Indicate the title of
a South-South
Solution:
What did a solution
achieve in the
originating
country?
Establishment of the Regional Centre for Plant Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology, Doha, Qatar
Partially funded by IFAD through its grant programme, the Regional Centre for Plant
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology was established in Doha in support of Qatar’s
efforts to develop the region’s agro-genetic engineering capacities.
It is envisioned that the Center will serve as an international Center of Excellence for
scientific research in the field of genetic engineering and biotechnology as well as a
know-how and information hub for regional centres and research institutions in Arab
countries. By pioneering state-of-the-art research solutions related to plant genetic
engineering and biotechnology, the Centre will contribute to increased agricultural
production and improved nutritional quality of food, crucial to food security and
poverty reduction efforts in the Arab region.
What were initial
objectives?
What were the
outcomes achieved
that can be
replicated?
What has this
solution achieved
to date that make
the solution
outstanding?
Specific objectives were to: (i) develop and promote the application of biotechnology
in the agricultural sector to address issues of low productivity and enhance
agricultural production and biotech research in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and
other Arab countries; (ii) assist GCC and other Arab countries in strengthening their
scientific and technological capabilities in the field of biotechnology (i.e. Training of
biotech Researchers); (iii) serve as a forum of exchange of information and act as a
knowledge hub, experience and know-how and to act as a focal point of a network of
affiliated (national, subregional and regional) centers and research institutions in
GCC and other Arab countries; (iv) develop and harmonize biosafety regulations in
the GCC countries and eventually other Arab countries (i.e. Biosafety regulations);
and (v) exploit plant genetic resources available in local gene banks and in situ
collections using gene marker-related breeding techniques.
The Centre’s main achievements that can be replicated involve provision of capacity
building support to researchers from GCC and other Arab countries in strengthening
their scientific and technological capabilities in the field of plant genetic engineering
and biotechnology. To this effect, the State of Qatar has played a leading role in the
area of commercial tissue culture in the region.
To date, as part of the medium-term research programme, plant tissue culture
protocols for commercial purposes were developed for 15 varieties of plant species,
consisting of ornamental plants, endangered desert plants, plants of medicinal value
and fruit crops - including those native to Qatar. The aforementioned plant species
included: Glossanema and Atriplex, both wild plants grown in the desert, subject to
foraging by camels and threatened by extinction; Quisqualis indica, an ornamental
plant; Fragaria virginiata and Psidium guava, fruit crops, among others. As a result of
this project, plant tissue culture techniques that are commercially viable to propagate
in a laboratory were newly introduced. Furthermore, technical assistance and
capacity building support provided in the area of commercial tissue culture were
crucial for the development of novel plant varieties. This helped strengthen scientific
and technological capabilities in the field of plant biotechnology (e.g. biochemistry,
microbiology, chemical technology and genetics) among researchers from Qatar as
well as Yemen, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. Two capacity building workshops
were held at the Centre, which included teaching of basic and advanced techniques,
designing and conducting a mini research and visits to project sites and applications
under the guidance of expert researchers. A two-day workshop on Commercial Tissue
What institutions
were involved in
this SSC experience?
Contact information
of solutionprovider:
Culture Principles and Application was conducted on 29 April and 30 April 2013 and
included 45 national and regional scientists. In collaboration with the International
Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, based in Trieste, Italy, the
workshop on Detection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agricultural and
food products was held from 6 to 10 January 2013, and attended by 29 national and
regional scientists. Furthermore, the project also contributed to the establishment of
a fully equipped plant tissue culture laboratory including provision of laboratory
equipment for purposes of research and training.
The Ministry of Environment (the former Ministry of Municipal Affairs and
Agriculture), Qatar; Serendib Horticulture Technologies Middle East WLL. This is one
of the most prominent IFAD-funded research programmes in the Region.
Abdelkarim Sma
Country Program Manager
IFAD/PMD/NEN
Via Paolo di Dono 44
00142 Rome, Italy
Tel. +39 06 5459 2500
Fax + 39 06 5459 3500
www.ifad.org
a.sma@ifad.org