TCP/SNO/3401TCP/SNO/3401Optimizing the Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Optimizing the Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and

Agriculture for Adaptation to Climate ChangeAgriculture for Adaptation to Climate Change

NATIONAL STRATEGY NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR PGRFA CONSERVATION AND MANGEMENT IN FOR PGRFA CONSERVATION AND MANGEMENT IN

“EGYPT“EGYPT””

Regional Workshop “Regional Workshop “Exchange of Information on National PGRFA Strategies and Development of Exchange of Information on National PGRFA Strategies and Development of Regional Collaborative ActivitiesRegional Collaborative Activities”, Beirut, 22-23 September 2014”, Beirut, 22-23 September 2014

1 .State of PGRFA in “Egypt.”

2 .Establishment and Implementing of the National PGRFA Strategy.

State of PGRFA in “ EgyptState of PGRFA in “ Egypt””

Egypt signed the Convention on Biological Diversity Egypt signed the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on June 1992 and ratified it on June 1994.(CBD) on June 1992 and ratified it on June 1994.

Egypt signed the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Egypt signed the International Treaty on Plant Genetic

Resources for food and Agriculture on August 2002 and Resources for food and Agriculture on August 2002 and ratified it on 2004.ratified it on 2004.

The treaty sets the guidelines for collection, The treaty sets the guidelines for collection, identification, evaluation, maintenance and identification, evaluation, maintenance and documentation of plant genetic resources. It also defines documentation of plant genetic resources. It also defines national obligations for the sustainable use of those national obligations for the sustainable use of those resources by each contracting partyresources by each contracting party..

In SituIn Situ Conservation Management Conservation Management

Under the law No. 102, 1983 for protected Under the law No. 102, 1983 for protected areas, twenty seven protectorates were areas, twenty seven protectorates were identified till 2010 representing about 10% of identified till 2010 representing about 10% of the total area of Egypt.the total area of Egypt. Protectorates comprised 1368 plant species

The number of plant species and the nature of the protected areas of Egypt

Recent Assessment of Plant Biodiversity of the Protected Areas of Egypt

No.Name ofprotected areaType of protected areaNo. of

plant species

1Abu GlumWaterland (Marine, Lakes & Riverine)25

2Ras MohammedWaterland (Marine, Lakes & Riverine)53

3TabaDesert (Highlands, Valleys & Plains)87

4NabqWaterland (Marine, Lakes & Riverine)40

5Wadi AllaqiDesert (Highlands, Valleys & Plains)98

6SiwaDesert (Highlands, Valleys & Plains)52

7ElbaDesert (Highlands, Valleys & Plains)381

8AhrashWaterland (Marine, Lakes & Riverine)12

9Ashtoum El-GamilWaterland (Marine, Lakes & Riverine)6

10BurullusWaterland (Marine, Lakes & Riverine)192

11ZaraneekWaterland (Marine, Lakes & Riverine)152

12OmayedDesert (Highlands, Valleys & Plains)150

13Wadi El-RayanWaterland (Marine, Lakes & Riverine)38

14Wadi El-GimalDesert (Highlands, Valleys & Plains)92

Total1378

Ex SituEx Situ Conservation Management Conservation Management

(1)(1) National Gene Bank was inaugurated in 2004National Gene Bank was inaugurated in 2004 There are four major departments related to the There are four major departments related to the

NGB activities.NGB activities.

Field Crops.Field Crops. Horticultural Crops.Horticultural Crops. Animal Genetic Resources.Animal Genetic Resources. Agriculture-related micro-organisms. Agriculture-related micro-organisms.

Number of Genera and Species in the NGB

CropCropGenraGenraSpeciesSpecies

Field CropsField Crops5858115115

Vegetable CropsVegetable Crops51517676

FruitsFruits20202525

Medicinal and Aromatic plantsMedicinal and Aromatic plants183183252252

Trees & ShrubsTrees & Shrubs45456363

Wild PlantsWild Plants165165232232

TotalTotal522522763763

The Planned Cold Storage Capacity

Storage TypeStorage TypeTrue seeds True seeds accessionsaccessions

Tissue Tissue CultureCulture

Short Period StorageShort Period Storage3-5 Years3-5 Years

787107871012251225

Medium Period StorageMedium Period Storage5-7 Years5-7 Years

12745012745024502450

Long Period StorageLong Period Storage7-10 Years7-10 Years

16968016968024502450

List of Botanical Gardens in Egypt

No.Name ofBotanical Garden

Present Area

(Feddan)*

Dateof Estab.

No.of F.

No.of G.

No. ofSpecies

1Ain Shams Univ., Fac. of Sci.319531147501200

2Alex. Univ. Fac. of Sci.21942500

3Cairo Univ., Fac. of Agr.151947316480

4Orman B.G., Giza28187390520600

5Zohryia, Gezera, Giza 8186857143442

6Quba Palace, Cairo124196072551

7Zoo Garden, Giza80189068208342

8Manial Palace, Giza61150239

9Agriculture Museum, Dokky, Giza1937327394

10Azbakiyia Garden1018674183800

11Antoniadis Garden, Alex.45186062

12Aswan Garden1719285997371

Total 33762520085281

EstablishmentEstablishment and Implementation of the and Implementation of the National PGRFA StrategyNational PGRFA Strategy

Vision:To contribute to the overall development of agriculture

and food security with the aim of improving the livelihood of Egypt farmers by promoting policies and viable programs for conservation and enhancement of plant genetic resources.

 

Mission: To conserve and safeguard biodiversity in general and

plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in particular with the aim of enhancing their contribution to national agrialtural development, food security and well being of Egypt people.

Goal:Goal:The major goal of the strategy is the conservation The major goal of the strategy is the conservation

and sustainable utilization of plant genetic and sustainable utilization of plant genetic diversity in the country through promoting diversity in the country through promoting concerted coordinated efforts at the national level concerted coordinated efforts at the national level for efficient and effective for efficient and effective ex situ ex situ as well as as well as in situ in situ conservation for prime importance crops.conservation for prime importance crops.

The strategy aims at facilitating partnership and The strategy aims at facilitating partnership and sharing facilities and responsibilities to establish sharing facilities and responsibilities to establish regional coordination mechanisms for advancing regional coordination mechanisms for advancing the long – term regional strategy. the long – term regional strategy.

Main ObjectiveMain Objective::

The main objective of the Strategy is to promote the The main objective of the Strategy is to promote the development of an effective and efficient system for development of an effective and efficient system for the conservation of important crop diversity and to the conservation of important crop diversity and to facilitate its sustainable use. Much of the success in facilitate its sustainable use. Much of the success in achieving the main objective of the Strategy hinges achieving the main objective of the Strategy hinges on having reasonable functional links between the on having reasonable functional links between the relevant national institutions, as well as on forming a relevant national institutions, as well as on forming a suitable mutually accepted arrangement for regional suitable mutually accepted arrangement for regional collaboration and exchange of experience and collaboration and exchange of experience and knowledge among the countries of the region.knowledge among the countries of the region.

Specific Objectives:Specific Objectives:

More specifically the strategy aims at :More specifically the strategy aims at :1-1- Building strong well coordinated national program;Building strong well coordinated national program; 2- Enhancing the knowledge base about the genetic 2- Enhancing the knowledge base about the genetic

diversity of the PGR in the country and the region; diversity of the PGR in the country and the region; 3- Promote individual national efforts to conserve the 3- Promote individual national efforts to conserve the

genetic diversity of species of national, regional and genetic diversity of species of national, regional and global importance ;global importance ;

4. Strengthen information management and sharing including the development of a regional genetic resources information management system, 5. Encourage exchange of experience and capacity building through the organization of national and regional courses and workshops;

6. Develop knowledge and expertise to facilitate the development of harmonized PGR strategies policies and legislations;

7. Promote use of existing documentation on indigenous knowledge.

Output :

The main proposed outputs of the Strategy are: 1. Effective conservation, sustainable use and encouragement of agrobiodiversity;2. Capacities strengthened and partnerships enhanced;

3 .Appropriate policies and regulatory frameworks developed;

4 .Awareness raised5 .Appropriate mechanism for regional exchange of PGR

information

Actions to Strengthen the National Program: a. Egypt should formulate a national strategy and action

plan on PGRFA, particularly for the implementation of the GPA according to the national needs and that this plan should be in harmony with national biodiversity strategy and action plans;

b. National PGRFA plans and strategies should also be integrated with Egypt national development and agricultural sector plans.

c. Establishing a National Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) Committee, or similar coordinating mechanisms involving all concerned parties across the ministries and other governmental authorities. The committee should have a clear mandate, based on well defined terms of reference and should hold regular meetings ;

d. There should be a well-defined implementing agency for coordination of national PGRFA conservation and use activities with adequate authority and a sustainable budget provision;

e.e. PGR units or facilities should be improved where PGR units or facilities should be improved where required to meet national needs and international required to meet national needs and international agreed standards. They should have clear agreed standards. They should have clear responsibilities, and be coordinated with other responsibilities, and be coordinated with other parts of the national program, as well as sustainable parts of the national program, as well as sustainable budgets that reflect these responsibilities;budgets that reflect these responsibilities;

f. Developing appropriate national legislation on PGR .f. Developing appropriate national legislation on PGR .

g. Strengthening human resources development to g. Strengthening human resources development to improve availability of qualified staff, through improve availability of qualified staff, through training programs and use of experts from the training programs and use of experts from the region and international organizations working on region and international organizations working on PGR conservation and use; andPGR conservation and use; and

h. Egypt national program requires secure and h. Egypt national program requires secure and sustainable finance, drawing upon national and, sustainable finance, drawing upon national and, where applicable and possible international where applicable and possible international sources. sources.

Coordination at the National Level: Efficient germplasm maintenance and use require

active interaction among a multidisciplinary team of scientists, including genebank curators, plant biologists, plant breeders, socio-economists and users as well as among specialized research institutes that deal with different aspects of PGR conservation and utilization.

Capacity – building and Upgrading Requirements:Capacity – building and Upgrading Requirements:

Egypt national capacities, infrastructure and Egypt national capacities, infrastructure and facilities require much upgrading and building. facilities require much upgrading and building.

Human resources capacities require development by Human resources capacities require development by education and training programs in areas related to education and training programs in areas related to PGR in general and PGR in general and ex situ ex situ activities in particular.activities in particular.

Areas for overall capacity building and upgrading:Areas for overall capacity building and upgrading:

a.a. Germplasm management/documentation Germplasm management/documentation Systems;Systems;

b. Maintaining Infrastructures and Facilities; b. Maintaining Infrastructures and Facilities; c. Maximizing utilization;c. Maximizing utilization;d. Increasing public awareness;d. Increasing public awareness;e. Developing enabling policies and legislations;e. Developing enabling policies and legislations;f. Enhancing technical and research capabilitiesf. Enhancing technical and research capabilities;;

Areas for training and education:a. Strengthening in-country/on the job

courses/training;

b. Short, medium, long-term plans for training;c. Sub-region and regional training organized by the

more advanced national systems and outside institutions with relevant expertise;

d. Coordinated country needs assessment/inventory, commitment and program approach and maintenance of skills.

Areas for upgrading management systemsAreas for upgrading management systems::a.a. Development of common information platforms for Development of common information platforms for

sharing such as common descriptors, data standards, sharing such as common descriptors, data standards, protocols on conservation such as genebank protocols on conservation such as genebank management systems, performance monitoring, quality management systems, performance monitoring, quality management and good practices;management and good practices;

b. Harmonization of regulations especially on facilitating b. Harmonization of regulations especially on facilitating PGR exchanges; PGR exchanges;

c. Management of germplasm health;c. Management of germplasm health;d. Biotechnology laboratory skills;d. Biotechnology laboratory skills;e. Databases management;e. Databases management;f. Strengthening links with users through increased f. Strengthening links with users through increased

availability and accessibility of information on the availability and accessibility of information on the collections.collections.

Areas for upgrading infrastructure and facilities:Areas for upgrading infrastructure and facilities: a. Support to field genebanks for crops and regional a. Support to field genebanks for crops and regional

collaboration for sharing responsibilities,collaboration for sharing responsibilities, b. Arrangements for safety duplication of accessions b. Arrangements for safety duplication of accessions

and information within/or outside the countriesand information within/or outside the countries..

Coordination between Egypt and other WANA countries

In 1989 west Asia and North Africa Network (WANANET) was established to promote collaboration among countries of the region including Egypt.

Initially, the network played an important role in strengthening the national programs by reinforcing the role the national PGR committees, encouraging coordination between different institutions within each country and among countries.

Cont. - The inability of the network to be self-sustained

and failure to implement its recommendations are among the reasons for its ineffectiveness and eventual failure.

- Egypt should support the active participation of public and national institution in regional, crop and thematic networks.

- The funding constraints require sustainable and innovative solutions to establish networks based on common benefits.

Areas of Possible Regional Collaboration Areas of Possible Regional Collaboration between Egypt and other WANA Countriesbetween Egypt and other WANA Countries

- Based on comparative advantage, willingness to Based on comparative advantage, willingness to

collaborate, and commitment to the regional collaborate, and commitment to the regional strategy, countries should discuss collaboration strategy, countries should discuss collaboration on well-identified and focused activities.on well-identified and focused activities.

- There are some broad areas for regional There are some broad areas for regional collaboration but national responsibilities are in collaboration but national responsibilities are in the first place.the first place.

Cont.

- Some countries are more advanced in one or more of these areas and could lead efforts to share their experience.

- Egypt and other countries of the region have to agree on prioritizing their activities within each area to ensure focus on the most urgent needs.

The following are the areas of possible regional The following are the areas of possible regional collaboration collaboration

1. Germplasm Management1. Germplasm Management

2. Germplasm Conservation2. Germplasm Conservation

3. Germplasm Movement3. Germplasm Movement

4. Capacity Building / Knowledge4. Capacity Building / Knowledge

5. Joint Research Projects and Ventures5. Joint Research Projects and Ventures

Collaboration with Regional/International Collaboration with Regional/International OrganizationOrganization

1. Egypt and other countries have the primary 1. Egypt and other countries have the primary responsibilities to conserve the plant genetic responsibilities to conserve the plant genetic resources that exist within their boundaries and resources that exist within their boundaries and accordingly invest sufficiently in their conservation accordingly invest sufficiently in their conservation and utilization. and utilization.

2. 2. There is need for external assistance with these There is need for external assistance with these responsibilities by regional and international responsibilities by regional and international organizations that have traditionally played this organizations that have traditionally played this role in the past.role in the past.

3. 3. NENA-PGRN should join efforts with national, regional NENA-PGRN should join efforts with national, regional and international organizations to contribute to the and international organizations to contribute to the development of the Global System on Genetic development of the Global System on Genetic Resources led by the FAO-Commission on Genetic Resources led by the FAO-Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and AgricultureResources for Food and Agriculture

4. Among the organizations that supported PGR and 4. Among the organizations that supported PGR and related activities in the region are the CG centres related activities in the region are the CG centres (Bioversity International, ICARDA, CIMMYT, ICRISAT, (Bioversity International, ICARDA, CIMMYT, ICRISAT, CIP, IRRI), GFAR, ACSAD, GEF, UNDP, UNEP, FAO, JAICA, CIP, IRRI), GFAR, ACSAD, GEF, UNDP, UNEP, FAO, JAICA, USAID, IDRC, IFAD, IDB, AFSED, ICUC, CIHEAM, OPEC, USAID, IDRC, IFAD, IDB, AFSED, ICUC, CIHEAM, OPEC, Global Crop Diversity Trust and several others. Global Crop Diversity Trust and several others.

It is important for NENA-PGRN to attract the support of It is important for NENA-PGRN to attract the support of the previous organizations and other sponsors the previous organizations and other sponsors especially from outside the region.especially from outside the region.

A number of PGR networks are operational in regions A number of PGR networks are operational in regions neighboring NENA region in Africa, Asia and Europe, neighboring NENA region in Africa, Asia and Europe, where different PGR, interests and concerns are shared.where different PGR, interests and concerns are shared.

Strengthening the inter-regional cooperation with these networks on related aspects of common interest should be one of the concerns of NENA PGRN that can help in attaining its objectives.

Thank you