Dr. Ahmed Amri coordinates ICARDA’s Genetic Resources Section. In this role he applies best practices for the conservation of dryland agrobiodiversity and contributes to pre-breeding efforts. His current research interests cover breeding, including participatory variety selection, and gap analysis for ex situ and in situ conservation of genetic resources.
Prior to joining ICARDA, Dr. Amri worked as a cereal breeder at the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique in Morocco for 20 years where he released a total of 20 varieties. He joined ICARDA in 1999 to coordinate the West Asia Project on the Conservation of Dryland Agrobiodiversity, and subsequently served as regional coordinator for West Asia (2001 and 2008).
Dr. Amri earned his Ph.D. in genetics and plant breeding from Kansas State University in 1989, and received a joint master’s degree in plant breeding from the University of Minnesota and the Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II in Rabat, Morocco, in 1980.
Dr. Amri has authored and co-authored more than 138 publications, including 72 peer-reviewed journals. He is also the recipient of several awards and honors, including recognition awards from Jordan’s National Center for Agricultural Research and Extension, the University of Jordan, and the American Society of Entomology.
