Welcome to PBBC-WANA
Welcome to the PBBC WANA Discussion group!
Our main objective is to discuss the results of the national plant breeding and associated biotechnology assessment (PBBC: http://km.fao.org/gipb/pbbc) performed in Western Asia and Northern Africa countries by the Global Partnership Initiative for Plant Breeding Capacity Building - GIPB (http://km.fao.org/gipb/), which is a global platform hosted by the FAO Plant Production and Protection Division, Rome, Italy.
During the next three weeks, we will be discussing data on Western Asia and Northern Africa countries' capacity to carry out plant breeding activities, including the application of biotechnology tools. A questionnaire was submitted to many institutions involved in the sector in the region and results reveal variable numbers and trends: the number of plant breeders and biotechnologists; the capacity to use biotechnology tools; resource allocations; priority crops regarding the allocation of resources, etc.
This discussion is being organized as means to extend awareness coming out of these surveys, and to further discuss and recommend appropriate strategies to strengthen capacity to use plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) in the region. The main issues to be stressed in our discussion will be capacity building needs, strategies to increase access to PGRFA and biotechnology tools, and awareness of plant breeding characteristics and their impact in the region.
The GIPB will use the recommendations of this forum to develop further activities to support countries enhance their plant breeding capacity towards crop production intensification, food security and sustainable development.
We wish you an excellent and rewarding discussion.
Abdelkader Benbelkacem facilitator
and the GIPB Team
