Fri, 26 August 2022 – 16:01
ABU DHABI, August 26 / WAM / The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority has signed a cooperation agreement with the Khalifa Center for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering with the aim of implementing the roadmap and detailed implementation plan for all phases of the Abu Dhabi Agricultural Genome Program project.
The Abu Dhabi Agricultural Genome Program is the first program of its kind at the regional level, launched by the Authority in collaboration with some national research centers in the country to implement the best international practices in agricultural genetic research and thus enhance Abu Dhabi’s position at the regional and international levels as a scientific reference in genomic agriculture.
The agreement was signed by Dr. Maryam Hareb Al Suwaidi, Deputy Director General for Operational Affairs at the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, and Dr. Khaled Ahmed Amiri, director of the Khalifa Center for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering.
Dr. Maryam Hareb Al-Suwaidi said that the agreement aims to expand the horizon of cooperation with the Khalifa Center for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering through the implementation of the Abu Dhabi Agricultural Genome Program project, which will contribute to improving sustainable agricultural production by improving animal breeds and plant varieties and provide them with genetic traits of economic value to improve the agricultural sector.Improve food security and increase its contribution to the emirate’s domestic product.
She emphasized that the program contributes to establishing a scientific basis and qualifying a group of qualified national cadres in agricultural genomics research and its applications, in addition, it will become a local and regional reference in the application of genomic technologies to improve agricultural production and rationalize the consumption of natural resources .
On his part, Prof. Dr. confirmed Khalid Amiri, director of the Khalifa Center for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering and head of the Department of Biology at UAE University, that the Khalifa Center for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering has become a house of excellence in the field of genomics and its strategy is unique worldwide to provide solutions for sustainable agriculture and it has made great progress in this area.
He pointed out that the agricultural genome project of the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, if it indicates anything, indicates its sound future vision and it is the only way to achieve its goals and localize scientific knowledge, and he thanks the authority for its cooperation. and confidence in the Khalifa Center, saying: We are confident that the goals will be achieved. The center will use the latest genome technologies to separate the genomes of different organisms and reuse them in different ways in the development of agriculture.
The Agricultural Genome Program is one of the initiatives and projects in the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority’s strategic plan 2022-2025, through which the authority seeks to develop local plant, animal and fish breeds to ensure the improvement of agricultural production and meet the challenges of the emirate’s climatic and environmental conditions, in addition to establishing a gene bank to conserve plant genetic resources and local animals and fish, and establishing a database of genetic strains.
The program also contributes to the development of local capacity to promote international conservation and registration of local plant and animal breeds, genetic sequencing, investigation of phenotypic and genetic characteristics of plants and animals, and identification of genetic evidence for desirable traits in animals and plant genetics resources.
The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority is committed to activating and strengthening partnerships that support scientific research and development processes to build and implement scientific and applied research methods and studies that support agricultural sustainability goals and contribute to achieving global leadership in food safety.
WAM/Ahmed Jamal/Mustafa Badr Al-Din
