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Optimizing the Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture for Adaptation to Climate Change
(TCP/SNO/3401)
Report on the Regional Workshop
“Exchange of Information on National PGRFA Strategies and Development of Regional Collaborative Activities”
22-23 September 2014
Rotana-Tamar Hotel, Beirut-Lebanon
By Lamis Chalak, Regional Project Coordinator
Mona Siblini, National Project Coordinator, Lebanon
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1. Background and Workshop Objectives
As to the climatic change that is drastically affecting agriculture in the Near East Region, plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) have to play a vital role for sustainable agriculture development through enhancing production and improving livelihoods of people. Indeed PGRFA provides the most important raw materials for developing required breeding materials and crop varieties suited to various agro-ecological regions with improved quality and quantity of crop production. Therefore, the evaluation, sustainable use and conservation of PGRFA in the region are primordial. The utmost importance is placed in the development of PGRFA strategies both at national and regional level that can be implemented for the benefit of farming communities to help them to sustain production and averting the catastrophic impacts of climate change.
The regional workshop for “Exchange of Information on National PGRFA Strategies and the Development of Regional Collaborative Activities” is initially planned according to the activity 1.5. of the agreed work plan of the Regional TCP/SNO/3401- Optimizing the Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture for Adaptation to Climate Change. This workshop was organized on 22-23 September 2014 at the Rotana Tamar Hotel, Beirut-Lebanon and consisted of two-day sessions in collaboration with FAO Office in Lebanon and the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture (Annex 1).
The objectives of the regional workshop were:
Introduce the National Strategies on PGRFA developed within the project in Iran, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon;
Review the monitoring and reporting process on the implementation of the Second Global Plan of Action (GPA2) for PGRFA in each participating country;
Review the elements to develop collaborative activities on PGRFA in the Near East Region.
Twenty five participants included staff from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment, Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute, Lebanese University, National Council for Scientific Research in Lebanon, ICARDA-Lebanon, National Project Coordinators and National Consultants in the four project participating countries i.e. Egypt, Iran, Jordan, and Lebanon, FAO RNE, FAO-HQs and Regional Project Coordinator participated in the workshop (Annex 2).
This document presents a summary of the main workshop activities including presentations, discussions, working groups outcomes and specific recommendations.
2. Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony was held under the patronage of the Minister of Agriculture Mr Akram Shehayeb, represented by the Director of Plant resources, Mr Mohamad Abou Zeid, and in the presence of the FAO Representative in Lebanon Dr Maurice Saade. Ms. Mona Siblini, the National Project Coordinator, Lebanon welcomed the participants and presented the agenda of this workshop (Annex 1) and explained briefly the main objectives of this meeting. Project Lead Technical Officer FAO-RNE stressed on the importance of the project to secure food in the future, he briefly explained that due to the limitation of agricultural area and scarcity of water resources, an increase in crop production can only be reached by using improved varieties
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through exploring PGRFA; and in this context this regional project gains its importance. Project Regional Coordinator Dr Lamis Chalak stressed on the major achievements of this project, particularly the two national training workshops held in Cairo last August and the benefits gained by the participants, before focusing on the importance of this regional workshop on National Strategies for PGRFA conservation and management in the Near East Region. Dr. Saade, FAO Representative, Lebanon, focused on the impact of climate change on the agriculture sector; he identified as an example the influence of the difference of temperature between day and night on the production of some fruit crops and linked the proper management of the PGRFA with food security. Mr Mohamad Abou Zeid, representing H.E. the Minister, expressed gratitude to FAO for its continuous support to the agriculture sector in Lebanon and appreciated the valuable contribution of this project to optimize the use of PGR in the region by allowing expertise exchange and interaction. He finally wished for this workshop success and fruitful results.
3. Workshop Plenaries
The format for the workshop followed the agenda program (Annex 1) basically constituted of the following presentations.
Title of the paper Name of the speaker
National PGR Strategy for Jordan Dr Maha Syouf
National PGR Strategy for Egypt Dr Samy Sabry
National PGR Strategy for Iran Dr Javad Mozafari
National PGR Strategy for Lebanon Dr Lamis Chalak
Monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the Second Global Plan of Action for PGRFA
Dr Stefano Diulgheroff
Monitoring the Second Global Plan of Action for PGRFA and Data Collection in Jordan
Dr. Nasab Rawashdeh
Monitoring the Second Global Plan of Action for PGRFA and Data Collection in Iran
Dr. Javad Mozafari
Monitoring the Second Global Plan of Action for PGRFA and Data Collection in Egypt
Dr. Abeer El Halwagi
Monitoring the Second Global Plan of Action for PGRFA and Data Collection in Lebanon
Mr Ali Chehade
Elements for developing PGRFA regional collaborative activities
Dr Chikelu Mba
A Dynamic Regional PGR Knowledge Platform for the Near East Region
Dr Magdi Latif
The national plant genetic strategies supported by local and foreign data with the major objectives of improving the livelihood of local communities by implementing policies and
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national programs to enhance conservation and use of PGRFA were first presented by the NPCs/NCs of the project participating countries. All these presentations were structured in three main chapters, starting by summarizing the state of PGRFA in each of the four countries, the establishment of the National PGRFA Strategy and finally its implementation. In all the presentations, it has been emphasized that PGRFA are of great importance for people and national interests in terms of food security, agricultural and rural development, and management of natural resources. Discussion emphasized on the plan of action and implementation process in the countries.
The national monitoring officers of GPA2 from Jordan, Egypt, Iran and Lebanon presented respective countries data corresponding to six questions related to: 1) targeted collecting mission carried out in the country, 2) accessions conserved ex situ under medium- or long-term conditions, 3) number of accessions regenerated and/or multiplied, 4) number of accessions and the number of samples distributed, 5) underutilized species with potential for commercialization, 6) varieties released during the reporting period. After the presentations, the participants discussed the gaps and constraints hindering the characterization of PGRFA stored in the national gene banks and exchange of germplasm as well.
An interactive exercise with participants on the use of new software specific to the GPA2 and
the website to enter the needed data was conducted and demonstrated.
Discussion stressed on the key issues that affected conservation and utilization of PGRFA to
develop crops varieties suited to marginal areas affected by salinity and climate change. The
role of the government policies, local and international regulations that affect sharing of
experience/knowledge and exchange of PGRFA materials among the countries was also
debated.
4. Working Groups
After the presentations four working thematic groups to discuss following topics were convened: WG1: In situ conservation; WG2: Ex situ conservation; WG3: Sustainable use; and WG4: Seeds system. Discussions within thematic working groups lasted around two hours on the common features, issues, constraints, potentials, and needs before coming up with a set of activities that were presented by the leaders of the groups as shown in the table below.
Working Groups Proposed Activities
WG1: In situ conservation 1- Develop an international program for producing knowledge base for the in situ conservation 2- Educating policy making in order to prevent over harvesting of species in situ conservation 3- Exchange of experiences among countries for policy regulations concerning in situ conservation and sharing case studies 4- Enhancing domestication of widely used plant species to reduce pressure on natural habitat 5- Collaboration on producing and exchanging planting materials between regional countries while meeting standards
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6- Promoting best practices with regards to in situ conservation through exchange of information and harmonization of policies and regulations of access to in situ conditions 7- To enhance linkages between in situ and ex-situ conservation 8- Collaborating on transboundary PGRFA among neighboring countries on conservation as well as regulation of access 9- Putting in place policies for enhancing participation of farmers in on farm conservation through creating incentives and providing market opportunities for their products of conserved PGRFA 10- Promoting on farm management of fruit trees Genetic Resources through raising awareness and training for PGRFA workers and farmers through regional workshops
WG2:Ex situ conservation 1- Improve storage conditions, viability and regeneration of PGRFA 2- Characterize and evaluate PGRFA stored in the gene banks to biotic and abiotic stresses 3- Implement gene bank standards in the region 4- Improve the germplasm exchange and seeds delivery at national and regional levels
WG3: Sustainable use 1- Assess and prioritize the major challenges that face crop production in each country in the context of climate change adaptation and mitigation 2- Characterization and evaluation to important traits of tolerance to drought, heat, salinity, pests and diseases 3- Integration of the efforts between national gene bank and breeders for pre-breeding through interdisciplinary approach 4- Broadening the genetic base in the crops accessions 5- Strengthen pre-breeding activities that involve crops wild relatives 6- Enhance the use of molecular tools in plant breeding 7- Encourage participatory plant breeding approaches involving farming communities 8- Promote the use of under-utilized crops 9- Develop policies to secure breeder’s rights to encourage innovation
WG4: Seeds system 1- Exchange of information about regulations, national breeding program and germplasm 2- Exchange of experiences in seed production systems among countries in collaboration with international organization 3- Establish regional varieties trials aiming at identifying varieties suitable to certain common climates in countries which could be the basis of collaboration on seed multiplication 4- Establish farmer-based seed production in countries that lack a formal seed system
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5. Conclusions and Recommendations
5.1. General Conclusions
It has been encouraging to note that all the participating countries emphasized on the importance of the draft national strategies and highlighted the needs for clearly defined mechanisms to monitoring the implementation of these strategies in the respective countries. It has also been concluded that work plans associated to clearly defined indicators should be developed later on to ensure the implementation of national strategies. In this respect the National PGRFA committee has to play a key role to implement the strategy and obtain concrete results to demonstrate the value of genetic resources, although such committee already exists in some countries without being operational. Therefore, it is important that the national strategies should be endorsed by the national authorities to ensure their efficient implementation so that the national PGRFA strategies could be aligned with the priority areas of the second global plan of action.
It has also been realized that there aren’t much studies of the genetic resources characterization in the four countries. Hence, there is a need to define the genes that have adaptation to drought, salinity, diseases and pest resistance to be used in further national and regional breeding programmes. It has been called upon enhancing the technical capacities in the region and have an analytical comparison of these national strategies; It was recommended harmonizing the draft national strategies with the regional strategy on PGRFA that has been recently developed by AARINENA and the necessity to undertake regional strategic actions on PGRFA exchange and characterization. In this respect the Regional Thematic Knowledge network can play a vital role for sharing of agricultural information and knowledge exchange both at national and regional level for building capacities and developing collaborative actions.
It has also been stressed that the monitoring and reporting are extremely important in the implementation of GPA2 in the countries by the National Focal Points through a normalized reporting format that limits the work load for countries, and allows a robust data set collection and acknowledges other existing data sources. It should also lead to sharing information on national, regional and global levels on the status of PGRFA. The real gaps and needs for capacity building were identified and highlighted.
Finally participants asked for holding national stakeholders workshops on GPA2 one in each of the project countries to familiarize stakeholders with indicators, questions and field description, and to ensure the implementation of GPA2 and to initiate the reporting progress in order to update the National Information Sharing Mechanism.
5.2. Specific Recommendations
The specific recommendations as generated by the general discussions and conclusions are provided below in the form of main actions that should be implemented during 2014-2015 :
National teams will revise the National Strategy developed in each country according to the “Draft Guidelines for Developing a National Strategy for PGRFA” produced by the Intergovernmental Working Group on PGRFA (CGRFA/WG-PGR-7/14/Inf.1).
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National teams will fulfill the remaining project activities according to countries work plans.
National Monitoring Officers of GPA2 will continue filling up the excel sheets relevant to the 18 priority areas of the Second Global Plan of Action.
National teams in each country will prepare for a National Stakeholders Workshop on Monitoring and Reporting on the Implementation of the second GPA to be held on 3-4 November in Jordan; 5-6 November in Egypt; 10-11 November in Lebanon; 4-5 December in Iran.
National teams in each country will prepare for a National Stakeholders Workshop on National PGR Knowledge Network for appropriate implementation, ownership and partnership.
The four working groups constituted during the workshop [WG1: In situ conservation; WG2: Ex situ conservation; WG3: Sustainable use; WG4: Seeds system] are committed to further continue as networking groups in discussing and exchanging knowledge and information on PGRFA, and fostering partnerships with regional/international organizations. They are also committed in building project concept notes to the proposals recommended below, for further collaborative priority actions on PGRFA conservation and management in the Near East Region:
In situ conservation of major food crops originated from the Near East Region as a step towards the development of an international program on in situ conservation.
Implementation of gene bank standards in the Near East Region.
Evaluation of traits of interest for the Near East Region through germplasm exchange and field trials of screened PGRFA.
Improve farmers’ adaptive capacities to climate change in the Near East Region through an appropriate seed system.
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Optimizing the Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture for Adaptation to Climate Change
(TCP/SNO/3401)
Annex 1
Regional Workshop “Exchange of Information on National PGRFA Strategies and
Development of Regional Collaborative Activities” 22-23 September 2014
Rotana Tamar Hotel, Beirut
Program Schedule September 22, 2014
08:30 - 09:00 Registration
Opening Session
09:00 - 09:05 Welcome Statement by Ms Mona Siblini, National Project Coordinator
09:05 - 09:10 Statement of Dr Dost Muhammad, LTO – RNE
09:10 - 09:20 Statement of FAO Representative in Lebanon
09:20 - 09:30 Statement of H.E. Minister of Agriculture of Lebanon
09:30 - 10:00 Coffee Break
Session II National Strategies developed for PGRFA management in the Near East Region
Chair Dr Hanaiya Itribi; Co-chair Dr Chikelu Mba
10:00 - 10:30 National PGR Strategy for Jordan Dr Maha Syouf, National Consultant
10:30 - 11:00 National PGR Strategy for Egypt Dr Samy Sabry, National Consultant
11:00 - 11:30 National PGR Strategy for Iran Dr Javad Mozafari, National Consultant
11:30 - 12:00 National PGR Strategy for Lebanon Dr Lamis Chalak, Regional Project Coordinator
12:00 - 13:00 Discussion of the National Strategies
13:00 - 14:00 Lunch
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Session III Monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the Second Global Plan of Action for PGRFA in the Near
East Region Chair Dr Stefano Diulgheroff; Co-chair Dr Sobhiya Saifan
14:00-14:30 Monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the Second Global Plan of Action for PGRFA, Dr Stefano Diulgheroff, FAO HQs Rome
14:30 -14:45 Monitoring the Second Global Plan of Action for PGRFA and Data Collection in Jordan, Dr. Nasab Rawashdeh / Dr Sobhiya Saifan
14:45 -15:00 Monitoring the Second Global Plan of Action for PGRFA and Data Collection in Iran, Dr. Javad Mozafari
15:00 -15:15 Monitoring the Second Global Plan of Action for PGRFA and Data Collection in Egypt, Dr. Abeer El Halwagi
15:15 -15:30 Monitoring the Second Global Plan of Action for PGRFA and Data Collection in Lebanon, Mr Ali Chehade
15:30 -16:00 Coffee Break
16:00 -17:30 Discussion
September 23, 2014
Session IV Developing Regional Collaborative Activities on PGRFA
Chair Dr Javad Mozafari ; Co-chair Lamis Chalak
09:00 - 09:15 Elements for developing PGRFA regional collaborative activities Chikelu Mba, FAO HQs
09:15 - 09:30 A Dynamic Regional PGR Knowledge Platform for the Near East Region. Dr Magdi Latif, FAO Cairo
09:30 - 10:00 Coffee Break
10:00 -12:00
WG1: In situ conservation, Led by Dr Javad Mozafari
WG2 : Ex situ conservation, Led by Dr Sabah Saifan
WG3: Sustainable use, Led by Dr Hanaiya Itribi
WG4: Seed System, Led by Ms Mona Siblini
12:00 - 13:00 Presentation of the Working Groups Outcomes
13:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 16:00 Open Discussion on the Proposed Regional Activities
16:00 - 16:30 Coffee Break
Closing Session Chair Dr Lamis Chalak ; Co-chair Ms Mona Siblini
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Annex 2
TCP/SNO/3401
“Exchange of Information on National PGRFA Strategies and the Development of Regional Collaborative Activities”
Regional Workshop, 22-23 September 2014 Beirut - Lebanon
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
EGYPT
Dr. Hanaiya El Itriby President of National Gene Bank National Coordinator, TCP/SNO/3401 Tel: +202-0100573357 ; Fax: +202-35693241 E.mail: [email protected] Dr. Abeer Elhalwagi Senior Researcher at National Gene Bank and Genetic Resources National Monitoring Officer of GPA2, TCP/SNO/3401 Tel: +202-01004503095 ; Fax: +202-35693241 E.mail: [email protected]
Dr. Sami Sabry Emiritus Professor Agriculture Research Center (ARC) National Consultant, TCP/SNO/3401 Tel: +202-01064341621 E. mail: [email protected]
IRAN
Dr. Niaz Ali Sepahvand Acting DG of Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII) National Coordinator, TCP/SNO/3401 Tel: +989123630637 E. mail: [email protected] Dr. Javad Mozafari Hashjin Professor, Director of National Plant Gene Bank of Iran Seed and Plant Improvement Institute National Consultant and National Monitoring Officer of GPA2, TCP/SNO/3401 Tel: +989123763457 E. mail: [email protected]
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JORDAN
Dr. Sobhia Saifan Head Plant Genetic Resources Unit National Center of Agriculture Research and Extension (NCARE) National Coordinator of Millennium Seed Bank Project in Jordan National Coordinator, TCP/SNO/3401 Tel: +962795048991 E-mail: [email protected]
Ms. Nasab Alrawashdeh National Center of Agriculture Research and Extension (NCARE) National Monitoring Officer of GPA2, TCP/SNO/3401 Tel: +962777176439 E-mail: [email protected]
Dr. Maha Al Syouf Director of biodiversity genetic resources and medicinal herbal plant directorate National Center of Agriculture Research and Extension (NCARE) National Consultant, TCP/SNO/3401 Tel: +962779257706 E-mail: [email protected]
LEBANON - Members of the PGRFA Committee in Lebanon
Dr. Lamis Chalak Professor Head of Plant Production Department Faculty of Agronomy, the Lebanese University Chair of National Committee on PGRFA Regional Coordinator, TCP/SNO/3401 Tel: +9613211855 E-mail: [email protected]
Ms. Mona Siblini Head of Horticulture & Filed crops Service National Coordinator, TCP/SNO/3401 Tel: +961 1822400 ; Fax: +961 1822400 E.mail: [email protected]
Mr. Ali Chehade Research Assistant Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute National Monitoring Officer of GPA2, TCP/SNO/3401 Tel: +961 3625047 ; Fax: +961 8900077 E.mail: [email protected] Ms. Joelle Breidy Seed Bank Manager Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute National Consultant, TCP/SNO/3401 Tel: +961 8900047 ; Fax: +961 8900077 E.mail: [email protected]
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Dr Rola Amil Researcher in Wheat Diseases Plant Breeding Department Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute Tel : +96170056079 E-mail: [email protected]
Dr. Samih El Hajj Professor Faculty of Agronomy, the Lebanese University Tel: +96170609746 E-mail: [email protected]
Dr. Khaled Makkouk Research Program, Advisor for Agriculture and Environment National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS) Telephone: 01-840260 ext. 414 Tel: 09613942081 ; Fax: 01-822639 E-mail: [email protected]
Ms. Marie Louise Hayek FAOR-Lebanon Tel: 09613885776 E-mail: [email protected]
Dr. Faten Raad Chair of the National Committee for Cereals Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute Tel: + 9613738432 E-mail: [email protected] Dr. Mariana Yazbeck ICARDA - Lebanon Tel: +96176705780 E-mail: [email protected]
Mr. Charles Zarzour Head of the Export Import Service Ministry of Agriculture Tel: +963 666676 E-mail: [email protected]
Ms. Lara Samaha Head of Department of Ecosystems Ministry of Environment Tel: +9613717127 E-mail : [email protected]
Mr. Nizar Hani Department of Ecosystems Ministry of Environment Tel: 09613513845 E-mail: [email protected]
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LEBANON - LARI
Ms. Hiba Dokmak Biologist Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) Tel: +961 71595780 ; Fax: +961 8900077 E. mail: [email protected] Mr. Ahmad El Bitar Research Assistant Biotechnology Department Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) Tel: +961 20325 ; Fax: +961 9618900077 E.mail: [email protected], [email protected] Mr. Mohammad Zein El Deen IT, Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) Tel: +961 3625047 E.mail: [email protected]
LEBANON - Ministry of Agriculture
Ms. Fatmeh Baydoun Head of the Horticulture Department Tel: +9613705608 E.mail: [email protected] Mr. Mouin Fawaz Head of the Nursery Department Tel:+9613938310 E.mail: [email protected]
FAO - RNE
Mr. Magdi Latif Knowledge and Information Management Officer (TSS) KIM, TCP/SNO/3401 FAO RNE Cairo Mob: +202- 01001772187 ; Tel. +202 3331 6000 Ext. 2907 ; Fax: +202 3749 5981 Email: [email protected] Mr. Muhammad Dost Regional Plant Production Officer LTO, TCP/SNO/3401 Mob: +202-0101782408; +202- 01017601213 ; Tel: +20233316000 Ext. 2806 ; Fax: +20237495981 Email: [email protected]
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FAO-HQs Rome
Dr. Chikelu Mba AGP Technical Support (TSS) LTU, TCP/SNO/3401 Plant Production and Protection Division FAO HQs, Rome Tel. + 39 0657055344 Email: [email protected] Dr. Stefano Diulgheroff Secretary Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Plant Genetic Resources Plant Production and Protection Division FAO HQs, Rome Tel. +39 06 570 55544 Email: [email protected]
