds and contaminated soils the selection of this technology, from many others, was based on KISR's pioneering bioremediation research work. BTD is currently recognized as a center of excellence in bioremediation, at both the regional and

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international levels BTD has developed over the years a unique data base on oil biodegradation and a leading team of expertise in this particular field.

5. Bioinsecticides: A Safer Alternative to Chemical Pesticides

Diseases and insects like white fly, aphids, mites, mildews blight and viruses major problem in the production of agricultural crops, vegetables and fruits production and can cause significant loss in the yield. The use of chemical pesticides is the common practice for insect control. However, bioinsecticides are known to be more effective agents for the control of agricultural insects. They are more eco-friendly, target specific and safer to human health and environment than currently used chemical pesticides. BTD has developed new bioinsecticides against a range of pests that affects crop plants. These new insecticides are currently in the stage of optimization pending funding. These pesticides can potentially be applied at the proposed farm as an alternative to chemical pesticides to avoid the negative impact to human health and environment. The cost involved in the optimization and production of bioinsecticides will depend on the size of the farm and the area designated to agricultural crops.

6. Waste Recycling/Composting; A Green Technology for Dealing with Agricultural

and Domestic Wastes Composting is a biological treatment in which microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes) decompose and stabilize organic material. Managing a composting system generally involves providing an environment that supports (maximizes) microbial activity. As microbes consume organic material to grow and metabolize, some of the waste mass (including nutrients) is immobilized in the cells of the microorganisms. As a result of microbial metabolism, water vapor, carbon dioxide, and heat are released. Loss of water vapor results in a gradual drying of the waste; loss of carbon dioxide and water vapor result in reduction of mass. Heat generated in composting increases temperature of the material, which generally increases microbial activity.

High temperatures maintained in the composting process also can destroy weed seeds, insects, and pathogens. Because composted waste is "treated," it is more stable than an untreated or partially treated waste. Easily decomposed fractions in the material are metabolized or "immobilized" in the bodies of microorganisms. As a result, some nutrient loss may occur. Under ideal aerobic conditions, however, nitrogen may be transformed from ammonia to a nitrate, minimizing the volatilization loss of the ammonia. Immobilized nutrients can become available with slow decomposition of organic matter, in effect a

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"timed release" of nutrients. The nutrient content of compost will depend upon the nutrient content of the raw materials, management of the composting system, and the relative "decomposability" of the compost materials.

KISR has succeeded in developing a commercial process for the production of compost from agricultural wastes. The produced compost was shown to be a good soil additive for improving soil fertility. The composts can replace part of or all synthetic fertilizers used in an operation. Adding organic matter to mineral soils can improve their physical properties (infiltration, water holding, structure, etc.) and chemical properties (Cation Exchange Capacity, fertility, etc.) Through agricultural utilization of organic wastes, producers can benefit (and possibly derive marketing potential) from materials that otherwise may be placed into landfills or present environmental pollution problems. Animal wastes contain both available nutrients and immobilized nutrients and can be mixed with plant waste during the composting process. Waste characteristics, soil moisture, and temperature will affect the rate of decomposition in the field seek alternate "disposal" options, which include selling the animal waste as fertilizer. Composting can be carried out at the farm or at any other suitable location.

7. Silage Production: Bioconversion of Agricultural Waste to High Quality Animal

Feed Preserving and storing an adequate and nutritionally suitable winter feed supply is an essential part of livestock production in Europe and N. America. With feed costs making up a major portion of total livestock industry expenses it is essential that the most efficient and effective method be used. Silage offers the opportunity of consistently putting up high quality feed with a minimum of harvesting losses despite weather. Timely harvesting will minimize losses resulting in silage of a high quality. The ensiling process

itself does not affect the quality of the feed. Low quality silage can result from a lack of understanding of the process, poor planning, or inadequate or imbalanced equipment, labor, or storage facilities. BTD has successfully developed a commercial process for the production of silage from agricultural waste. Since there are fewer harvesting losses, more nutrients are harvested per acre compared with most other systems. Ensiling permits the use of a wider range of crops.

It offers a practical method of salvaging weedy, hail damaged, frozen or otherwise damaged crops to produce a palatable and nutritional feed supply. Silage can be produced at the farm or at any other suitable location.

8. Probiotics as Safer Alternative to Antibiotics in Poultry Production BTD has recently initiated a new area of research, its main objective is to develop effective commercial probiotic feed additives to reduce mortality rate in poultry and improve meat and egg productivity. These probiotic products are much safer to human health and environment than the currently used chemical antibiotics. Although the work is still in the early stage. However, it is anticipated that the establishment of the farm will take at least 2-3 years. By that time it is hoped that some probiotic products will be ready for field demonstration.

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9. Embryo Transfer in Sheep for Improved Animal Productivity Embryo transfer in sheep is a new advanced technique that has been introduced to study its feasibility to increase local sheep production and possibly establish the basic techniques for possible future studies on transgenic animals. KISR has succeeded in producing twins of high quality Arabian Naeemi sheep twice per year using Australian surrogate mothers.

10. Biofertilizers and Biological Nitrogen Fixation

Biotechnology has been focusing on the utilization of biofertilizers to solve a number of environmental problems, such as soil fertility and agricultural productivity, through seeking alternatives to chemical fertilizers that affect the balance of the global nitrogen cycle and pollute the groundwater. Biofertilizers are a low cost biotechnological practice that needs advanced research effort in order to be implemented in rangeland development in arid lands were high salinity and low moisture limit plant growth.

11. Rhizobium Production

The Rhizobium-alfalfa symbiosis has considerable potential for inducing positive economic benefits and high level yields in both agriculture and animal industry sectors, to satisfy the needs of national consumption. Alfalfa is not only utilized as proteinous animal feed, but also as a soil fertility enhancer. A feasible approach for successful production of alfalfa is through a research and development programme that includes experimental studies.

It is expected to achieve feasible and multi approach targets through the implementation of biofertilizers, such as: sustainable rehabilitation of Kuwait’s arid soil, improvement and increases in the local production of leguminous forages, increases in animal production, decreases of the total costs of livestock feed and higher monetary returns.

12. Rhizospheric Mycorrhizae.

Soil microorganisms play an important role in enhancing the soil quality and plant productivity. The soil of Kuwait deserts lack effective microbial activity, and are poor in moisture retention capacity due to the harsh arid conditions. Currently, native desert vegetations of Kuwait are severely depleted due to natural and human factors and accordingly facing the danger of extinction. The study will adapt a biotechnical approach for enhancing the native vegetation productivity in the desert ecosystem by developing the rhizospheric-plant

symbiosis that will enhance the desert flora as an effective tool for desert environment management, conservation of native plants and implementation of successful seedling procedure and renegotiation of the local ecosystem.

Kuwait University (KU) Kuwait University is the only public University in Kuwait, and has multidisciplinary research projects. The research at KU is initiated and directed on an academic basis rather than on a defined plan or strategy of the institution. The majority of life science research is conducted in the

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biology, molecular biology, biochemistry medical fields. The university funds the main budgets of the research, while for the rest of the funding support is provided by KFAS. The current main research areas in molecular biology and biotechnology in Kuwait University are categorized into two main areas. One area is Environmental Biotechnology, where the emphasis is on oil and hydrocarbon degradation and bioremediation. Research is mainly focused on the following: • Oil-degrading rhizospheric microorganisms as potential contributors to the self-

cleaning bioremediation of Kuwait desert. • Hydrocarbon degradation by naturally immobilized micro-organisms along the Kuwait

coasts. The second area that is mostly dominated by using genetic engineering techniques is medical biotechnology, mainly the detection and typing of infectious pathogens The Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) PAAET has been established in 1982 to meet the growing needs for technical and applied education in Kuwait. The main objective of the Authority is to develop a national labor force to meet the national needs for skilled manpower through education and training. Recently PAAET proposed the establishment of a Centre for Environmental Deterioration Studies. Biotechnology was recognized as an area of importance among the research elements that the Centre aims for and its techniques are to be applied in environmental studies. However, there are no defined research projects so far as the Centre is still in the developing stage. Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science (KFAS) The State of Kuwait has established KFAS as a result of an Amiri Decree in 1976. This establishment is in collaboration with the private sector, which is considered one of the unique examples among the developing countries, specially where the private sector contributes 2% of its profit. It is also viewed as a scientific base for promoting quality research in the country. The Foundation's main objective is to extend timely and broad scientific support, by implementing a variety of scientific programmes through grant awards, in order to provide Kuwaiti scientists with the opportunity to conduct hands-on technological research, whilst simultaneously training aspiring young Kuwaitis. Public Authority for Agricultural & Fisheries Resources (PAAFR) Public Authority for Agricultural & Fisheries Resources (PAAFR) is responsible for agricultural fisheries and greenery affairs in Kuwait. The authority conducts some research in different areas of agriculture, particularly tissue culture but their main activity is providing services to the farmers. With regards to agricultural biotechnology, research in this area is very limited. Constraints and Limitations The progress of biotechnology and biotechnological applications has been relatively slow in the developing countries including Kuwait, this is caused by many factors including: 1. Insufficient Funding

Biotechnology research is more expensive than conventional research, so it should be used only to solve specific problems where it has comparative advantage. It should complement existing technologies and be output-driven. It is critical that the priority research areas for biotechnology agricultural applications be determined and included in

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a well defined national R & D program. The necessary fund should be also made available and committed to such program. The national stakeholders should be involved in the formulation of national priority areas, strategies, policies and funding plans. Successful application of biotechnology is possible only when a broad research and knowledge base exists in biology, breeding, agronomy, physiology, pathology, biochemistry and genetics. Benefits offered by the new technologies cannot be realized without a continued commitment to conventional agricultural research. Biotechnology programmes, if they are to succeed, must be fully integrated into the existing research system without depriving other research of funding. Therefore it is critical to establish priorities for biotechnology within the broader context of agricultural research needs and policies.

2. Lack of Adequate Skilled Manpower and Facilities

Biotechnology research requires highly skilled staff, backed up by well-equipped laboratories and necessary supporting facilities. Biotechnology research needs strong and organized outreach services and infrastructures to facilitate its application including access to scientific publications and data. For any research to be truly productive there must be a critical mass of expertise, knowledge and facilities.

3. Intellectual Property Rights

Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) are critical for growth of the biotechnology industry, and lack of patent protection in a country can limit access to the results of biotechnology and its applications originating elsewhere, blocking inward investment. The issues are complex, with implications for trade, technical investment and access to biotechnology outputs. Countries need to evaluate carefully their positions and, as appropriate, to introduce appropriate and regulations.

4. Market demands and Marketing strategy

Biotechnology is increasingly market and demand driven, and most of its products result from research and development investments by the private sector. There is little point in developing a new technology if there is no market for the product. The same is valid for new varieties of plants and new breeds of animals, new vaccines and diagnostic kits. Market studies are fundamental in defining the research priority areas which should be undertaken.

5. Ethical Issues

Biotechnology applications involve many areas of controversy and ethical concern some of which are difficult to resolve. These concerns arise from the fact that biotechnology is seen by some as interfering with the nature and creation, and also that it might involve risk-taking for commercial profit. However, these issues should be taken in consideration in the national R & D plan and the determination of the research priority areas.

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6. CURRENT STATUS OF AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY IN LEBANON

Lamis Chalak, PhD

Department of Plant Biotechnology Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute

Introduction Biotechnology is today a main contributor to sustainable agriculture in the developed world, and in several developing countries in South America and the Far East. However, one can not say the same for the developing countries in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. In such countries, conventional germplasm improvement programs are conducted largely by government institutions. Some of them have recently started to incorporate modern biotechnology tools in their programs. Nonetheless, failing to adopt biotechnologies places such developing countries at the risk of becoming markets for biotechnology-related products and renders their markets dependent on industrialized nations. As a result, embracing biotechnology into the industry of developing nations is crucial and will shape the pattern of their economic growth and permit them to become active participants and producers of this technology. In this brief review we will address the current status of agricultural biotechnology in Lebanon. Realizing that Lebanon is a small country (10 452 km2), located in the Near East Fertile Crescent region, which is considered as an important center of diversity in the world and where plant domestication started ten thousand years ago. Topographical, climatic and landscape diversity create diverse agro-ecosystems ranging from semi-arid to humid, that allow for a large number of plant genetic resources ranging from temperate to subtropical crops to live and flourish. The main crops grown in Lebanon are olives, fruit trees and cereals each representing over 20% of the total cultivated area in the country, followed by tubers and fruity vegetables. About 36% of Lebanon is cultivated land, of which 7% is covered by forests and 57% is non-cultivated land or temporary pasture. In 2004, the cultivated area was about 268 000 Ha out of which 135 000 Ha is irrigated. Also, more than 30% of the population is entirely dependent on agriculture. Application of biotechnology in Agriculture Lebanon is a developing country, with limited capacities and biotechnology has been included in the structure and agenda of agricultural research institutions in the nineties. Major activities currently conducted are:

- Sanitation and micropropagation by using in vitro techniques to produce certified plant material (true to type and virus free) of economically important crops such as stone fruits, banana, strawberry, potato, caper and ornamentals.

- Virus detection and identification of new diseases by using conventional and real time PCR.

- Immunodiagnosis of viruses using polyclonal antibodies developed against recombinant coat protein.

- Identification of candidate genes of Bacillus thuringiensis in the aim of production of biopesticides.

- Characterization of plant genetic resources such as almond, cherry, peach, olive, grapevine, and fig by using molecular markers.

- Selection assisted by molecular markers for wheat (drought tolerance) and tomato (resistance to viruses and fungi).

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More recently, only two activities related to genetic transformation are undergoing in the Lebanese laboratories:

- The American University of Beirut (AUB) has undertaken a collaborative program with Arab and American institutions on the transformation of local varieties of tomato in order to improve their resistance to viruses.

- The Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) has just started a collaborative project with ISAB Beauvais in France for developing a methodology for transformation of local varieties of chick pea, in order to improve their resistance to biotic and abiotic stress.

An accredited laboratory for detection of GMOs has been installed at the American University for Sciences and Technologies and could be functional in 2008. Involved institutions Research centers and academia are the major contributors to the biotech sector in Lebanon. The industrial, public and government sectors are far from being active participants in the biotech sector. The institutions and academia applying biotechnologies are:

- American University of Beirut (AUB) - Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) - Lebanese American University (LAU) - Lebanese University (LU) - University Saint Joseph (USJ) - American university for Science and Technology (AUST) - Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK)

Noted here are the considerable efforts of the Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research (LNCSR) to serve as a link between academia and researchers in this sector and the government, industry and public. However the limited funds available to LNCSR have considerably hindered such activity. The most personnel involved in hands on biotechnology work are MSc and BSc holders (90%) with adequate technical background, while few PhD’s (10%) are actually involved in ongoing laboratory work. Funds Funding for biotech-related projects in Lebanon is mostly sponsored by countries of the European Union and amounting to slightly more than 45% of the total funding. United States-based funding is a distant second with about 30%, and the remaining is from national agencies. Note worthy here is that at the national level there are two main funding sources for biotech-related research and these are LNCSR and AUB. Several biotech-related projects are fruit of partnerships with American and European-based institutions. The national universities and institutions have established collaborative work with internationally recognized academic or development-oriented institutes. Of the international funding agencies, the major European ones are, and not in any order of significance, International Centre for Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM), Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), European Union (EU, Tempus), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) France, Project CEDRE France, and University of Patras Greece. The American-based funding agencies are: United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Mercy Corps, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and to a limited extent the National Institute of Health (NIH).

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Main Constraints The development of Biotechnologies in the Agricultural sector is facing multiple constraints:

- The absence of national programs and the lack of national funds. - The limited capacities in genetic engineering. - The lack of awareness of ongoing biotech activity that dominates the concerned

government sectors. - The public sector is largely unaware of ongoing biotech-related activities. - The noted absence of a continuum between academic, government, industry, and

public sectors. - The lack of potentially marketable products resulting from biotechnologies that could

be used in agriculture industry. - The limited innovation because researchers are not made aware of market needs,

and users find few incentives and means to adopt new knowledge and tools. - The lack of procedures for the safe application of biotechnology and genetic

engineering in line with Cartagena Protocol of Biosafety. - The political strife in the Middle East and the negative impact it has had on Lebanon

for the past three decades. Recommendations, Challenges and Opportunities for Lebanon In summary, it is evident that Lebanon is undertaking efforts to adopt biotechnology and its products into the agricultural sector. Such efforts/activities are, however, mainly directed towards capacity building to address in particular GMO production, risks and concerns. Whether Lebanon will choose, or strategize, to become an active participant in the biotechnology industry and a producer of knowledge remains to be seen. At this time, the following recommendations can be made:

1. Bridge the gap between academia, research, industry and government. 2. Enhance government and/or National research center's involvement in cooperative

programs in agricultural biotechnology. 3. Enhance research infrastructure and capacity building and assign qualified personnel

to handle biosafety and GMO management issues. 4. Build strategies to enhance data management and information sharing. 5. Bank on numerous existing experts and invest in “Centers of Excellence”. 6. Undertake capacity building for adopting genetic engineering and implementing

biosafety laws. 7. Establish public awareness policy and a “Culture of Research” in NENA countries. 8. Initiate and maintain networks with regional countries that would ensure continued

collaboration in issues relating to biotechnology and biosafety. The challenges and opportunities that lie ahead are several. Below we list a few:

1. Identify promising niches for future research and development investments. 2. Provide support for capacity building to enhance research in agricultural

biotechnology. 3. Establish the needed infrastructure to support biotechnology research and marketing

of products resulting thereof. 4. Undertake reforms and establish opportunities to attract biotechnology industry.

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witches broom in Lebanon: classification and phylogenetic relationships of the associated phytoplasma. Plant Disease 86: 477-484

Abou-Jawdah Y, Sobh H, Cordahi N, Kawtharani H, Nemer G, Maxwell DP, Nakhla MK (2004) Immunodiagnosis of Prune dwarf virus using antiserum produced to its recombinant coat protein. Journal of Virological Methods: 121: 31-38.

Baum M (2006) Status and trends in agricultural biotechnology in West Asia and North Africa. Proceedings of a Policy Diolog Meeting, Cairo, 64-72.

Chalak L, Elbitar A, Masaad W, Choueiri E (2004) Assainissement de la pomme de terre infectée par le virus PVYNTN par culture de méristèmes. Lebanese Science Journal 5 (1): 37-43.

Chalak L, Elbitar A, Rizk R, Choueiri E, Salar P, Bové JM (2005) Attempts to eliminate Candidatus phytoplasma phoenicium from infected Lebanese almond varieties by tissue culture techniques combined or not with thermotherapy. European Journal of Plant Pathology 112: 85-89.

Chalak L and Elbitar A (2006) Micropropagation of Capparis spinosa L. subsp. rupestris Sibth. & Sm. by nodal cuttings. Indian Journal of Biotechnology 5: 555-558

Chalak L, Chehade A, Kadri A, Cosson P, Zanetto A, Dirlewanger E , Laigret F (2006) Preliminary Characterization of Cultivated Almonds (Prunus dulcis L.) in Lebanon by Morphological Traits and Microsatellite Markers. Biologia Tunisie 4: 00-00

Chalak L, Chehade A, Elbitar A, Cosson P, Zanetto A, Laigret F, Dirlewanger E (2006) Morphological and molecular characterization of peach accessions (Prunus persica L) cultivated in Lebanon. Lebanese Science Journal 7 (2): 23-31.

Chamoun R (2004) Morphological and genetic characterization of local olive (Olea europea L.) varieties in Lebanon. MSc thesis, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.

Chehade A, Chalak L, Elbitar A, Cosson P, Zanetto A, Dirlewanger E (2005) Caractérisation morphologique et moléculaire de clones de cerisier cultivés au Liban. Lebanese Science Journal 6 (1): 29-40.

Choueiri E, Jreijiri F, El zammar S, Verdin E, Salar P, Danet JL, Bové J,Garnier M., 2002a. First report of grapevine " bois noir" disease and of a new phytoplasma infecting solanaceous plants in lebanon.plant disease 86:697.

Choueiri E, Abou Ghanem-Sabanadzovic N, Kkhazzaka K., Sabanadzovic S., Di Terlizzi B, Myrta A, El-Zammar S., Jreijiri F., Savino V. 2002b. First record of hop stunt viroid in apricot in lebanon. Journal of plant pathology 84:69.

De Kathen, A. The Cartagena Protocol: Options and Implications and Decision-Support Tools for Implementing Biosafety Frameworks. In: Developing and Harmonizing Biosafety Regulations for Countries in WANA, Editor, Publisher.

Driss F, Kallassy-Awad M, Zouari N, Jaoua S (2005) Molecular characterization of a novel chitinase from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. Kurstaki. Journal of applied microbiology 99: 944- 953.

El-Mohtar C, Atamian H, Dagher R, Abou Jawdah Y, Salus M, Maxwell D (2007) Marker assisted selection of tomato genotypes with i2 gene of resistance to Fsarium oxysporum f. Sp. Lycopersici. Plant disease (in press)

Hourani H, Abou Jawdah Y (2003) Immunodiagnosis of cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus using polyclonal antibodies developed against recombinant coat protein. Journal of plant pathology 85 (3): 197-204.

Kallassy-Aouad M, Saadaoui I, Rouis S, Tounsi S, Jaoua S (2007) differentiation between Bacillus thuringiensis strains by gyrb pcr-sau3ai fingerprinting. Mol biotechnol. 35 (2):171-8.

Maccaferri M, Sanguineti MC, Natoli V, Araus JL, Ben Salem M, Bot J, Chennaoui C, De Ambrogio E, Garcia Del Moral LF, De Montis A, El-Ahmed A, Maalouf F, Machlab H, Moragues M, Motwaj J, Miloudi N, Nserallah N, Oulabi H, Rharrabti Y, Conxita R, Tuberosa R (2006) A panel of elite accessions of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf)

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suitable of association mapping studies. Plant Genetic Resources 4 (1): 79-85. DOI: 10.1079/PGR2006117.

Mohtasseb H, Sattout EJ, Al-Khalitb A (2005) Survey findings on the current technological capacity to manage biosafety issues in Lebanon.UNEP-GEF/UNDP/MOE.

NBFP@Lebanon: Bulletin of the National Biosafety Framework Project - Lebanon. (2005) Sattout EJ, Jamali D, Nasser W (2005) National Biosafety Framework for Lebanon. UNEP-GEF/UNDP/MOE.

Sattout E, Jamali D, Nasser W (2005). National Biosafety Framework for Lebanon. UNEP - GEF / UNDP / MoE Lebanon.

Talhouk R (2004) “A study on Biotechnology Policies, Capacity Building, and Development Strategies in Lebanon”. Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).

Talhouk R (2004) Biotechnology Policies, Capacity Building, and Development Strategies in Selected ESCWA Countries. The Case of Lebanon. Forum on Capacity Building through Technology Transfer and Networking. pages 1-23.

Talhouk R (2005) Volume IV. Building capacity in risk assessment risk management. UNEP-GEF. Project Number GF/2716-01-4319. Development of the National Biosafety Framework of Lebanon, 2005.

Talhouk R (2006) “Current status of biotechnology and biosafety in Lebanon. Proceedings of a Policy Diolog Meeting, Cairo, 90-97.

Verdin E, Salar P, Danet JL, Choueiri E, Jreijiri F, El Zammar S, Gélie B, Bové JM, Garnier Mm (2003) 'Candidatus phytoplasma phoeniceum' sp. Nov., a novel phytoplasma associated with an emerging lethal disease of almond trees in Lebanon and Iran. International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology 53: 833-838.

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6. STATUS OF AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY IN LIBYA

Dr. Mohamed Mansour Sharif Head of the National Biotechnology Research Centre

Libya Introduction:

• The 20th century has experienced unprecedented development in various fundamental and practical sciences which resulted in discoveries, inventions and researches related to all aspects of life such as biological, agricultural, industrial.

• Libya has signed an agreement with UNESCO to establish the Biotechnology Research Center (BTRC) in the year 2000.

• Libya has established biotechnology research center (BTRC) in the year 2000. The objectives of Biotechnology Research Center (BTRC) in Libya Preparing and enabling scientific accredited Libyan human resources to work in the fields of biotechnology in order to follow developments in these sciences, and to use the good ones for the benefit of humanity. Establishing programs related to using biotechnology and its application in the fields of Agriculture, Industry, Medicine and Environment. Enriching and promoting scientific activity in the fields that the center works on as follows:

• studies, research and training programs • scientific symposiums and discussion groups • Organizing scientific trips inside and outside of Libya • Cooperating with international originations • training programs dedicated for graduates of universities and higher vocational

centers

Scientific departments, specialized research projects, and specialized research groups

First: scientific departments Genetic Engineering Department Objectives:

1. Using and developing ways for diagnosing diseases in humans, animals, and plants. 2. Detecting genetic diversity level in plants and animals. This detection has to have an

economic benefit. 3. Describing genotyping for some pathogenic organisms. 4. Detecting the level of gene expression for some genes in humans and some

organisms. This detection has to have an economic benefit. 5. Detecting organisms and foods which are genetically modified.

Microbiology and Hematology Department Objectives:

Detecting micro-organisms in food, water, and medical samples.

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Executing surveying studies about the spread of some diseases resulted from pathological micro-organisms and parasites in food and water.

Human Tissue Culture Department Objectives:

Creating ways to get the benefit of using human graft tissues. Studying genotyping for infectious viruses and studying the changes that occur in the

structures of human cells. Creating a lab for cell culture and studying these cells especially cancer cells. Establishing research programs in order to study the effect of some important

proteins in the development of the sickness due to connective tissue disease and HIV virus.

Plant Tissue Culture Department Objectives:

Conducting researches in the fields of plant micropropogation in order to get huge numbers of plants which are free from viruses and homogenous in length and size in a small unit of area and in a relative short time.

Producing mutations of agricultural crops which are resistant to environmental stresses (salinity and drought). This is achieved by using Gamma radiation. These mutations are of economic importance.

Micropropagting ornamental plants which have an economic value. Micropropagating endangered plants in order to preserve biological diversity. Culture of medicinal plants and producing callus tissue for these plants. That is

achieved in order to make the plant tissue available throughout the year. Furthermore, to get active compounds in big quantity and in pure forms as well as to save medicinal plants in nature.

Second: Research Groups Medicinal Plant Chemistry Group Objectives:

• Extensive survey of the medicinal plants present in Libya. • Extraction and purification of active compounds from medicinal plants. • Studying the chemical structure for the active compounds which were extracted. • Studying the biological activity for these compounds.

Soil Science and Biological Fertilizers Group Objectives:

• Studying nitrogen fixation by bacteria. • Studying the possibility of using some micro-organisms to eliminate bad odors from

water tanks. • Adapting some plants which are resistant to drought and salinity. This is achieved by

studying the possibility of growing these plants under local irrigation and agriculture such as Jojoba, Liocina. Using biotechnology to produce alternative media to soil in order to develop plants and its irrigation.

• Using biotechnology to treat the soil which is polluted by heavy metals and oil (petroleum).

• Studying the feasibility of using drop irrigation technique in conjunction with using fertilizers for the crops.

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Environmental Protection and Water Treatment Group Objectives:

• Carrying out water analysis chemically and biologically. • Carrying out researches related to sewage waste and how to treat it.

Food Analysis and Treatment Group Objectives:

• Detecting and identifying foods treated by irradiation. • Studying residues of fertilizers, pesticides, and heavy metals in food. • Expanding in the future to carry out to food safety analysis. • Giving and offering scientific consultation in the field of food irradiation.

Biological Control for Agricultural Pests Group Objectives:

• Studying the ways of using infertile male technique. These studies include biological studies, field studies, and also the used dosages for making these insects infertile.

• Gathering, identifying, and forming (creating) colony of local breeds for Mediterranean fly and Dacus frontalis. Preserving this colony and conducting studies related to its breeding.

• Conducting studies about the most important pests that hinder agricultural development such as leopard moth (zeuzera pyrina) as well as localizing biological control techniques in Libya.

• Contributing in spreading awareness among farmers about using biotechnology for agricultural purposes. This could be achieved by using different communication media.

Third: Specialized Research Projects

Project of improving local goat breed. The national project for comprehensive control of fruit fly.

Services offered by BTRC: Some of the services offered are as follows:

1. Carrying out food analysis (bacteriology and aflatoxsin). 2. Detecting viral diseases by serum analysis and by using molecular biology

techniques (PCR). 3. Isolating, identifying most of the types of bacteria, pathogenic fungi, and determining

the best antibiotic. 4. Analyzing drinking water biologically and chemically. 5. Contributing in spreading awareness among society by organizing educational

lectures related to the positive and negative aspects of using genetic engineering techniques and also related to the bioethics in this era (the genome era).

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8. BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH IN MOROCCO

Driss Iraqi1, Imane Thami-Alami1, Fouad Abbad-Andaloussi1 and Sripada M. Udupa2 1Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), B.P. 415, Rabat, Morocco. 2ICARDA-INRA Cooperative Research Program, ICARDA, B.P. 6299, Rabat, Morocco.

Summary: In Morocco, a significant research in traditional breeding for several years has made improvements in agricultural productions. However, the growing population and recurrent occurrence of droughts have alarmed food security in Morocco and efforts have been taken to integrate modern biotechnology tools in conventional breeding to improve the most important crops such as wheat, barley, faba bean and horticultural and fruit tree crops. Towards this initiative, Morocco has given strong priority and commitment for biotechnological research and allocated substantial funds for infrastructure development. INRA is working with close partnership with international organizations and agencies such as ICARDA, Generation Challenge Program, USDA and EU to integrate and apply biotechnology tools in agriculture research. Wide-ranging research activities using plant tissue culture techniques are in progress in many laboratories of INRA, Universities and in the private sector laboratories. Plant tissue culture research is multi-dimensional and most prominent application had been for micropropagation of dates and citrus, and production of doubled haploid lines in wheat and triticale. Using doubled haploid technology three varieties each of bread wheat and triticale have been registered for cultivation in Morocco. Currently, molecular marker technology is being used for diversity analysis and gene tagging and this technology has been extended to marker-assisted breeding of cereals. Plant genetic transformation is an important potential areas identified for future research. The biolistic (gene gun) and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation technologies are adapted for cereals and faba bean transformation respectively. There are 3 biotechnology networks in the country, namely, Biotechnology Network of INRA, RENABIO and MiSoBioP. To speed up field-testing and harness the benefits of transgenic crops, Morocco is actively involved in developing biosafety regulations at national level with close partnership of ICARDA, FAO, UNEP, and USDA. 1. Introduction

Agriculture represents one of the most important sectors in the economy of Morocco. Farmers in Morocco cultivate various crops, from wheat, barley, vegetables and olives to the different types of fruits. Even the tropical crops like rice, sorghum, groundnut and millet are being grown, but at a very small scale (FAO 2007). However, wheat, barley, faba bean, lentils and chickpeas are important among the field crops; and apple, peach, plums, vegetables, olives, dates and citrus are important among horticultural and tree crops (FAO 2007). These crops are cultivated in different parts of the country, depending upon the climatic and soil conditions: in the northern part grapes, fruit, olives and wheat; to the western part oranges, vegetables, and wheat; in the southern part, dates. Among the crops, the country exports citrus fruits and tomatoes, to Europe, Canada, and the United States. The agricultural sector contributes about 20% of the countries exports, provides employment for approximately 50% of the Moroccan work force and contributes 13-17% to the nation's GDP (Anonymous 2005). Total area covered by the country is 71 million ha, of which 9 million ha are under cultivation, including 1.4 million ha of cultivated land under irrigation (15%). The rest of the areas are rangelands. Little more than 85% of Moroccan agriculture is rain-fed. Since most of Morocco's crops are dependent on adequate rainfall, this sector had produced fluctuating yields. In 1995, crop production was hit hard due to the effects of a severe drought. For instance, the production of cereals fall, like wheat and barley, decreased from a record 9.5 million tons in 1994 to 1.6 million tons in 1995 as a result of drought. Between the years

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2002 to 2004, the country’s agriculture could only cover the national demand of 70% for cereals, 52% for sugar, 20% for oils, 100% for fruits and vegetables, 87% for milk and 98% for the meats (Anonymous 2005). To satisfy the demands for food in Morocco, there is a need to increase agricultural productivity so that sufficient food supplies exist to meet the growing demand forthcoming from an increasing population. In the absence of significant productivity gains through conventional methods, or expansion of agriculture into marginal lands (e.g., forests), there will be not be sufficient food quantities to feed the projected levels of population. This simple reality is independent of income distribution or the location of the population (McGloughlin 1999). So, in the absence of a good alternative and in the face of a proven slow down in the productivity gains from the Green Revolution, biotechnology is our best bet, and may be, the way to increase production to meet future food needs (McGloughlin 1999). This is evident from the progress made in this technology to improve biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in many crops (Dubcovsky 2004; Fu et al. 2006; Hu et al. 2006; James 2007; Umezawa et al. 2006; Tang et al. 2007). In this paper, we summarize the agricultural biotechnology research activities in Morocco. 2. Application of biotechnology

In Morocco, agricultural biotechnology applications began since the eighties, with use of plant tissue culture technique as a tool in crop improvement program. In 1981, microprogation of banana was initiated to fulfil the growing demand of banana plantlets for cultivation as a result of increase in area of this crop under protected agriculture system (green house conditions). Since then, lots of efforts are being done to develop and integrate biotechnology tools in agriculture. However, in recent years, biotechnology applications are limited to a few public and private research institutions. The National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA) is a leading national research organization in agriculture biotechnology in the country. Through its vast network of regional research centers and experimental stations, INRA has developed capacities and capabilities in agricultural biotechnology research. To face the constraints which are undergoing in Moroccan agriculture, it became imperative for INRA to take position as regards to research in biotechnology in order to be able to adapt the new advanced techniques and to continue its contribution to the development of Moroccan agriculture. A news strategy was elaborated in order to integrate biotechnology as major tools in agricultural research. Research priorities were established, one of which was devoted to the development of biotechnological tools and their integration in the programs of genetic crop improvement. Lately, Morocco has given top priority for biotechnology research in its National Science and Technology Policy. Accordingly, INRA has developed capacity and human resources in the areas of agricultural biotechnology in its regional research centers distributed over different agro ecological zones of the country. The biotechnology laboratories use various biotechnological tools to address the specific problems in crop production. These biotechnology tools include plant tissue culture, molecular markers and plant transformation. To consolidate these actions in the field of biotechnology, INRA develops and maintains collaborative research programs with national institutions (Institut Agronomic et Vétérinaire Hassan II [IAV Hassan II], Ecole Nationale d’Agriculture de Meknès [ENA], universities, etc.) and with international organizations (ICARDA, USDA, European commission, etc.). In the following sections we briefly describe various biotechnology tools used to address the problems of agriculture.

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2.1 Plant tissue culture Plant tissue culture is the culture and maintenance of plant cells or organs in sterile, nutritionally and environmentally supportive conditions in vitro. It has great applications in research and commerce. In commercial sectors, tissue culture is often referred to as micropropagation, which is really only one form of a set of techniques. Micropropagation refers to the production of whole plants from cell cultures derived from explants (the initial piece of plant tissue put into culture) of (usually) meristem cells. Plant tissue culture offers numerous significant advantages over conventional propagation methods:

• Faster rates of growth can be induced in vitro than by conventional means • It may be possible to multiply in vitro plants that are very difficult to propagate by

cuttings or other normal methods (micropropagation) • Large numbers of genetically identical clones may be produced (micropropagation) • Seeds can be germinated with no risk of diseases and pests • Under certain conditions, plant material can be stored in vitro for considerable

periods of time with little or no maintenance (germplasm conservation) • Plant tissue culture techniques are used for virus free propagules, genetic

manipulation, somatic hybridization and other procedures that benefit propagation, plant improvement including genetic transformation, and basic research.

The use of tissue culture in commercial multiplication of sugar cane was started at the National Center for Sugar Cane, Kenitra in 1985. Research had been carried out to select clones through micro-propagation of local and newly introduced varieties. A project on sunflower crop has also been initiated at the Faculties of sciences in Fez and Meknes. Biotechnology research in forestry is limited to a few laboratories. Tissue culture of eucalyptus and Holm oak is being carried out at the National Center of Forest Research (CNRF) at Rabat. A project on the development of the oil producing argane (Argana spinosa) tree using breeding for performance and tissue culture propagation ability, has been going on at the laboratory of plant biotechnology and physiology of the Horticultural complex of the “Institut Agronomic et Vétérinaire Hassan II (IAV Hassan II), Agadir. INRA is leader in application of tissue culture tools in crop improvement in Morocco and few examples from its activities are described in detail below.

2.1.1 Micropropagation of date palm The conventional method of date palm propagation is by offshoots. However, this method is limited by the small number of offshoots generated on each tree (1-20, depending on the variety). Therefore, this propagation method does not fulfill the large demand for plant material and thus limits the expansion of date palm plantations. Several methods for in vitro propagation through tissue culture were developed for date palm. In vitro propagation of date palm has several advantages in comparison to propagation by offshoots: large-scale multiplication (which are free from diseases such as Bayoud) to fulfill high demand date palm plantlets, preservation of threatened genotypes, no seasonal effect on plant source, and easy and safe exchange of plant materials between different regions without the risk of contamination. At Regional Research Center, INRA, Marrakech, micropropagation of date palm carried out successfully using auxiliary buds and inflorescence as explants (Abahmane 2005; Sedra 2005). National capacity of in vitro plants production is between 70,000 to

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100,000 plantlets per year. This capacity is insufficient to fulfill the high demand for the plantlets. For instance, in year 2007, total demand for plantlets was more than three times the production capacity (total demand for plant lets 3,212,000 which includes variety Mejhool 105,000 plantlets, other varieties 140,000 and other selected clones 1,075,000). 2.1.2 Micropropagation of citrus Triploidy had played an important role in the development of new seedless mandarin cultivars. Usually at Regional Research Center, INRA, Kenitra, the crosses were made between ‘Sidi Aissa Clementine’ (as female parent) and other mandarins as male parents, because, using ‘Sidi Aissa Clementine’ as female parent showed the highest phonological stability and produced the highest number of triploid embryos. At maturity the fruits harvested and small embryos were extracted and cultured in vitro and the triploid plant production were further enhanced by micropropagation (Handaji et al. 2005). 2.1.3 Doubled haploid technology in cereals Doubled haploid technology refers to the use of the microspore or anther culture (in some cases ovary culture) to obtain haploid embryos from microspores. The ploidy level could be doubled autonomously or by chemical treatments to obtain plants with 100% homozygosity. This technology is being used at Regional Research Center, INRA, Settat to speed up the breeding procedure in bread wheat and triticale (El Haddury et al. 2005). Using this technology three bread wheat and three triticale varieties were developed and register for cultivation.

2.2 Molecular markers Traditional plant breeding is time consuming and very dependent on environmental conditions. Breeding a new variety takes eight to twelve years. Therefore, breeders are extremely interested in new technologies that could make this procedure more efficient. Molecular markers offer such an opportunity by adapting a wide range of novel approaches to improving the selection strategies in plant breeding. Molecular markers work at INRA was started with use of RAPD markers. Subsequently, AFLPs and microsatellite markers were adapted for their application at Regional Research Centers Rabat and Kenitra. Recently at regional research center, Kenitra, one of the SNP detection technique namely CAPS has been used for detection of polymorphism in citrus (Lotfy et al. 2003). Currently, microsatellites and AFLPs are the most popular markers in INRA laboratories. Application of these markers for genetic studies of crops have been so much diverse in INRA laboratories. Main uses include:

• assessment of genetic variability and characterization of plant genetic resources (e.g.

sugar beet, wheat and citrus); • identification and fingerprinting of crop varieties (e.g. Lucerne), pathogens (e.g. Net

blotch pathogen of barley, Septoria disease pathogen of wheat), pests (Hessian fly) and beneficial microbes such as Rhizobium spp.;

• estimation of genetic distances between populations, breeding materials and inbred lines;

• gene tagging of monogenic and quantitative traits in wheat (e.g. Septoria disease resistance; Hessian fly resistance) and marker assisted selection for quality traits (e.g. HMW glutenines);

Research on molecular markers is also part of research activities in other public institutions such as IAV Hassan II, ENA de Meknès, University laboratories and Société de Gestion des Terres Agricoles (SOGETA).

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2.3 Plant genetic transformation Developments in recombinant DNA technology during 1970s and the genetic manipulation of plants entered a new era in biology. Genes and traits previously unavailable through traditional plant breeding became available through DNA recombination, and with greater specificity than ever before. Genes from sexually incompatible plants or from animals, bacteria or insects can now be introduced into plants. Products of modern plant genetic engineering are already on the market in various countries (James 2007). The year 2006, 250 million acres of transgenic crops was planted in 22 countries (11 developing countries and 11 industrialized countries). This high adoption rate shows the farmers acceptance of transgenic crops. Over the last 11 years, area under transgenic crops also increased dramatically more than fifty-fold, since transgenic crops were first commercialized in 1996, with the number of countries planting transgenic crops increasing from 6 to 22 in the same period (James 2007). The transgenic crops commercialized so far are cotton, maize, soybean, canola, rice, potato, tomato, sugar beet, squash and papaya (ISAAA 2006). The genes used for genetic transformation are dominated by resistant to herbicides and insects (James 2007). In Morocco, no transgenic crops commercialized so far. With many more products in the pipeline, we believe that the genetic engineering of plants will have a significant impact on the future of agriculture. Plant genetic transformation involves the transfer of the desired genes into the plant genome, and then regeneration of a whole plant from the transformed cells/tissue. Currently, the most widely used method for transferring genes into plants are Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and the particle gun (ISAAA 2006). Agrobacterium is a naturally occurring pathogenic bacterium in the soil that has the ability to transfer its DNA into a plant's genome. In wild, Agrobacterium infection and gene transfer normally occurs at the site of a wound in the plant, and causes a characteristic growth referred to as a tumor. Molecular biologists have removed the tumor forming genes and substituted with genes of agronomic interest. For Agrobacterium to transfer part of its DNA into plants, the bacterium is usually inoculated with living, wounded plant tissue called explants. After culturing the bacteria with the plant tissues, antibiotics are supplied, eliminating the bacterium from the plant tissue. This small piece of transformed plant tissue selected on selective media is then regenerated into a mature plant through tissue culture techniques (ISAAA 2006). This technology is being adapted for transformation of faba bean at Regional Research Center, INRA, Rabat, to improve tolerance to parasitic weed, Orobanche. The particle gun (gene gun) is one of the physical methods for DNA delivery to plant genome. For this method, DNA is coated onto small (<1µm), gold or tungsten particles, which are accelerated towards the target plant tissues. The bombardment device (Bio-Rad Gene Gun) uses a release of compressed helium gas to accelerate the DNA-coated particles. After the particles pass through the plant cell wall, they enter the cytoplasm and into the nucleus, where the DNA comes off the particles and integrates into the chromosome. Further, the transgenic tissue is selected by culturing on selective media and the transgenic tissue is regenerated into plants using tissue culture techniques (ISAAA 2006). Wheat transformation work at Regional Research Center, INRA, Rabat, is being carried out by adapting this technology (Iraqi et al. 2005) to improve drought tolerance.

3. Biotechnology networks in Morocco There are 3 biotechnology networks in Morocco. They are Biotechnology Network of INRA, RENABIO and MiSoBioP.

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3.1 Biotechnology Network of INRA: This network was set up in 2006 at INRA Morocco to establish linkages at international and national levels with INRA biotech researchers, sharing of information and to coordinate the biotechnology research activities at Regional Research Centers of INRA Morocco. This network has 15 research activities planned in the Medium Term Plans (MTP) of the Regional Research Centers involved in biotechnology research. This network has 4 themes namely drought tolerance in wheat, crop protection with special reference to cereals, in vitro culture and genetic transformation and molecular applications. 3.2 RENABIO: Biotechnology National Network, which consists of 3 higher education institutions and 5 governmental research and inspection agencies. The areas of activities are focused mainly on phytosanitary issues, animal health, and food industry. 3.3 MiSoBioP: Soil Microbiology and Plant Biotechnology Network, which consists of 11 Science Faculties of the Universities in Morocco, the National Center for Energy and Nuclear Sciences and a private tissue culture laboratory. Activities of this network are cantered mainly on soil microbiology, plant biotechnology (date palm, olive and tomato), microbial biotechnology and environmental issues.

4. Present status of biosafety regulation in Morocco The Ministry of Agriculture has elaborated a project of law aiming at regulating research, use, dissemination and marketing of GMOs and their derived products. The proposed text has been submitted to the Government for promulgation. It is based on the following principles: areas of application; use of GMOs for research and education purposes; dissemination and marketing; labeling of GMO and derived food; legal responsibility and penal measures. With respect to the Cartagena Protocol, Morocco has signed the protocol on May 15, 2000 in Nairobi (Kenya), but has not ratified it yet. Taking into account Biosecurity and environmental risks raised by the use of biotechnologies, Morocco has established the National Biosecurity Committee (NBC) through a "circular N° 5/2005 dated April 12, 2005”. The Committee is chaired by the Prime Minister. The members of this committee are representatives of ministries of agriculture, health, environment, higher education and scientific research, trade and industry, fisheries, interior, foreign affairs, justice, Islamic affairs and finance. The Ministry of Agriculture is the secretariat of the Committee. The committee also includes representatives of the private sector and qualified persons (from the private as well as public institutions and non governmental organizations) who might help the Committee in addressing specific issues. The Committee's mandate is to provide the Government with advises and recommendations and particularly: (1) express views on biotechnology matters; (2) propose positions and measures regarding these matters; (3) express opinion on legislation and regulation concerning biotechnology; (4) contribute to the elaboration of national strategy on biotechnology and (5) suggest programs on communication, training, outreach, research and cooperation.

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5. Conclusion and perspectives We would like to conclude with several observations about the future of agricultural biotechnology. First, agricultural biotechnology is one of many tools available to move agriculture forward in the 21st century. It is not an answer for all of the world’s agriculture or food security problems but it may be useful to solve some of them. Although, we should all endeavor for world-wide sustainable agriculture in the future, agricultural biotechnology is an immediate tool that can benefit farmers, the environment, and consumers. To appropriately utilize agricultural biotechnology, each country needs a strong, regulatory system to ensure that products are safe to humans and the environment. It is important that every country be given the opportunity and support to establish a biosafety system so that it can make its own judgment whether a particular product meets its standards for safety. The National Biosafety Regulations should be harmonized with other countries in the region and their trading partners. There is also need for a network at the regional level for technical capacity building in biosafety and risk assessment aspects, collaborative agreement between countries to develop guidelines for method performance and validation criteria; and development of suitable reference materials and opportunities for discussion. This network will help in advancing the understanding of scientific issues relating to nutrition, food safety, toxicology, risk assessment, and the environment.

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References Abahmane L. (2005) Micropropagation par tissues inflorescentiels du palmier dattier

(Phoenix dactilyfera L.): un outil efficace pour la sauvegarde des genotypes rares. Al Awamia 2 (1): 47-60

Anonymous (2005) L’agriculture Marocaine en chiffres. Le terroir, N° 12-13. Revue du Ministère, du Développement rural et des Pêches Maritimes, Rabat, Maroc

Dubcovsky J. (2004) Marker-Assisted Selection in Public Breeding Programs: The Wheat Experience. Crop Sci 44:1895-1898

El Haddoury J, Mouatasim B, Mergoum M, Nsarellah N. (2005) Comparison between two methods of haploid production in hexaploid Triticale (X. Triticosecale Wittmack). Al Awamia 2 (3): 17-29

El Haddoury, Amri A, Lhaloui S, Nsarellah N. (2005) Use of interspecific hybridization for the transfer of Hessian fly resistance from Triticum araraticum to durum wheat. Al Awamia 2(1):3-13

FAO (2007) FAOSTAT. Available at http://faostat.fao.org/ Fu D, Huang B, Xiao Y, Muthukrishnan S, Liang GH. (2006) Overexpression of barley hva1

gene in creeping bentgrass for improving drought tolerance. Plant Cell Rep. 26:467-477 Handaji N, Dambier D, Chahbar A, Arsalane N, Hmouni D, Benyahia H, Ollitrault P. (2005)

Etude de facteurs influents sur la production de triploides par hybridation entre clémentiniers et mandariniers diploids. Al Awamia 2 (1): 29-46

Hu H, Dai M, Yao J, Xiao B, Li X, Zhang Q, Xiong L. (2006) Over expressing a NAM, ATAF, and CUC (NAC) transcription factor enhances drought resistance and salt tolerance in rice. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103(35):12987-92

ISAAA (2006) Biotechnology in Agriculture: A Lot More than Just GM Crops. Available at http://www.isaaa.org/kc/bin/isaaa_briefs/index.htm

Iraqi D, Hakam N, Labhilili M. (2005) Transformation génétique des embryons immatures du Blé tendre (Triticum aestivum) et du Blé dur (Triticum durum). Al Awamia 115: (2) 3-16

James C. (2007). Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2006. ISAAA Briefs No. 35-2006, available at http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/35/default.html

Lotfy S, Luro F, Carreel F, Froelicher Y, Rist D, Ollitrault P. (2003) Application of Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic Sequence method for analysis of cytoplasmic genome among Aurantioideae intergeneric somatic hybrids. J American Soc Hort Sci 128 (2): 225-230

McGloughlin, M. (1999) Ten reasons why biotechnology will be important to the developing world. AgBioForum, 2(3&4), 163-174

Sedra My H. (2005) Phenological description and molecular marker for the determination of true-to-type of tissue culture derived plants using organogenesis of some Moroccan date palm (Phoenix dactilyfera L.) varieties. Al Awamia 2 (1): 85-101

Tang W, Newton RJ, Li C, Charles TM. (2007) Enhanced stress tolerance in transgenic pine expressing the pepper CaPF1 gene is associated with the polyamine biosynthesis. Plant Cell Rep 26(1):115-24

Umezawa T, Fujita M, Fujita Y, Yamaguchi-Shinozaki K, Shinozaki K. (2006) Engineering drought tolerance in plants: discovering and tailoring genes to unlock the future. Curr Opin Biotechnol 17(2):113-22

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9. THE CURRENT STATUS OF AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY IN SULTANATE OF OMAN

Eng. Alghalyia H. Al Mamari Biotechnology Researcher

Tissue Culture and Biotechnology Research Laboratory Date Palm Research Center

Ministry of Agriculture

Introduction Biotechnology is one of the recently emerging sciences that developed very fast in different fields affecting human life. It has opened the door for improvement of agricultural production and solution to some problems such as: environmental stresses resistance e.g. salinity and drought and their impact on plant production as well as pest resistance. In Oman biotechnology was introduced during the last decade and has moved in the same direction as the rest of the world. This paper presents the present status of agricultural biotechnology in Oman. Agricultural Biotechnology in Oman Different applications of biotechnology were introduced in Oman in nineties. This was started by establishing a tissue culture laboratory in 1992 in Jemah Research Station (Ministry of Agriculture). This laboratory was established for long term strategy to replace 3.1 million trees with economically important cultivars. In 2000, another section was added for molecular analysis at Rumais Research Center (Ministry of Agriculture). Later more laboratories were developed in different institutions in Oman. Sultan Qaboos University has two laboratories for plant biotechnology. Each laboratory has its policy, research program, regulations and safety measurements. All have the potentiality to apply biotechnology techniques for DNA analysis and manipulation, as well as to produce recombinant DNA and GMOs. The above laboratories are utilizing the biotechnology for three main topics:

• DNA fingerprinting • Disease diagnosis • Genetic transformation

DNA fingerprinting and disease detection and characterization are used for research and applied agriculture (El-Kharbotly, 2005) Genetic transformation has started in the last few years, however, only at academic level. Tissue Culture and Biotechnology Research laboratory A) Infrastructure: Tissue culture section contains offices, different rooms for tissue culture purposes as well as 6 green houses, 14 shade houses, two glass houses. The biotechnology section is fully equipped for DNA extraction, PCR amplification, agarose and PAGE gel-electrophoresis and DNA fingerprinting. The human resources for these two sections consist of one biotechnology expert (Ph.D), one tissue culture specialist (Ph.D), two agriculture engineers (M.Sc.), four agriculture engineers (B.Sc.), 14 technicians, 7 temporary technicians and four workers. The tissue culture and biotechnology laboratory was established for the following purposes:

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1. The introduction of tissue culture and molecular techniques to the Sultanate to be used as required for plant propagation and molecular analysis respectively.

2. Mass propagation of local and imported date palm cultivars using the tissue culture technique.

3. Multiplication of other plants species for different national projects. 4. Establishment of a genetic map for date palms. 5. Molecular characterization of the Omani genetic resources, especially the major

crops such as date palm and alfalfa. 6. Molecular detection and analysis of different pathogenic organisms, specially the

phytoplasmas.

B) Projects and Activities: A few projects are being carried out and promising results were achieved. These can be summarized in the following:

1) The tissue culture section: • Finding out the suitable tissue culture media for 46 cultivars from which 24 are

Omani ones. • Production of more than 30 thousand of date palm plantlets per year and

distributed more than 160 thousand to the farmers. • Propagation of 60 thousand banana plantlets from different cultivars. • Propagation of 8 thousand potato plantlets per year for the potato seed production

project. • Propagation of pineapple and strawberry.

2) The biotechnology section: • Establishment of two date palm populations for the construction of genetic map of

date palm and for fruit quality improvement. Both populations will be fingerprinted using the AFLP and SSR technique.

• Molecular analysis of the DNA of the casual agent (phytoplasma) of the witches' broom disease of lime.

• Fingerprinting of 15 landraces of Omani alfalfa. • Molecular analysis of the casual agent of Mango decline.

C) International Project: Our biotechnology laboratory has a collaborated project with ICARDA under the title "Date Palm Development in the GCC Countries". The main objectives of this project:

• Development of genomic tools for germplasm characterization in date palm. • Assessment of genetic diversity in date palm.

D) Training Courses: Two training courses were carried out in tissue culture and biotechnology laboratory as follows:

• Molecular markers for fingerprinting of date palm (Ministry of Agriculture-ICARDA) November 2005.

• Date palm in Vitro culture: applications and prospects (Ministry of Agriculture-ICARDA) May 2007.

The Activities of Sultanate of Oman on Biosafety Biotechnology is very important for the welfare and development of Oman. Biosafety is the other side of the coin and it is important to avoid or reduce the negative effects on the human and the environment in general. Both biotechnology and biosafety are essential for a sustainable agricultural system and the maintenance of genetic biodiversity. The Sultanate

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of Oman is seriously concern about biosafety. A biosafety committee was found with representatives from different foundations Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), Ministry of Agriculture Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Ministry of Health (MOH), Commerce and Industries (MCI) and Muscat Municipality. The Ministry of Regional Municipalities has held an international conference on food safety during the period 24-26 March 2003 under the logo: "Better Health and Safe Food". GMOs foods were among the topic discussed by the conference. Several recommendations were issued by the conference. Also, the Sultanate of Oman ratified Cartagena Protocol on biosafety to the convention on biological diversity. The objective of this protocol is to contribute to ensuring an adequate level of protection in the field of safe transfer, handling and use of living and modifies organisms resulting from modern biotechnology (Hamid, 2005). Constraints A few constraints that the biotechnology in Oman is facing can be summarized in the following points:

• Limited exchange of information between different institutions within the country.

• High running costs of laboratories. • Limited trained staff. • Little data available about Omani date palm characterization. • Limited financial fund.

Recommendations for promoting agricultural biotechnology research and development in the region We are fully recommended for establishing the agricultural biotechnology network. The network will help in:

• Exchange experience and information in agricultural biotechnology. • Enhance cooperation among institutions and countries in the region. • Exchange experts in the field. • Assist capacity building. • Provide training for researcher to improve their skill.

Biotechnology has shown a clear promise in producing products that are beneficial to humans and the environment. Focus should be given to capacity building for agricultural research and regulatory issues related to biotechnology. Establishing a network in the region for agricultural biotechnology will improve the Near East and North Africa cooperation and assist in capacity building. It will also facilitate exchange of information through the region and reduce duplicative efforts among institutions and countries.

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References: El Kharbotly, A. (2005). Biotechnology and biosafety concerns in Oman. The International

conference on biosafety. Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resources. February 21-23. Muscat-Oman.

Hamid, G. A. (2005). Some remarks on genetically modified crops and biosafety. The International conference on biosafety. Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resources. February 21-23. Muscat-Oman.

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10. CURRENT STATUS OF AGRICULTURE BIOTECHNOLOGY IN SAUDI ARABIA

Nasser S. Al-Khalifah

King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology Introduction: Biotechnology is the application of scientific techniques to modify and improve plants, animals and micro organisms to enhance their value. Agriculture Biotechnology is a group of technologies that work individually or together to develop a plant, animal or micro bio-product in Agriculture, plant production and protection, animal husbandry and finally leads to the benefit of human beings. Past experiences from the developed countries proved that Science and Technology can increase agriculture productivity and stimulate economic growth and provide more opportunities for the participation of global markets. However the technological challenges facing agriculture in the Arab world are not encouraging due to the increased scarcity for arable land and water. The populations in the regions are increasing overwhelmingly while the agriculture land area is increasing with slow pace. Thus the increased productivity per hectare or per unit individual is the only solution to alleviate poverty. Agriculture biotechnology in the developing countries must grow rapidly than it has in the past decades, to meet the increasing food demand and to raise the rural and urban income.

Investments in agriculture research and developments by both private and public sectors have resulted in high level of productivity. Productivity increases occurred because of innovations of machinery, pesticides, fertilizers, information technology and plant breeding. Innovations in food storage, processing, packaging, transportation and increasing shelf life resulted in wide variety of products available throughout the year. Current Status in KSA: Being a country importing food stuffs worth of 95,369 million US dollars per year (FAO report 2004) the necessity of enhancing domestic production of agriculture products of Saudi Arabia is of great national demand. In the last decades the country has shown its capacity to produce agriculture commodities in substantial quantities within the country (Table-1). Application of agriculture biotechnology in the various fields of food production has accelerated the productivity to a remarkable level (Fig.1) The country is currently utilizing modern equipments, agriculture implements, fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation techniques to enhance productivity. However, the ever growing population in the Arab world is pressurizing each country to remain as consumer states and depend on developed countries for food products. This is evident from FAO report 2007 that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is alone importing infant food of worth US dollar 17, 36, 14000 per year and many other essential commodities (Table-2). To overcome the exuberant import of food stuffs and to become self sustained in the food production the country has to rely on biotechnology and apply modern techniques in agriculture by public and private sector. Being a wide country (2.25 million km2) with different climatic conditions with temperatures ranging from 0 to 50◦C, rain fall 50- 125 mm /year and relative humidity of less than 25% in the central region, 200- 600 mm with 50% relative humidity on the south west mountains with moderate to low temperature Saudi Arabia has the capacity of crop production all year round. However due to stressful climatic conditions such as drought, extreme temperature and lack of irrigation water in many areas crop production is limited. Therefore Biotechnology can be employed for developing and utilizing drought resistant plants.

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The cash crops of Saudi Arabia, such as date palms, wheat and vegetables are facing many problems related to productivity and quality. Date palm is one of the most suitable cash crops for arid land which serve as a main source of agriculture income. The mass multiplication of the quality traits of date palms was not possible because of the off-shoot type of propagation. By the advent of tissue culture techniques in date palms mass production of elite cultivars of date palm was made possible and a pioneer attempt was made in Saudi Arabia by the King Faisal University date palm research center in 1982. Since then public and private entrepreneurs have started many tissue culture labs, most of them are concentrating on date palm tissue culture (Table-3). King Saud University with the financial aid from King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology has put effort to develop pathogen free potatoes through tissue culture techniques. Somatic embryogenesis and direct organogenesis are successfully practiced in date palms. The tissue culture laboratory of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology has already developed protocols for the mass multiplication of many elite cultivars of date palms of Saudi Arabia. In addition to this indigenous multipurpose tree species, which can be grown in the different ecological areas were also multiplied through tissue culture. Abnormal phenotypes produced by the TC-derived date palms have been a matter of serious discussion during the last decade. Researches conducted at the KACST has proved that the exogenous application of the phyto hormones have significant effect in controlling abnormal fruit bearing traits ('Shees'). The DNAs isolated from the normal and abnormal date palms did not show any genotypic variations (Al-Khalifah et.al 2006) . There are about 450 cultivars of date palms in Saudi Arabia (Bashah, 1996), and many others in other date growing countries (Zaid and de Wet, 1999). These cultivars are location specific, known by different names at different places or one name is assigned to different cultivars at different places. This has created lot of ambiguity in enlisting the cultivars based on local names. A scientific approach of characterizing cultivars and assigning a more acceptable legitimate name to the cultivars was seldom attempted in this species, especially in Saudi Arabia. Genotype identification of date palm is an intricate empirical exercise based on morphological characters. In date palms most of the female cultivars are recognised by their fruit characteristics such as size, shape, colour and taste. Morphologic characters of the tree are also taken into consideration for the cultivar identification. However some date palms have similar or narrow distinguishing morphological characters that complicate cultivar identification and demand genetic evidence to prove phylogenetic relationships at the inter specific level. Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis is a comparatively simple, quick and less expensive procedure for generating genomic markers. This technique has been successfully applied for cultivar identification of date palms (Saker et al., 2000; Al-Khalifah and Askari, 2003; Askari et al., 2003; Al-Khalifah, 2006). About 45 cultivars of date palms were characterised using fruit morphology and molecular markers identified through RAPD analysis. Turfgrasses have been the subject of conventional systematic studies using comparative morphological and ecological characters. However some turfgrasses have similar or narrow distinguishing morphological characters that complicate taxonomical classification and demand genetic evidence to prove phylogenetic relationships at the inter specific level. Since the morphological characters of the turf grass like growth, leaf-colour, size, texture, internodal length etc are highly variable depending on the climatic and edaphic changes cultivars within some species are difficult to distinguish. Seven turfgrass cultivars encompassing four Bermuda grass and three Zoysia grasses were grown under uniform greenhouse conditions and their key diagnostic features were described. Their genetic relationships were analysed using RAPD analysis.

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Inter and intra specific variations and genetic relationship between six widely distributed camel subtypes belonging to three types of Saudi Arabia have been analysed using RAPD techniques. Results of the study were found correlating with the conventional classification of camels using external morphology(Al-Swailem et al.,2007). As part of giving exposure to the Saudi biotechnologist to latest developments in agriculture biotechnology a number of national and international conferences and workshops were organized. Scientists were given facilities to visit international centers and encouraged to present their findings in the international forums. Government of Saudi Arabia has constituted national committees on genetic engineering and biotechnology in 1992 and there after extended to other disciplines (Table-4). Under the auspices of these committees many activities have been organized including development of infrastructure for biotechnology. In February 2005, the Saudi government announced the establishment of a national high level committee consisting of four ministries, the Saudi Arabian standard organization, universities and private sector to conduct a comprehensive review of current biotech labeling requirements. Ministry of commerce and industry convened an international conference on agriculture biotechnology in Riyadh, February2005. The event was an opportunity for Saudi regulators to exchange views on import policy on genetically engineered food products. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh as a nodal center for promoting research and development has been funding biotechnology research programs (Table 5).The Biotechnology strategic plan of KACST encompasses three major fields including health, environment and agriculture. An inter disciplinary approach of involving these three fields in biotechnology research, with the co-operation of research institutions, ministries, and private entrepreneurs (Fig.2) has already initiated many sophisticated research projects in the human care sector (Table-6). Constraints facing agriculture biotechnology research and development in Saudi Arabia Being a developing country, lack of much basic research (as a foundation) on which the advanced biotechnology research is to be laid down is one of the constraints of the country. Lack of trained people and reluctance of people to work in the field are the other hurdles in agriculture biotechnology research. Servicing of imported machineries, equipments and implements are still an expensive proposition and time consuming. Time lag in getting chemicals and equipments delays many research activities. Creating awareness among the people and farmers to accept the findings of the laboratory are still in young stage. Recommendations for promoting agriculture biotechnology in the region Setting up of a council for agriculture research in the region with members from relevant ministries, scientists, universities, farmers and leading private entrepreneurs will help to identify research priorities for the region. Regional Research Laboratories can be established under this council at different geographical areas to undertake research programs suitable for the crops and regions. These regional centers will serve as nodal centers to under take advanced agriculture biotechnology research and the results produced in the laboratories must field evaluated in the experimental plots attached with the center. This center will also serve as a knowledge center for disseminating knowledge to the students and farmers. Funds for the council must be raised from member countries and the free exchange of agriculture products between the member countries should be regulated through legislation. Universities should give more attention to the basic research at bachelor and master level to train the students for undertaking advanced research in biotechnology. No agriculture research can be done in the laboratory alone. So, students must be encouraged to work in

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the field as well as in laboratory. Prioritize the research problems based on the requirements of the country and assigning works to the qualified specialized groups will help to avoid duplication. Some of the developing economic models that have ample scope for research and developments are listed below a. Sustainable utilization of Bio-diversity b. Biodiversity and tourism industry c. Utilizing biotechnology tools to develop eco-friendly crops suitable for the adverse

climatic conditions. d. Development of herbal drugs and cosmetics as substitute to synthetic drugs. e. Phyto chemical and bio chemical screening of the local flora and fauna for the

pharmaceutical industries. f. Utilization of biotechnology for the crop improvement, agriculture and pharmaceutical

industries. g. Information and Communication industries h. Energy conservation and sustainable utilization of renewable energy sources. i. Water resource management j. Brewery and beverages industry k. Post harvest processing and Transportation industry Justification for establishing agriculture biotechnology network as a tool for regional and inter regional co-operation and information dissemination Globalization has brought many opportunities to the trained researchers to work under different discipline across the world. Getting acquaintance with the modern sophisticated equipments will help them to succeed in the new working environment. Research facilities in 21st century must provide better thinking of researchers to select proper problems that can be utilized by as many users as possible. The researchers must be encouraged to use as many modern equipments and technologies to develop and analyze data so that he can be trained in using these equipments under different situations. Ecological conditions of Middle East and North Africa are almost similar with limited regional variations. So, the problems related to agriculture and crops cultivated are also similar. Establishing a biotechnology network will help to disseminate knowledge among members and provide a forum for discussing the problems related to agriculture.

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Literature Cited Al-Khalifah, N.S. (2006). Micro propagation and DNA fingerprinting of date palm trees of

Saudi Arabia. Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa, Amman, Jordan.

Al-Khalifah, N.S. and Askari, E. (2003). Molecular phylogeny of date palm (Phoenix

dactylifera L.) cultivars from Saudi Arabia by DNA fingerprinting. Theor. Appl. Genet. 107: 1266-1270.

Al-Khalifah, N.S., F.A.Khan, E.Askari and S.Hadi (2006). In Vitro Culture and Genetic

Analysis of Male and Female Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.). In: Fari, M.G., I. Holb and Gy.D.Bisztray (Eds). Proc.Vth International Symposium on In Vitro Culture and Hort.Breeding. Acta Hort.725, ISHS 2006.

Al-Swailem,A.M., Al-Basadah,K.A., Shehata,M.M., Al-Anazi,I.O. and E.Askari (2007).

Classification of Saudi Arabian camel(Camelus dromedaries) subtypes based on RAPD technique. J.Food Agri.and Envir.5(1):145-148.

Askari, E., Al-Khalifah, N.S., Ohmura, T., Al-Hafidh, Y.S., Khan, F.A., Al-Hindi, A., and

Okawara, R. (2003). Molecular Phylogeny of seven date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars by DNA fingerprinting. Pak. J. Bot. 35: 323-330.

Bashah, M.A. (1996). Date Variety in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Guidance booklet:

Palms and Dates. King Abdulaziz University Press, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. pp 1225-1319.

FAO (2004). FAO Statistical Yearbook. Country profile Saudi Arabia. FAO (2007). The Statistic Division, Food and Agriculture Organization Country Profile Saudi

Arabia, 2004. Saker, M.M., Bekheet, S.A., Taha, H.S., Fahmy, A.S. and Moursy, H.A. (2000). Detection

of somaclonal variations in tissue culture-derived date palm plants using isoenzyme analysis and RAPD fingerprints. Biologia Plantarum 43 (3): 347-351.

Zaid, A. and de Wet, P.F. (1999). Botanical and Systematic description of the date palm. In:

Zaid, A. (Ed.). Date Palm Cultivation. FAO, Rome.

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Table-1. Commodity Production in Saudi Arabia, FAOSTAT, 2005

No. Commodity Quantity (Mt) Value (US$ 000) 1 Chicken Meat 492106 574002 2 Wheat 2,400000 374352 3 Dates 900,540 282292 4 Egg 143,000 124,164 5 Cow Milk 900,000 239,346 6 Tomatoes 440003 104,257 7 Sheep Meat 41,800 82,692 8 Vegetable Fresh 400,000 75.060 9 Camel Meat 39,938 55,957 10 Citrus Fruits 140,000 50,288 11 Grapes 101,653 47,157 12 Cattle Meat 22,787 47,130 13 Potatoes 320,897 46,546 14 Melons 245,564 43,541 15 Cucumbers 182,769 30,831 16 Watermelons 294,843 30,743 17 Sorghum 243,746 29,735 18 Goat Meat 19,092 29,069 19 Camel milk 90,000 28,750 20 Fresh Fruits 180,000 28,712

Table-2. Commodity Imports in Saudi Arabia. FAOSTAT, 2004

No. Commodity Quantity (Mt) Value (US$ 000) 1 Paddy rice 1205129 592846 2 Barley 3854589 534286 3 Chicken Meat 427195 456457 4 Food Prepared 78549 446009 5 Cow Milk 112630 297709 6 Cigarettes 14633 271195 7 Sheep 2379159 241469 8 Maize 1581119 200732 9 Infant food 22496 173614 10 Cheese 53097 162213 11 Cake of Soya Beans 498933 127856 12 Pastry 37510 107701 13 Oil of Palm 185782 104467 14 Beverages 78080 99641 15 Beef 48970 99117 16 Processed Cheese 27040 93861 17 Mutton and lamb 41911 97078 18 Sugar 541213 93349 19 Butter of Cow milk 37548 92267 20 Oil of maize 98659 85006

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Table-3. Organizations involved in Biotechnology research in Saudi Arabia.

Activities Funded by Organizations

Training and Research Development of 2 tissue culture protocols for date palms Field trials of tissue culture date palms.

KACST & King Faisal Univ.

Date Palm Research Center, Hofuf.

Training and Research Development of tissue culture protocols for arak (Salvadora persica), date palm,

KACST & King Saud Univ.

Plant Production Department K. Saud Univ. Riyadh

Training and Research Development of tissue culture protocols for arak (Salvadora persica), date palm, pomegranate, potato, and strawberries.

KACST & King Saud Univ.

Qassim. University

Production of active metabolites by tissue culture.

KACST & King Saud Univ.

Pharmaceutical Department . KSU

Serological typing of potato virus diseases using ELISA. Development of a tissue culture protocol for potato.

Ministry of Agric. National Agricultural and Water Research Center, Riyadh.

Development of tissue culture protocols for date palm and salt tolerant plants Classifying Date palm Tree’s Polymorphism.

KACST & Japanese Cooperation

Tissue Culture Lab, Environmental Scientific Institute, KACST, Riyadh.

Development of 2 tissue culture protocols for date palm. Field trials of tissue culture date palms. Technology Development Micropropagation of date palm. Commercial Production. Sales of micropropagated date palms to farmers.

Revenue from sales Private Tissue culture labs Companies .6 labs all over KSA

Table 4. Committees constituted by the Government of Saudi Arabia to promote

biotechnology research.

The National Committee for Biotechnology 1992 The National Committee for Biodiversity 1996 The National Science & Technology Plan 2000 The National Committee for Bioethics 2001 The National Committee for Bio-safety 2002 KACST Bio- Tech Strategic Plan 2007

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Table-5. Some ongoing research programs in the biotechnology lab of KACST

Title Year Estimated Budget SR

Studying the possibility of raising some firewood trees and shrubs and their economical and ecological importance in the central region of Saudi Arabia

2002-2007 1.400.000

'Study of flower abnormality and fruit set failure in in-vitro derived trees of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.)

2003- 2007 1.200.000

Applications of Biotechnology Techniques in Tomato Production and Improvement Under Arid Conditions of Saudi Arabia

2007- 1.100.000

Molecular Classification of Saudi Arabian camel based on RAPD techniques

2006- 1.500.000

Studies on red weevil behavior and effect on Date palm trees in KSA

2005 1.200.000

DNA finger printing of date palm genotypes using RAPD, RFLP.AFLP, SSR

2008 1.500.000

Table-6. Examples of granted research programs in the area of human health

Title Institution Granted Budget Patterns of Susceptibility or Resistance of Local Clinical Isolates to Commonly Used Antibiotics Correlation with Antibiotics Consumption with Mech

KSU 80.00

Routine Use of Prophylactic Antibiotics in Cesarean Section: A Multi Center Prospective Double-Bond Placebo-Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial

KAU 72.766

Residues of Diethylstilbesterol (DES) and Antibiotics in Milk, Meat and Eggs

KFU-H 99.580

Screening and Identification of Resistant Plasmids in Multi-Drug Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria Isolated from Riyadh Area

84.900 KFU-H

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Fig. 1. Cereal production of Saudi Arabia in the last decade (FAOSTAT)

Fig.2. Inter disciplinary research programs involving government and private sector

institutions.

Cereal Production

4136772

4574269

4702572

5042521

4859501

2668863

1931516

2338534

2202000

2452000

2214000

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

Annual cereal production in Mt

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11. CURRENT STATUS OF AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY IN SUDAN

Abdelbagi Mukhtar Ali

Agricultural Research Corporation, Wad Medani 126, Sudan

Introduction: Sudan is the largest country in Africa with an area of 2.5 million squire kilometers. It shares borders with nine countries. The population of the country is about 30 million with a growth rate of 2.7% per year; more than 65% works in agriculture. The country can be divided into six climatic regions: hot continent desert, tropical semi-desert, tropical sub-humid, tropical wet-dry, tropical rainy, and regions of special climates such as those of Marra and Imatong mountains. Sudan has an arable land of 84 million ha of which only 20% are utilized. The primary natural resources of Sudan are water, supplied by Nile and its tributaries and fertile soil in large areas. Varieties of crops are grown in the country, such as sorghum millet, wheat, sesame and cotton as well as different types of vegetables and fruit trees and others (Table 1). Furthermore, Sudan has vast areas of grasslands and forests. The country is also rich in animal wealth, the population of which is estimated to about 102 millions, including cattle, sheep, goats and camels. Moreover, Sudan has a considerable number of wild animals. These collectively indicate that Sudan has an immense wealth of natural resources which can qualify it to play a substantive role in food security and human development at national, regional and international levels. Agricultural research The agricultural research corporation (ARC), established in 1902, is mandated to conduct applied and related basic research for agricultural development in Sudan. It has 23 research stations located in different climatic zones a cross the country, 9 specialized research centers and three central laboratories. It has about 300 researchers with MSc and PhD degrees acquired mostly from overseas universities and over 700 of supporting technical and administrative staff. The ARC has evolved from small research unit at the ministry of Agriculture to a semiautonomous national organization in 1967 under ministry of Agriculture. and attached to the newly established Ministry of Science and Technology in 2001 with the same national mandate and administrative structures. Besides it is research mandate, since 2003 the ARC provides post graduate studies (MSc and PhD) under the newly establish Sudan Academy of Science and Technology. Research programs are divided across crop commodity and related disciplines addressing various areas such as genetic resources, germplasm enhancement, breeding, agronomy, crop protection and socioeconomics. New technologies should be evaluated and approved for dissemination to the farmers and other beneficiaries after strict review and endorsement by one of the four national committees; Variety Release, Crop Husbandry, Pest and Disease and Food Technology committee which are hosted by the ARC.

The ARC has long history of collaboration with national institutes, regional organizations (ASARECA) and International Research Centers (ICARDA, CIMMYT, ICRISAT, ILRI etc) and Organizations (FAO) working and supporting agricultural Research. Besides the ARC, the National Research Centre and Faculties of Agriculture in some of the National Universities conduct basic and applied research addressing agricultural problems in Sudan. However, due to limited funding the research activities in these universities are mostly related to post graduate studies.

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Policy on Biotechnology and Biosafety The constitution of Sudan calls for the conservation of the natural resources of the country and the protection of its various environments against any hazards. Sudan is a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), since 1995, which recognizes modern biotechnology as having a great potential for the promotion of human well-being, particularly in meeting critical needs for food, agriculture and health care. Sudan has acceded to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) since 2005. The CPB regulates movement of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) across borders with the aim of protecting the environment, the biodiversity and also human health from possible adverse effects of the products of modern biotechnology. Sudan is a member of the African Union and therefore respects the provision of the African Model Law on Safety in Biotechnology (revised version 2007). Also Sudan is in the process of acceding to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and will therefore abide by the requirements of its agreements. Taking all the above into consideration, Sudan has set in place it National Policy on Biosafety application of modern biotechnology, in accordance with its national, regional and international obligations. The policy covers the following: • Laboratory research and other contained uses of GMOs. • Modern biotechnology applications in industry. • Modern biotechnology applications in agriculture including confined trials and field

releases. • Trade in and transboundary movement of GMOs and their products. • Food and feed containing GMOs, including relief and aid materials. The policy aims at: • Promoting the application of biotechnology as a tool in the sustainable development of

the country to benefit the people of the Sudan. • Ensuring the judicious and wise use of modern biotechnology in order not to jeopardize

the environment and human health. • Protecting Sudan's biological diversity by preventing possible genetic contamination. • Regulating the transboundry movement of GMOs and products thereof in accordance

with the provisions of the Cartagena Protocol. Sudan has developed national Biosafety framework (NBF) with a support from UNEP/GEF project for enabling capacity to develop NBF and currently participating in an additional capacity building project for establishment and operationalization of Biosafety Clearing House. The Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources is the national Focal Point for Cartagena Protocal. The NBF is in the process of approval by the National Assembly. A project proposal is submitted to GEF for implementation of the NBF (2008-2012) and a regional complement for WANA countries. As an interim measures The Sudanese Standards and Metrological Organization is acting as a regulatory body for transboundry movement of GMOs supported by a national technical committee representing different sectors. Status of Agricultural Biotechnology Sudan is one of the developing countries with limited resources to meet the huge investment to maintain and run biotechnology research. Nevertheless, a number of research institutes have initiated efforts to establish biotechnology laboratories to support agriculture research. The number of labs increased from 5 in 2003 to over 15 in 2007, while the number of trained staff in biotechnology increased from less than 15 to over 50 in the respective time periods (Table 2).

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Production of major crops in Sudan is below the world average. This is mainly attributed to limited funding capability of farmers, reduced inputs, shortage in labors, and losses due to biotic and a biotic stresses. Biotechnology can play a major role in addressing these constraints and improving agricultural production in Sudan particularly in irrigated and mechanized rainfed areas. The Agricultural Research Corporation (ARC) is the leading institute in Agricultural Biotechnology in Sudan. A tissue culture lab was established in 1990 for research on mass propagation of planting materials, in vitro mutation and production of doubled haploids. A biotechnology lab was established recently in 2002 which is well equipped for various molecular marker applications in diagnostic, genetic diversity and marker assisted breeding. The two labs were initially supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) through national technical cooperation projects for capacity building in mutation breeding and related biotechnologies. Most of the young plant breeders in the ARC have a short or long training in related applications of molecular marker techniques. Most of these researches have concentrated on plant tissue culture for mass production of planting materials and molecular makers for marker assisted breeding, diagnostics and assessment of genetic diversity. Most of the research activities are funded through regional and international projects. Examples of such projects and the achievements include:

• In vitro mutation breeding of banana variety Albeely in 2004 as an outcome of Technical Cooperation (TC) project with the IAEA and the ARC Tissue culture Lab at Wad Medani.

• Development and release of two doubled haploid wheat varieties (2004) for heat stressed environment as an outcome of a regional Project for application of Biotechnology in the WANA region funded through ICARDA by the Arab Funds for Social Development (1998-2001)

• Marker Assisted selection for stay green trait to enhance terminal drought tolerance in sorghum.-regional project supported by ASARECA Biotech program (2005-2007).

• Production of transgenic drought tolerance Maize for East and Central Africa- • Marker Assisted recurrent selection for increased outcrossing rate in caudatum-race

sorghum from Sudan -collaborative project between ARC and Hohenheim university, Germany (2007-2009)

• Marker assisted transfer of resistance to Striga to local farmer preferred sorghum varieties (2003-2006)-regional project supported by GTZ, Germany

• Genetic diversity in striga hermonthica collected from different locations and host plants (2005-2008)-supported by Japan Society for Promotion of Science AA program.

• Genetic Diversity in new collection of sorghum (2006-2007)- supported by GC program.

Besides the ARC, a laboratory was established at the Commission of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CGEB) in Khartoum which has some of its research activities related to plant tissue culture and molecular markers in addition to microbiology and environment. The Ministry of Science and Technology is developing a Central Lab at Soba, Khartoum which is intended to provide access to advance and expensive equipments as a common facility with special focus on Biotechnology related equipments such as sequencers, GLCs, HBLC etc. In the last five years, some of the universities such as University of Khartoum, Gezira, Elnilain, Joba and Sudan have established department for biotechnology which provides undergraduate (BSc) and MSc degrees. Most of these departments have a nucleus of a biotechnology lab with basic set of equipments to at least provide some practical skills to the students. However most, of these labs are not functioning due to shortage in supplies.

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Commercial tissue culture labs for mass propagation and distribution of clean planting materials were established at Ministry of Agriculture, Linna Company and Kenana Sugar Company. Another public-private sector partnership is reflected in a well equipped tissue culture lab at Shambat Research Station which is owned by the ARC and a private sector. These facilities have been used for distribution of planting materials of improved cultivars of Banana, Date palm and other fruit trees. Status of genetically Modified Crops Currently genetically modified crops are not produced or grown in Sudan. However, some of genetically modified foods may have its way in the country through food aids. The ARC is collaborating in a regional project to produce drought tolerance maize for East and Central Africa supported by ASARECA Biotechnology program (2005-2007). Promising materials were developed during this project, however, their further testing and evaluation in Sudan is pending to the functioning of the National regulatory system and availability of confined facilities. The ARC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for technical collaboration with the Sudanese Standards and Meteorology Organization (SSMO) which commit the ARC Biotech Lab to conduct and issue certification for GMO detection. Currently, the ARC lab has established qualitative GMO detection system and expected to add a Real Time PCR very soon for quantitative detection. In addition, SSMO is currently handling procurement of equipments to initially establish two detection units within its laboratories at Khartoum and Port Sudan.

Conclusion: Biotechnology can play a significant role in addressing the different challenges and constraints that face agricultural research in Sudan. Sudan has some basic facilities and capacities for biotechnology at present, which need to be strengthened and improved. Tissue culture and molecular markers are the predominant agricultural biotech in Sudan and production of transgenic crops is initiated through regional collaboration. It can be concluded that Sudan is taking serious steps to utilize biotechnology in improving agricultural production in both plant and animal sector. Yet these efforts are faced challenged with a number of constraints, which include among others:

o Unclear National strategy and action plan on Agricultural Biotechnology o Lack of functioning Biosafety and IPR system o Inadequately equipped laboratories o Lack of containment/and confinement facilities o Shortage in adequately trained staff o Inefficient seed production industry o Limited accessibility to the technology o Limited funds to research in general and Biotech in particular

Recommendations for successful Biotech /Biosafety program in Sudan o Strengthening of political commitment o Establishment of functioning biosafety and IPR systems o Training in advanced technologies o Up grading of the laboratories and research facilities o Encouragement of local laboratory supplies o Encouragement of national, regional and international collaboration o Focus on demand driven Biotech. o Encouragement of involvement of private sector in Biotech/Biosafety business

and establishment of public/private partnership. o Enhancement of public awareness and participation in Biotech/Biosafety issues

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Table 1. List of the main field and horticultural crops in Sudan

Cereals sorghum, millet, wheat, corn and rice Oil crops sesame, peanuts and sunflower Vegetables tomato, potato, okra, onion cucurbits, melons and eggplant Root Crops cassava, sweet potato Fruits Citruses, mango, banana, guava, date palm Fiber crops Cotton Other crops Sugar cane, Roselle Trees Forest trees & Gum Arabic

Table 2. Institutes performing agriculture Biotechnology in Sudan and their staff and

activities

Staff Activities Institution MSc PhD

Agric. Research Corporation TC lab and agric. Biotechnology lab

15 6 MAS, TC, GMO detection, GE

Central Laboratory 4 7 Molecular biology, virology, biochemistry

Faculty of science, University of Khartoum

8 8 Molecular biology

Faculty of Agriculture, university of Khartoum

4 3 Dept. of Biotechnolgy

Faculty of Agriculture, Gezira university

6 5 Plant tissue culture

Faculty of veterinary science U of Khartoum

3 8 Molecular biology lab

Faculty of Science, Nilain University 6 8 General biotechnology lab Commission of Biotech & GE 6 6 TC, MM, microb., medicinal

plants Faculty of Agriculture, University Sudan

4 5 Dep of Biotechnology

Lina Tissue culture company 1 1 Private sector for plant tissue culture

Date Palm production company 2 4 Private company for plant tissue culture

Kenana Sugar Company 1 2 TC

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12. CURRENT STATUS OF AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT (R & D) IN SYRIA

- A COUNTRY REPORT -

Ahmad M. Abdul-Kader Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform (MAAR),

General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR),

1. Introduction Agriculture is a very important sector in Syria where it accounts for 23% of GDP and 30% of labor force. The world total agricultural production of cereals in 2003 amounted to 2075309 thousand tons and in Syria 6235 thousand tons, i.e. 0.30% of world production. World production of fruits and vegetable for 2003 amounted to 1322454 thousand tons and in Syria 3627 thousand tons which represent 0.27% of world production. Cotton is the principal cash crop followed by cereals, vegetables, fruits, vegetables and tobacco. ( Nienke et al. 2006). Syria has a total area of 185,180 sq. km with total population of 18 million, and an average growth rate of over 3.29%. The population is expected to reach 32.5 million by the year 2025. On the other hand, biotechnology is a tool with enormous potential for overcoming some of the constraints to increase agricultural production. It adds new methods to accelerate plant improvement. Therefore, governments need to develop strategies, polices and legal frames for integrating modem biotechnology into agricultural research. In pursuit of these aims, Syria, like other countries, should seek to alter public and private research and teaching institutions to these ends and have to look for developing vigorous research programs. The Government of Syria has recognized that it has to reap the benefits of modern biotechnology under close monitoring. The integration of biotechnological methods into production systems and scientific research plans is considered of high priority in Syria to keep pace with worldwide advancement in modem biotechnology procedures for the final end of ensuring sustainable food security and surplus production for exportation. Furthermore, a key area in facilitating application of plant biotechnology program is an effective transfer of technology system which require a good training and qualification system and a good agricultural system where implementation and application of the technology is possible and desirable. On the other hand, Syria is considered as a center of origin biodiversity for many crops, feeds and fruit trees (wheat, barley, lentil, chickpea, olive, almond, pear, plum, pistachio, etc). It is one of the few nuclear centers where numerous species of temperate-zone agriculture originated thousands of years ago, and where their wild relatives and landraces of enormous genetic diversity are still present. Syria has ratified the convention on Biodiversity (CBD) and has established a supreme council for biodiversity and genetic resources in the Syrian Arab Republic, which has the main responsibility to plan and program for the conservation, management and sustainable use of biodiversity and genetic resources of plants and animals. Syria also joined Cartagena protocol on Biosafety on April 1 st 2004 and entered into force on June 30th 2004. The Ministry of Environment is in charge of implementing the protocol. It is therefore imperative to have the necessary legislative, administrative and policy instruments in place to minimize risks to the environment and human health that might emerge from applications of modern biotechnology. Syria has also established its National Biosafety Committee (NBC) and formulated biosafety guidelines since 2001. Syria has already made actions needed to create, enhance and improve the competence and problem-solving capacities of the research and academic institutions in the country to

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carry out its allotted functions and achieve its objectives by applying modern biotechnology techniques for the final aim of sustainable agricultural production and modernizing Syrian agriculture. A great attention is given to strengthening and development of both human resources and the institutional and infrastructural capacities in biotechnology to be able to cope with new developments and applications of biotechnology as they arise, with emphasize to achieve safety in biotechnology, through establishing its own biosafety guidelines and regulations as well as effective control of introduction and handling of GMOs/LMOs in the country. 2. Applications of Agricultural biotechnology in Syria Most biotechnological work in Syria is in the areas that have direct economical return such as in the field of agriculture. Several universities have recently established programs in biotechnology or genetic engineering for graduates and undergraduates. Although scientific research in modern plant biotechnology in Syria began more recently, researchers are now applying the advanced biotechnology tools to the field of plant science. Scientists in biotechnology laboratories are working on the improving plant propagation and multiplication of major horticultural crops and fruit trees using tissue culture techniques as a tool to facilitate conventional methods of plant breeding. A high priority is to obtain virus-free plants utilizing tissue culture techniques. The technique is currently applied to apple, cherry, potato, banana, citrus, fruit and many other species at GCSAR. Also, a large-scale propagation of potato is currently being carried out in Aleppo. The utilization of protein markers using A-PAGE and SDS-PAGE electrophoretic techniques in establishing fingerprints of major cereal and other crops for identification purposes is also practiced. The use of RAPD , AFLP, SSR techniques in genetic diversity studies and as a tool in marker-assisted selection in mutants resulting from breeding programs for some important crops is also being done. The development of in vitro technique for microtuberization is also developed. Furthermore, the development of doubled haploid in barley is also being studied at AECS. Experiments on genetic transformation has also been started at some institutes in Syria. Traditional biotechnology is being used in Syria such as in food production. Plant tissue culture attracts much attention from the public sector where many laboratories have been established some 10 years ago. Animal and human cell culture is mainly centered on medical and veterinary applications. In vitro fertilization and embryo culture is starting in some fertility clinics. In addition, there is high interested research but limited production of immunological diagnostic kits and animal vaccines. Other commercial productions of biotechnology in Syria include some agricultural input particularly for plant protection where the state has initiated production of alternatives to chemical pesticides by commercializing bio-pesticides for control of plant diseases and pests using natural enemies. So far, there is no GMOs produced neither commercialized in Syria. Syria has not yet established specific laws that regulate biotechnology and Biosafety. However, active steps in this direction are underway. There is an increasing public interest in Syria about the rapid biotechnological advances and their socioeconomic implications and possible impact to the environment. But there is some confusion including in the media, about the nature of the new advances and how they were produced.

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Syria is therefore striving to building up capacities in all disciplines of biotechnology so that to keep pace with the developments of biotechnology applications in agriculture. Laboratory facilities and equipments for upstream of biotechnological research already exist at a number of institutions in Syria, including GCSAR SAEC, GCBT and at the Universities in Syria. However, Biotechnological R&D institutions in the country should be strengthened by equipping them with state-of-the-art infrastructure, centralized facilities, highly-trained human resources, and information and communication facilities and by fostering public-private partnerships. Cooperative programs in biotechnology present in Syria are either bilateral national or multilateral international. Most of these programs are still ongoing, while some others have already been completed. The key agricultural biotechnology institutes involved include the following:

• Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform: - General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR). - General Organization for Seed Multiplication (GOSM).

• Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (SAEC). • Ministry of High Education:

- Faculties of Agriculture at: Damascus-, Aleppo-, Tishreen-, Al-Baath- Univ.

- General Commission of Biotechnology (GCBT). - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Al-Baath Univ.). - Faculty of Medicine.

• Arab Center for Studies of Arid and Dry Areas (ACSAD) • International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).

3. Current status of Policies, national strategies and regulatory systems related to

biotechnology and biosafety in Syria

3.1. Objectives of biotechnology programs in Syria

Presently, there is no official policy or strategy for biotechnology in Syria. However, there are some national programs in biotechnology and genetic engineering which aim at improving the agricultural and medical sectors. Most of these programs focus on: 1. Detection and classification of cancer diseases widespread in Syria using immuno-

phenotyping, cytogenetic and molecular techniques. 2. Diagnosis of hereditary and malignancy disease and prenatal diagnosis for

malformation. 3. Detecting the degree of biodiversity in plant genetic resources at the molecular level

to support national biodiversity programs. 4. The use of molecular techniques in marker-assisted selection in plant breeding

programs. 5. Understanding the molecular basis of abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity

and Improving plant tolerance to these stresses. 6. Studying plant pathogen and improving plant resistance using in vitro culture and

molecular marker techniques. 7. Conducting biological and genetic studies on the most economical insect pests in

Syria. 8. Reduction of potential hazards arising from genetic engineering activities and its

products to the lowest possible level and the protection of human life and the environment to the highest possible level and at the same time encouraging safe

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research and development in all biotechnology applications and transboundary movement of GMOs.

9. Establishing biosafety frameworks and legal instruments for research and development and the supervision of biotechnology research and the release into the environment as well as the use of products of modern biotechnology.

10. Setting a mechanism for assessing and managing risks of GMOs and developing mechanisms for monitoring assessing potential environmental effects.

11. Developing human resources and capacity building in various areas of biotechnology including genetic engineering, molecular techniques and marker-assisted selection and other related technologies.

12. Increasing public awareness towards biotechnology and its products. 3.2. Priorities for biotechnology programs in Syria: There are no official priorities for national biotechnology programs; however, researchers in the national institutes emphasize the following priorities:

1- Capacity building:

a. Developing human resources to high levels in biotechnology and biosafety. b. Strengthening ties between researchers, farmers, and other stakeholders. c. Establishing cooperative programs with institutes in developed countries to

help in finance and manage biotechnology programs. d. Setting legal mechanisms for IPR, biosafety, and protection of biodiversity. e. Capacity building for authorities responsible for monitoring scientific and

industrial biotechnological activities in the country. f. Capacity building for authorities responsible for assessing, communicating,

and managing risks related to food and biodiversity. g. Establishing laboratories for detecting generically modified plants and food.

2- Research programs: Biotechnology institutes are trying to identify specific priorities for conducting research programs that can help solve some persistent problems in the country. In general, these programs focus on:

a- The development of genetically modified crops tolerant to biotic and abiotic stresses.

b- Identification, utilization and preservation of genetic resources. Such programs have been going on at the atomic energy commission where studies have been conducted on several crops and trees such as pistachio, almond, olive, wheat, etc. Also, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR) conducted a project on the sustainable use and preservation of genetic resources funded by UNDP. The project ended in 2004.

c- Conducting biological and genetic studies on economic insects in the country and on the use of biological control.

d- Study the effects of various physical and chemical agents on the living system and on the cellular and sub-cellular levels, and the modifications of these effects.

e- Diagnosis of hereditary and malignancy disease and prenatal diagnosis for malformation.

f- Studying plant-pathogen interactions and improving plant resistance using in vitro culture and molecular marker techniques.

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3-3. Current status of National capacities and infrastructure in agricultural biotechnology & biosafety.

National Biosafety Committee (SNBC) in Syria was established since 1999. It is represented by most of the relevant ministries and institutions concerned with biotechnology. The SNBC published Biosafety Guidelines in 2001 in order to regulate research on GMOs at laboratory, greenhouse and field levels in addition to a mechanism to handle requests for releasing GMOs to the environment. Recently, It was reformed, to include representatives of private sector, media, and non-government organizations. This will allow for better interaction and communication among scientists and the stakeholders, which can increase public awareness towards benefits and risks of genetically modified organisms. The SNBC is assisted by Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBC) that exist in the Atomic Energy Commission, ICARDA, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research, Ministry of Health and College of Medicine. The Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reforms is working closely with NBC on a decree/ by-law for regulating importation and exportation of GMOs, which is expected to be approved in the near future. Syria attaches great importance to building capacity in biotechnology to keep pace with the recent developments in this field, taking it as a priority action plan for the aim of improving the production of agricultural products to be self-sufficient with surplus for export. Strong and dynamic capacity at the technical, institutional and management levels is the most important requisite for successful and sustainable application of biotechnology in food and agriculture. Syria is now beginning to incorporate biotechnology increasingly in their agricultural research programs. Therefore, in the recent years, there has been a steady development of agricultural biotechnology capacity in Syria where human and financial resources allocated to biotechnology R&D are increased. The government is gradually building a strong scientific base in agricultural research and biotechnology. The national research institutes are encouraged to be actively involved in bilateral and international collaborative research programs in diverse fields of agricultural biotechnology. \Further, in the national policies science and technology, and biotechnology in particular, as an important engine of economic growth both for agriculture and for the health sector have been specifically identified. Also, the public agricultural research programs have had substantial success in promoting rapid agricultural growth. On the other hand, in Syria, the marketing and management of biotechnology products are virtually absent, as is the critical mass required raising public awareness.

Institutes involved in agricultural biotechnology in Syria can be defined as follows:

1- Institutes conducting genetic engineering work: i. International Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA):

ICARDA is conducting experiments on plant genetic engineering. ICARDA has an Institutional Biosafety Committee that cooperates with SNBC in biosafety matters. There is a genetic transformation laboratory and another for molecular biology work. Both of these laboratories are supervised by the IBC of ICARDA and by the SNBC.

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So far, experiments have been conducted on the transformation of chickpea and lentil using Agrobacterium to improve their tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. The transgenic plants are being tested in growth rooms suitable for biosafety requirements of these genetically modified plants.

ii. The Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS)

The AECS has a biotechnology department and an Institutional Biosafety Committee. The department includes several laboratories conducting different activities such as human genetics, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, plant pathology, entomology, and transformation. Laboratories have been classified into three levels of biosafety according to the risks associated with the experiments and the organisms in use. These laboratories were designed to match the required level of biosafety, and they were supplied with suitable biological safety cabinets. In addition to the various experiments in the department on fingerprinting applications (RAPD, AFLP, ISSR) and protoplast and tissue cultures, some limited experiments are being conducted on genetic modification of potato, tomato, and cotton using Agrobacterium and gene gun. Also, experiments are being done on Brucella under controlled laboratory conditions that match biosafety level III. The IBC supervises biosafety matters in the laboratories of departments of biotechnology, agriculture, medical radiology, and chemistry.

iii. General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR):

The department of biotechnology at GCSAR includes laboratories for genetic engineering, molecular biology and tissue culture. Micropropagation techniques have already been applied to many horticultural crops such as apple, cherry, grape, …. There is safety cabinet in the genetic engineering laboratory suitable for isolation and propagation of non-pathogenic bacteria such as Agrobacterium and for plant inoculation. There are also, incubators and growth rooms for containing transgenic plants. The department of biotechnology has the technical capabilities to conduct genetic transformation experiments. Transformation of apple using Agrobacterium to obtain plants resistant to Powdery Mildew has already been started recently. The department has taken the necessary safety measures to prevent the escape of genetically modified plants outside the laboratory. The department intends to perform the necessary nests on these plants in the growth rooms only until suitable conditions for greenhouse and field tests are available. GCSAR has formed its IBC which is working closely with SNBC. Classification of some crops is also being conducted on molecular level using RAPD, AFLP, ISSR techniques.

All three mentioned institutes are capable of detecting genetically modified plants. 2- Institutes not conducting genetic engineering work:

i. Ministry of Health: Ministry of health has an institutional biosafety committee; however, it is not conducting any research that can be classified as genetic engineering (or r-DNA) according to the Syrian guidelines. However, there is a molecular biology laboratory in Damascus. This laboratory provides diagnostic services for viral diseases such as Hepatitis B, C and HIV and recently bird flue. There is a laboratory for diagnosing parasites such leishmaniasis. It is also possible to diagnose tuberculosis at the onset. Ministry of health has 1600 health units that belong to the directorate of environmental and chronic diseases. These units have the capacity for diagnosis and vaccinations against infectious diseases should they happen. Laboratories of the

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Ministry of health have not so far dealt with GMOs and they have no capability for detection of GMOs or their products.

ii. College of Medicine, Damascus University:

College of Medicine has a laboratory for genetics and genetic consultation and an institutional biosafety committee; however, there is no genetic engineering laboratory. The laboratory is equipped with Laminar Flow Hoods and incubator that are suitable for biological research at Biosafety level II. The following table summaries the current biosafety status at the national and international research institutes in Syria that are conducting or have the capacity to conduct genetic engineering work.

Name of Institute Available

biosafety levels

Genetic Engineering

work

Incubators and growth

rooms

Suitable containment greenhouses

Contained field experiment

ICARDA II Yes Yes No Yes AECS III Yes Yes No No GCSAR II Yes Yes No No Ministry of Health II No No No No Medical College II No No No No 3.4. National Policy on Biotechnology and Biosafety The policy on biosafety in Syria can be reflected either as a stand-alone policy, or as part of a more general policy or policies on biodiversity conservation, biotechnology, science and technology, food production, food safety, environment protection or even sustainable development in the country. Biosafety policy in Syria is based upon the constitutional obligations of promoting agriculture and industry in a framework of sound environmental management and other sustainable management practices. In this connection, biosafety guidelines have been established as early as 2001 where the biosfaety policies have been covered in it. It is also based upon the general agricultural policies which give a considerable attention to the conservation of genetic resources and biodiversity and puts a high priority on modern biotechnology as a key tool both in the research and development (R&D) plans and also in the modernization of agricultural practices with adopting policies in supporting scientific research and benefiting from modern techniques including modern biotechnology techniques for the final aim to improve crops and increase production taking the safety of food produced, environment protection, genetic resources conservation and sustainable development into consideration Presently, there is no official policy or strategy for biotechnology in Syria. However, there are some national programs in biotechnology and genetic engineering which aim at improving the agricultural and medical sectors with emphasize on elaborate research policies and R&D collaborative programs in agricultural biotechnology with emphasize on the safe use of biotechnology and all related biosafety issues as a means to promote sustainable development while ensuring the protection of the environment and conservation of biodiversity given the top priority of the national policy and harnessing biotechnology and genetic engineering available worldwide to solve the temporary agricultural constraints such as biotic (insects, fungal and virus diseases), and abiotic stresses (drought, salinity, temperature, frost), detecting the degree of biodiversity in plant genetic resources at the molecular level to support national biodiversity programs and using of molecular techniques in marker-assisted selection in plant breeding programs. Also, development of human

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resources of high capacity in Biotechnology and all related biosafety issues is given the priority. Modern biotechnology is regarded in Syria as a promising technology which has a potential to improve the crops against biotic and abiotic stresses and consequently can contribute to increase food security. There is, however a genuine concern on the potential risks and benefits of modern Biotechnology among the Syrian public. This focus has resulted in the development of the National Biosafety Framework (NBF), which ensure the use of modern biotechnology with the appropriate safety mechanisms in place. Syria ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity on the 05/12/1995 and the Convention’s Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety on the 29th January 2004 to help meet its international obligations in the area of sustainable use and biodiversity conservation in the global domain. It has established a supreme council for biodiversity and genetic resources in the Syrian Arab Republic, which has the main responsibility to plan and program for the conservation, management and sustainable use of biodiversity and genetic resources of plants and animals. A national strategy for protection of Biodiversity with work plan was prepared as first step towards improvement, localization and protection of biodiversity components with rehabilitation of degraded elements including agricultural biodiversity.

There is, however, a genuine concern on the potential risks and benefits of biotechnology among both the academia and civil society groups. The national focus is on the precautionary approach and the environmentally sound management of biotechnology. The primary priorities and targets of Syria is to do develop a framework that will ensure sound environmental management and sustainable use of modern biotechnology within the country and also help meet its international obligations under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. In line with this objective to manage biotechnology in an environmentally sound manner, National Biosafety Guidelines have been developed as early as 2001.The scope of these guidelines embraces all works related to gene manipulation using recombinant DNA technology for all purposes including the development of transgenic plants, production of GMOs and products thereof, and their releases into the environment for field trials and for commercial purposes.

3. 4.1. Biosafety guidelines in Syria Syrian National Biosafety Committee issued the Biosafety guidelines in 2001 in both English and Arabic languages. The guidelines were approved by H.E., the Prime Minister on 27/2/2001. The biosafety guidelines have been developed on the basis of common elements and principles derived from national and international regulations and guidelines. They are designed to ensure that the products of biotechnology will not have adverse effects on the environment and agriculture, and to protect the surrounding communities as well as employees and researchers involved in the use of such products from the research stage till commercialization. The guidelines include guidelines for work in the laboratory, the greenhouse and the field as well as mechanisms for releasing GMOs to the environment 3.4.2. Syrian National Biosafety Committee (SNBC): Syrian National Biosafety Committee has been established by the Atomic Energy Commission of Syria in 1999 with approval of the Prime Minister. The SNBC was revised on 27 /9/2006 to include representatives from Ministry of Information, Private sector, and Consumer Protection Society.

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Members of the SNBC represent: 1- Atomic Energy Commission of Syria. 2- Scientific Studies and Research Center. 3- Ministry of Higher Education 4- Ministry of Agriculture, GCSAR. 5- Ministry of Health. 6- Ministry of Local Administration and Environment. 7- Ministry of Economic and Trade. 8- Private sector. 9- Consumer Protection Society.

Syrian National Biosafety Committee will work closely to modify the biosafety guidelines in accordance with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. 4. Constraints facing agricultural biotechnology research & development (R & D)

in Syria

- Human capacity needs: • Syria needs experts in scientific fields related to risk analysis of GMOs with sufficient

knowledge on methods of risk analysis. There is a number of experts in the Atomic Energy Commission, universities, and General Commission of Scientific Agricultural Research, in different fields of biology and agriculture. However, a few of them have experience in risk assessment and management. This lack of expertise can be overcome by extensive training.

• There is an urgent need in Syria for experts in short and long term for monitoring the impact of GMOs on the environment and human health.

• There is also a need for socio- economic experts to conduct studies on the impact of GMOs and their products on small farmers and indigenous communities.

• Risk communication is an important component in the risk analysis process. It is necessary to have experts in this field so that people can be informed with risks in scientific and easy manner so that the public can understand the information of the risk without becoming emotionally involved.

- Infrastructure needs: • There is a lack of containment and confinement facilities for conducting

environmental risk assessment in the institutes conducting genetic engineering work for environmental risk analysis studies. So, there is a need to have suitable greenhouse and field containment facilities.

• Lack of appropriate facilities such as laboratories, including those appropriate for conducting relevant analyses and detection studies, especially for analyzing food for the presence of allergens or toxins.

• There is a need for detection laboratories at ports of entry. • There is an urgent need for adequate access to internet to retrieve information to

support risk assessments. • Lack of biotechnology network at the regional level is critical for sharing information

and capacity building in the field of biotechnology and biosafety, as well as for enhancing cooperation and information dissemination.

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5. Justification for establishing agricultural biotechnology network as a tool for regional and inter-regional cooperation and information dissemination

In general, substantial amount of information are being generated at National Programs level and the value of this information remains largely dependent on the way it is managed, analyzed and made accessible by that National Program. Information exchange and efficient communication is a daily need. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has grown by leaps and bounds, and sustained, not because it seems popular, but because businesses can function more efficiently with less cost. This need for information exchange brings in another need to make this information selectively visible, and its visibility to be changed on the fly.

The revolution of computerizing services of organizations gave rise to isolated computer systems. Each organization had software developed and customized to its specific needs. However, mergers, acquisitions, and business growths saw the need to share information stored in these isolated computer systems. The Internet partially solved this problem, but the Internet also opened many loop-holes in security, making the owners of this information uneasy about the scope of their information's availability.

Therefore, establishment of networks, especially biotechnology network is very urgent issue particularly because biotechnology is developing very fast and sharing these developments is of particular importance. The reasons can be demonstrated as follows:

- Establishment of agricultural biotechnology network will strengthen biosafety capacity at the regional and sub-regional level to promote agricultural and environmental sustainability and safe use and application of biotechnology, information sharing and regional cooperation in biotechnology.

- The network will promote integration of biosafety into national development plans & policies and regulatory systems for GMOs.

- It will promote sharing information on biosafety and biotechnology including also systems for handling requests for GMOs, mainly, risk assessment, decision–making, risk management and risk communication.

- It will strengthen systems for monitoring, enforcement and emergency responses for GMOs as well as systems for public awareness, education, participation and access to information.

- It strengthens regional mechanisms for cooperation on biosafety and biotechnology. - It can build up common approaches for risk assessment, management,

communication and monitoring of GMOs. - Promoting harmonization of biosafety regulations and standards across the region.

6. Recommendations for promoting agricultural biotechnology research and development (R & D) in the region • Generally, focus should be on the development and improvement of knowledge and

expertise in biotechnology techniques, as well as development of the technology and producing the GM product and simultaneously regulating the GMOs research, handling, importation and all related issues.

• Capacity building in public institutes in biotechnology and biosafety. • Evaluate available and needed capacity in human resources and the need for

training at the regional level. • Promote cooperation with regional and international institutes in all fields of

biotechnology and biosafety. • The strategic and economically important crops should be given the priority to be

used in biotechnology applications, after defining the agricultural problems which can

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be overcome by these modern technologies with much and deliberate care taken about biodiversity and conservation of our rich genetic resources since our region is considered as center of origin of many crops.

• All concerned specialist at all involved bodies at public institutes and Universities should contribute in determine such constraints and seek to achieve this end with harmonization and cooperation at the regional level. This can be greatly facilitated through the establishment a regional network of biotechnology.

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Key References

Abdul kader, A. et al. (Eds). Proceedings of the Workshop of Biosafety in Agricultural Biotechnology in Syria. Damascus, 30 August -4 September 2003, Syria, FAO, GCSAR, ICARDA.

Nienke, M., Beintema, Majd Jamal and Mwafak M. (2006). Agricultural Science and technology indicators, Syria. ASTI Country Brief No. 35, July 2006.

Proceedings of the workshop “Economic & Social impact of biotechnology and genetic engineering products in the Arab world, 29-31 March 2005, Damascus, Syria. Organizer: Arab School for Science and Technology (ASST), Syria.

National Biosafety Framework of Syria. (2006). UNEP- GEF.

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13. CURRENT STATUS OF AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY IN TUNISIA

Walid Hamada

Associate Professor IRESA

Tunisia and Agriculture Arable land: 4,9 millions of hectares Perimeters irrigated: 402 000 hectares Cereals:1,6 millions of hectares. Olive trees: 1,6 millions of hectares. Exploiters: 516 000 Exploiting on partial time:40% Do we produce enougn food? Structure of agricultural production (2000-2006)

Activities Production (1000T) Cereals 1894 Olive oil 144 Citrus fruit 235 Dates 113 Potatos 335 Tomatoes 961 Meat 57 Poultry 54 MILK 858 Sea Food 104 Principal Imported products

Produce Value Quantity (1000T) Cereals 599.0 2654.1 Oil seeds 135.1 192.4 Sugar 199.8 353.9 Milk and by products 36 13.5 Major constraints of agriculture

• Variability in the production of cereal crops due to climate change mainly • The increase of price of Cereals at the imports • The increase of demand of foods in quantity and quality in the country • Open market for agricultural products soon with the Mediterranean countries

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How to face the challenge… Biotechnology could be one strategy to adopt in order to obtain suitable varieties with interesting traits that will face the problems encountered in the field and to satisfy the needs of the consumers Education and Research related to Biotechnology in Tunisia Biotechnology at the Universities : 2005 Laboratories 373 ( 50% ) Faculty 2411 ( 37% ) Master and PhD students 2229 ( 28% ) Budget 13.5 Millions DT ( 51% ) Students and Biotechnology Students 2003 2008 Engineer 297 500 Graduated students 889 2500 Technicians 672 2000 Total 1858 5000 Research Institutes: Ministry of Agriculture Research Institutes: Ministry of Higher Education

• Centre de Biotechnologie de Sfax

• Pole de Recherche INRST

• Faculté des Sciences de Tunis

• Faculté des Sciences de Sfax

The Benefits of local germoplasm: Tha National Gene Bank inaugurated on 11 November 2007 Mission: Collect, Identify, Multiply and Store local Garmoplasm The use of Molecular markers Field of application

• Cereal crops: wheat and barley • Fruit trees olive, palm, citrus • Beneficial microbes: Rhizobium • Plant Pathogens: fungi, bacteria and viruses

Objectives

• Differentiate between different genotypes of the same plant and phylogenetic studies • Identification of a specific genotype • Molecular mapping

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Gene Expression Cloning genes by differential expression Sequencing identified clones Sequencing facilities are available in some Research Institutes CBS; Institute of Pasteur; Techno pole Bioinformatics To exploit several databases Gene expression analysis by RT-PCR To validate the data obtained from the sequeincing The use of Q PCR To quantify gene expression and to detect GMO and pathogens Gene expression analysis by Northern blot Radiolabelled experiment which is not available in all laboratories In vitro culture In vitro culture and cereal crops In vitro culture of cereal crops

Haplodiploidisation by male, female gametophytes culture and by interspecific hybridizations in durum wheat and barley

Use of tissues culture in the improvement program for salt stress tolerance in cereals (durum wheat, bread wheat, triticale, barley, aegilops)

Scheme of HD production Benefits of in vitro culture :

• Micropropagation through improved culture media and incidence on plant production in conventional nurseries

• Production of virus free potato varieties through meristem tip culture using improved culture media

• Optimisation of regeneration through callus culture using different vegetative explants in sweet and hot pepper

• Haplodiploidisation as an alternative in pepper breeding for fruit set under extreme temperature conditions

• Optimisation of in vitro regeneration and use of somaclonal variation to select cold resistant lines

Induced Plant Mutations By Irradiation and use of chemicals (EMS) The Use of Chemicals Application of TILLING to isolate water stress tolerant durum lines

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Genetic transformation • Biolistic transformation of wheat • Overexpression of genes in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants • Grapevine; rd22 and dehydrine gene under the control of promoter 35S and

transfered to local germplasme ( cv Arich dressé and Razegui) • Durum wheat: VP and NHX gene under the control of maize ubiquitin promoter.

Created GMO crops

• Coat protein mediated resistance: PVY (potato cv Claustar, CBS) and GFLV (grapevine, INRST)

• Postranscriptional silencing: several fragment of GFLV were introduced in local Grapevine; core fragment of PVMV coat protein introduced in tomato

• Expression of a single chain Fv fragment (scFv) of an antibody directed against the nuclear inclusion (NIa) protein of PVY

Biological control Production of male sterile insects using nuclear irradiation Constraints facing biotechnology Research and Development GMO plants and regulations

• At present,Tunisia does not import, grow or export GMO:

– Imported seed are catalogued, licensed and known as being non transgenic – Transgenic plants that were produced in laboratories still confined in growth

chamber or greenhouse Biosafety and Regulations

• Waiting for the Adoption of the project of laws and the help of national biosafety committee which will provide authorization of growing GMO in the field while preserving the risks

• Support of FEM/PNUE project in order to design the appropriate experts for risk assessment evaluation when transgenic plants will be released in the field

Implementation of the biosafety

• Implementation of an ad hoc committee on biosafety in 1999 while waiting for its official creation by decree

• Establishment of a study in biotechnology on 2000 • Preparation of a national legal framework on biosafety (project of laws in course of

adoption): - greenhouse containment rules - field trial regulations and guidelines for GMO release in the environment - handling, packing and labeling GMO products.

• Research & Development • The lack of link between research laboratories and private sector (start up) • Technical problems for research :

– Dependent on imports for equipment and consumables (enzymes, primers, …)

– Some delays in receiving orders (bureaucracy)

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Recommendations • More flexibility in the management of research budgets for biotechnology • Involvement of the private sector from the agricultural field as partnership with the

public research institutions • Developing research programs based on the needs of the farmers and consumers

more than basic and fundamental topics Biotechnology Network

• Exchange expertise between laboratories having similar conditions (facilities, grants) • Develop regional research programs for similar topics (water stress, salinity, …) • Training and scientific visits are easier between these countries for students and

researchers (culture, civilization, visas, …) Conclusion

• Availability of the appropriate infrastructures on molecular biology and in vitro culture : transgenic plants

• Difficulties in the implementation of the caution protocol because appropriate structures of the control and evaluation of risk assessment are not available

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14. COUNTRY REPORT ON BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN YEMEN1

Prepared by:

Dr. Abdul Wahed Othman Mukred2 Vice Chairman/AREA3

Brief History of Research in Yemen: The history of agricultural research in Yemen goes back to the fifties of the past century, when the British established a research station in El-Kod4 (Abyan ) to conduct research activities related to the cultivation of the newly introduced crop to the coastal areas of the Southern part of Yemen. The research station was established in September 1955 and was mainly engaged in solving problems of cotton cultivation in Abyan and Lahej Deltas under spate irrigation. Agricultural research was further expanded to cover nearly all field crops and horticultural crops that are known to be cultivated in the country and newly introduced crops not previously known to the Yemeni farmers. Currently, the National Research and Extension Authority (AREA) manage agricultural research. Agricultural research is also carried out by the academic staff in the faculties of agriculture in the Yemeni universities. The Agricultural Research and Extension Authority has eight regional stations located in the main agro ecological zones in Yemen (the highlands, the eastern plateau and the coastal areas). Under AREA there are also three National Centers: These are, The National Renewable Resource Center, the Livestock Center and the Genetic Resources Center. Throughout the period since the establishment of El-Kod research Station till now, the research agenda in Yemen is characterized by its applied nature to solve farmers problems. Basic research in Yemen is confined to breeding programs in cotton and field crops. Research in Yemen is classical in terms of tools and designs applied. The parameters measured are also classical and based on visual symptoms and measurements of plants parts to assess phenomenon like earliness, resistance to biotic and a biotic stresses and yield per unit area. Genetic Resources in Yemen: Yemen is characterized by large diversity of native species, varieties and soil types adapted to different agro-ecological zones. Crops such as: wheat, lentil and millet are examples of local varieties whose yield and quality are deteriorating as a result of introducing homogenous high yielding varieties. Yemen is characterized with rich genetic resources as a result of its rich biodiversity and natural resources base; associated with different climatic conditions and agro-ecosystems. Historically, the ancient people developed traditional practices to preserve the genetic resources. However, in the recent period and due to increased demand for foodstuff, 1 A country report submitted to the Biotechnology meeting held in Cairo in 15-16 December 2007. 2 Dr. Abdul Wahed Mukred : Ph D in Crop Science (Horticulture) (University of the West Indies , Trinidad and

Tobago), Vice Chairman, AREA, Yemen, e.mail : awmukred@yemen.net.ye, + 967 733725348 (Mobile), + 967 6 423910 (Residence)

3 Agricultural Research and Extension Authority/ Dhamar P.O. Box 87148 - Republic of Yemen 4 El-Kod is a small town located 60 km east of Aden in Abyan Governorate.

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mechanical systems and new alien species were introduced to agricultural practices. There was no efficient and proper attention given to the use of the indigenous genetic resources. There are no breeding programs to improve local strains, collect data, characterize research and evaluate them. Sustainable use of agro-biodiversity depends largely on the inherited knowledge and experience and understanding of natural resources. Endogenous genotypes are the result of long selection process by ancient local farmers that were inherited by successive generations. They used indigenous breeding methods for selections for new genotypes to improve species productivity and adaptability to different agro-ecosystems. Examples of such selections were in sorghum, which had been practiced to improve seed’s color and size with super early maturation and free of pests. New varieties of sorghum were developed as a result of such processes, which are still widely used in Tihama, Taiz, Ibb and Lahj. Although Yemen hosts rich biodiversity and genetic resources, yet progress made in utilizing these resources is minimal compared to other countries that do not have large genetic resources. This had led to negative impacts on the productivity of various crops, animal and plant species. For example, the introduction of chicken breeds caused large reduction in local strains. In addition, there have not been any breeding research programs to evaluate, characterize and improve local strains. Some research centers adopt breeding programs for species improvement. However most of their activities have been limited to certain crops such as: sorghum, wheat, and onion. Their research work has focused on production of introduced varieties. An excellent achievement in this respect is improved onion variety called "Bafatim", which was developed from mass selection in Seyiun Research Center. This variety was later on released to several agro climatic zones in the country. Some genotypes of the endogenous species have excellent unique genetic characterizes. Research need to be done to assess the potentiality of utilizing these resources along with modern knowledge to improve the sustainable use of agro-biodiversity. Improvement of genetic resources depends on research work and selection of breeding method based on sufficient evaluation process. The academia and research centers have and important role in such research work. Particular roles involve the collection and conservation of genetic materials. The establishment of genetic resources centers in the Faculty of Agriculture of Sana’a and in the Agricultural Research Authority is an important step toward genetic resource conservation and assessment in Yemen. These centers have initiated processes to collect and preserve genetic resources for vegetables, and other crops in order to study genetic behavior of the collected species and their potential for species improvement. Current Status of Biotechnology and Biosafety in Yemen Given that biotechnology and biosafety are relatively new issues in Yemen, there is poor understanding and knowledge on the nature and extent of risks on biodiversity associated with transfer of biotechnology and use of GMOs. Furthermore, there is no specific entity responsible for handling the safe use and transfer of biotechnology and GMOs. There is still an urgent need to develop guidelines for their safe application and to control the impact of the modification operation on human health and agro-biodiversity. These deficiencies, combined with unavailability of policy and legislation framework for regulating biotechnology and biosafety issues, are likely to cause high level of risk on the country fragile ecosystems and its endemic species. Therefore in order to foster this situation and halt any further biodiversity destruction, this national biosafety framework has been developed to regulate their application.

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There is however, no legal instrument to regulate use and application of GMOs. There is no research work on GMOs at the national level and no such crops are produced locally. The awareness level is low and presently no authority has been assigned to regulate and research and monitor safe application of biotechnology. Biotechnology can play an important role in addressing agricultural research and contribute to agricultural development. Presently, there are basic facilities and capacities for biotechnology both at the academia and research centers. Technical capacities and institutional capabilities need to be further improved and public awareness needs to be enhanced. Policies and systems need to be developed and put in place to regulate biotechnology and biosafety. There is a need to develop adequate policies and legal frameworks. Similarly, there is a need to strengthen technical, institutional, international cooperation, research and social aspects in biotechnology and biosafety.

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Institutions and Experts5 Institutions and Expert Staff in Yemen are summarized in the following table:

Institutions Branch / Faculty

Mandate Staff Laboratory & library facilities Type of Research conducted

Agricultural Research Authority

8 Regional Stations + 5 Nation Centers

Conducting research to solve farmers problems in agriculture (crop + livestock) Crop and resource management research Socioeconomic research

Ph.d 66 MSc. 87 BSc. 219 Distributed at the HQ and the branches

Poor facilities suitable only to conduct basic soil water and plant analysis No lab facilities for Biotechnology Limited library with outdated references

Applied Research No research in Biotechnology

Faculty of Science

Academic Institution engaged in academic training in life sciences

17 Ph D ( 9 + 8) Ordinary lab. Facilities No DNA manipulation facilities. Poor library No field station facilities

Academic Degree training only.

Faculty of Agriculture

Academic Institution engaged in academic training in agricultural sciences

74 Ph D Traditional teaching laboratories suffering from lack of chemicals and reagents

Academic Degree training only.

University of Sana'a

Yemeni Genetic Resource Center

Collection & preservation of Genetic Resources

1 Ph D 2 MSc 7 BSc

Tissue culture Lab. Storage facilities Facilities for Genetic mapping Research farm

In situ and ex situ conservation Collection of Genetic Resources material

General Dep. Plant Protection

Protecting plants and controlling ag. Pests . Plant Protection CampaignsPlant quarantine

2 Ph D 29 MSc 132 BSc

Basic facilities in the plant quarantine lab.+ Virus detection lab. Biological control lab. Pesticides residual effect ( to be established)

Applied research in biological control of pests.

Ministry of Agriculture & Irrigation

Central Veterinary Laboratory

Monitoring outbreaks of animal deceases Diagnosis of animal deceases Routine analysis of feed Campaigns against animal deceases

3 MSc 10 BSc 14 trained technicians

Well equipped laboratory Animal cell culture facilities

Animal vet Service oriented activities.

5 The National Biosafety Framework , a report submitted by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to UNEP-GEF, Sana’a 2006.

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Faculty of Education Department of Life Science

Education Faculty engaged in academic training

9 Ph D 9 MSc

No facilities available in Biotechnology or Microbiology Library is outdated

Academic Degree training only.

Department of Chemistry

Academic degree training 5 Ph D Poor lab facilities + outdated library Academic Degree training only.

University of Aden

Faculty of agriculture

Teaching and Academic degree training No Training in Biotechnology

34 Ph D in different disciplines

Teaching labs with ordinary facilities No facilities for Biotechnology training Outdated Library

Academic degree training (BSc + MSc)

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Institution Branch / Faculty Mandate Staff Laboratory &

library facilities Type of Research conducted

Faculty of Science Dep. Microbiology+ Dep. Life Sciences

Teaching and Academic degree training No Training in Biotechnology

2 Ph D (microbiology) 6 Ph D (Life Sciences)

Poor facilities Academic degree training ( BSc)University of Taez

Center for Environmental Studies Under establishment 3 Ph D No lab. facilities yet available

Research and Studies

Faculty of Marine Sciences Teaching and Academic degree training No Training in Biotechnology

3 Ph D+ Expatriate staff from Arab Countries

Ordinary lab. Facilities for teaching

Academic degree training ( BSc)University of Hadramout

Faculty of Education Teaching and Academic degree training No Training in Biotechnology

3 Ph D + Expatriate staff from Arab Countries

No lab facilities Academic degree training ( BSc)

Faculty of Marine Science Teaching and Academic degree training No Training in Biotechnology

1 MSc + Staff hired from Sana'a University + Arab expatriate staff

No lab facilities yet Academic degree training ( BSc)University of Hudaida

Faculty of Medicine Teaching and Academic degree training No Training in Biotechnology

1 Ph D + Staff hired from Sana'a University + Arab expatriate staff

Limited lab facilities so far

Academic degree training ( BSc)

University of Dhamar

Faculty of Agriculture + Veterinary Science

Teaching and Academic degree training No Training in Biotechnology

5 Ph D + staff hired from Sana'a University + Arab expatriate staff

Limited facilities inherited from a previous vet institute

Academic degree training ( BSc)

University of Ibb Newly established university

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Analysis of the above table indicates that institutions and staff engaged in biotechnology in Yemen are rather modest. Facilities are limited and launching biotechnology research in Yemen is likely to start from scratch. Constraints facing Agricultural Biotechnology Research & Development in Yemen: There are several constraints facing Biotechnology Research and Development in Yemen. These can be summarized and categorized at different levels as follows: On the Legal Aspects: The legal framework, guidelines and instruments for biotechnology and biosafety are still lacking and need to be developed to regulate use and monitor safe applications of biotechnology and biosafety applications in development. On the Research Aspects: Scientific capacities and technological infrastructure are still inadequate to conduct research and integrate biotechnology risk management into existing environmental, health, and agricultural systems. There are insufficient funds, incentives and facilities in both Research Institutions (AREA) and the Academia. On the Institutional Aspects: Research activities are carried out in isolation among existing institutions and reflect the perceptions of the isolated nature of these institutions. There is no coordination among these institutes in shaping up the research agenda and in allocating funds to implement research .A central coordinating agency in research is still lacking in the Yemen. On the Technical Level: Capacity building of national staff in the field of biotechnology and biosafety is carried out in a random fashion. There are no training needs assessments among research institutions to prepare a plan for capacity building. Moreover, the opportunities in higher education are limited and confined in most cases to local universities, which are limited in facilities and expertise. Laboratories in the research institutions are traditional with no provision for advanced analysis in biotechnology or biosafety aspects. Some efforts have been devoted to capitalize on the expertise of international research centers such as ICARDA. However, these efforts are still at their initial stages. On the Social Aspects: There are no targeted awareness programs developed and implemented to attract the attention of potential stakeholders and involve local communities and government agencies in promoting research in biotechnology and biosfety. Similarly, the integration of biotechnology and biosafety in the development programs of the country is still lacking. On International Cooperation: There are no mechanisms developed yet for exchange of experience and linkages with regional and international institutions and agencies to ensure biotechnology development, transfer of knowledge, safe and sustainable applications and linking with development. On the Role of Private Sector: The involvement of the private sector is practically non existing. Efforts to encourage the private sector through provision of incentives for creation and financing of local private biotechnology enterprises and promote local public research and development are still at the planning stage.

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Recommendations for promoting agricultural biotechnology research & development in the region: To promote agricultural biotechnology research and development in Yemen it is essential to analyze the above-mentioned constraints and prepare an integrated strategy, which can be summarized as follows:

Several laws and legislation has been issued to regulate several aspects of the environment, the communities, the institutional set up of research agencies, the academia. However, there is a need to revise these legislations to identify gaps and duplications and prepare a comprehensive list of amendments in order to harmonize and integrate these laws and legislations and to highlight the importance of biotechnology and biosafety research to the country.

The capacities of NARS in Yemen in the field of biotechnology are still modest.

Individuals have had a chance to be trained in specialized fields of biotechnology, yet upon arrival in Yemen, these qualified and highly trained staff are faced with poor facilities, inadequate research environment, lack of funds and incentives to carry on their research programs.

Several institutions are engaged in research and training in Yemen. However, these

institutions lack coordination in preparing research programs, exchange of information and sharing of facilities. This resulted in scattered efforts and lack of coordination among institutions working in the same field of interest.

Research in Yemen lacks the champion, who could lobby and reflect the interest of

the research institutions among the decision makers. This is evident in the relatively isolated nature of NARS and in the allocation of funds to conduct research. The limited allocation of funds to research in Yemen is a bright example of undermining the role of science in solving development problems in the country. This is mainly because of the ignorance of some decision makers of the importance of research in solving the countries problems. On the other hand, efforts made by NARS to highlight and present their findings and contribution to solve development problems are limited and confined to part of the society ( the beneficiaries and local community members. Policy research is not yet in the priorities of the research agenda in Yemen).

Yemen has good ties with ICARDA as a representative of the CGIAR Group of

Centers in MENA Region. However, the country is yet far from capitalizing on the expertise of ICARDA to find solutions to its internal development problems. This is mainly because of the lack of communication between national scientists and ICARDA staff and the electronic illiteracy among many of the national research and academic staff.

The role of the private sector is still far from being utilized in the research agenda in

Yemen. Efforts to attract the private sector to support , finance or organize contracts with NARS to solve problems in their mandated areas of interest are still in the initial stages. There is a need to build confidence and trust of the capacities of national institutions. This can be achieved through hard work, transparency in dealing with issues and prompt service delivery. It must be noted, that this is a long learning process, the national research institutions in Yemen is yet to undergo.

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Justification for establishing agricultural biotechnology network as a tool for regional and inter-regional cooperation and information dissemination The establishment of an agricultural biotechnology network is of crucial importance to the countries in the region because of the following reasons:

1. The progress in adopting biotechnology research in agriculture and development vary among countries in the region. The network will enable scientists of member countries to get acquainted with experiences gained and progress achieved. This is vital for better planning and not repeating others mistakes.

2. The facilities allocated for biotechnology research differ among member countries. The network will enable scientists to learn more about recent advances in technologies. They will start from were others ended instead of repeating the whole process all over again.

3. Training facilities in biotechnology research and development differ among member countries. Less developed countries will capitalize on more advance member countries. The network will make this capitalization possible.

4. More advance member countries have came a long way in designing interventions in biotechnology. The network will allow less advanced countries get acquainted with these achievements and adopt them rather than testing different approaches from square one.

5. The network will help less advanced countries learn more on how biotechnology research has been integrated in development and how decision makers came to support this type of research. Lessons learnt can be made available via the network in the annual meetings or through the periodical publications.

6. The network will be a good forum for traveling workshops, training courses and training opportunities, degree training, hiring consultants from member countries to solve practical problems encountered in biotechnology research.

7. Finally yet importantly, the network will create opportunities for personal contacts of scientists working in the same field. These contacts will last far after the duration of the project supporting the network.

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Presentations

- APCoAB - ICARDA