I C A R D A    N e w s

INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN THE DRY AREAS

P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria
Phone: (963-21) 2213433, 2213477, 2225112, 2225012
Fax: (963-21) 2213490, 2225105;
E-mail: ICARDA@CGIAR.ORG
Website: www.icarda.cgiar.org
For more information contact: Dr Surendra Varma (s.varma@CGIAR.ORG)
 
 
18 August 2005
Director General Highlights ICARDA's Work in Africa at Tokyo Symposium
The Director General, Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy, addressing the Symposium on “Perspectives of Research and Development for Improving Agricultural Productivity in Africa,” in Tokyo, Japan.
"Although Africa is a continent with enormous natural resources, its agricultural production has not kept pace with its growing population," said Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy, ICARDA Director General, at the International Symposium on "Perspectives of Research and Development for Improving Agricultural Productivity in Africa," held in Tokyo, Japan, on 14-15 July 2005. The Symposium, which attracted more than 200 participants, was organized by the Japan Forum on International Agricultural Research (J-FARD) and the Japan International Research Center for Arid Sciences (JIRCAS).

In his presentation to the Symposium entitled "Improving the Productivity and Reliability of Rainfed Agriculture: ICARDA's Research in North and East Africa," Prof. Dr El-Beltagy said that ICARDA's collaborative research activities in Africa, mainly in North Africa and Nile Valley countries, aim to develop technologies that increase agricultural production through the efficient use of natural resources, and stimulate the rural economy by enhancing the returns to poor farmers through improved crop varieties and better management practices for small-ruminant production. He cited key successes of ICARDA's work in Africa, including: the development of low neurotoxin grass pea cultivars in Ethiopia; alternative feed sources for livestock in North Africa; development of drought-tolerant wheat cultivars in Sudan; and improvement of cool-season food legumes in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy (second from left) visited Japan's Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Council Secretariat and held talks with senior officials, Dr K. Nishikawa, Director General (second from right), and Dr K. Maruyama, Research Councilor (right) accompanied by Dr Masanori Inagaki (left), Visiting Scientist, ICARDA.
The DG noted, however, that more needs to be done through joint efforts of Japan, ICARDA and other partners in agricultural research to improve the economic well-being of people in Africa. The key areas of joint efforts should include: application of biotechnology to complement traditional breeding to improve yield, yield stability, nutritional quality, and resistance to pests and pathogens of staple crops; research to alleviate effects of drought; and post-strife rehabilitation of agriculture in Sudan through transfer of technology and adaptive research.

Addressing a press conference prior to the symposium on the topic "ICARDA's Strategy for Agricultural Research and Development in North and East Africa: The Potential of GM Crops," Prof. Dr El-Beltagy expressed optimism that using new tools of science it is possible to increase agricultural productivity in Africa. "Our strategy should focus on the rapidly advancing field of biotechnology; on integrated gene management, coupled with sustainable and equitable use of biodiversity; on integrated natural resource management for sustainability; integrated pest management; on exploiting advanced information and communication technologies; and on post-harvest technologies and processing that add value to crops in the countries of origin," he said.

The DG told journalists that ICARDA uses biotechnology to support the activities of crop improvement programs to develop better adapted and improved cultivars. This includes: the use of tissue culture techniques, the application of DNA molecular marker techniques, genomics and microarrays, and genetic engineering.
The Director General, Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy (right), addressing Japanese journalists on "ICARDA's Strategy for Agricultural Research and Development in North and East Africa: The Potential of GM Crops," prior to the Symposium in Tokyo, Japan.
On GM crops, the DG told journalists that the land area planted with these crops has increased considerably in the past few years, and the production has largely benefited resource-poor farmers. He pointed out that GM crops have led to improvements in productivity, better nutritional value and increased resistance to pests and diseases. He said that ICARDA is working with countries in Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region to promote the development and harmonization of biosafety regulations to ensure that the handling of GM crops does not adversely affect biodiversity.

Noting that there is public fear about the use of GM crops, the DG called for increased awareness and measures that ensure safety of food to consumers. "It is desirable that, as done by the European Union, there should be a system to trace and label GMOs, and the commercialization and labeling of food derived from GMOs should be regulated to promote co-existence of GMOs and conventional food," he said.

During his stay in Tokyo, the DG also visited Japan's Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Council Secretariat where he met with the Director General, Dr K. Nishikawa and the Research Councilor, Dr K. Muruyama.

About ICARDA: Established in 1977, ICARDA (www.icarda.cgiar.org) serves the entire developing world for the improvement of barley, lentil, and faba bean; and dry-area developing countries for the on-farm management of water, improvement of nutrition and productivity of small ruminants (sheep and goats), and rehabilitation and management of rangelands. In the Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region, ICARDA is responsible for the improvement of durum and bread wheats, chickpea, pasture and forage legumes and farming systems; and for the protection and enhancement of the natural resource base of water, land, and biodiversity.

The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) (www.cgiar.org) is a strategic alliance of countries, international and regional organizations, and private foundations supporting15 international research centers that mobilizes cutting-edge science to promote sustainable development by reducing hunger and poverty, improving human nutrition and health, and protecting the environment.
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