Workshop on "Agricultural Biotechnology Network for Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Knowledge Sharing"

The Near East and North Africa Regional Agricultural Biotechnology Network aims to facilitate exchange of information through the development of an information system for the collection and dissemination of information on advances in agricultural biotechnology research results

The objective of this regional training workshop is to strengthening Stakeholder Capacities in information and communication management for ARD (ICM4ARD) and coherence in information for ARD (CIARD) and Agricultural Knowledge for All.

Technical cooperation networks have become an increasingly important means of action for strengthening rural development, food security and poverty reduction and are initiated and supported through FAO, GFAR, ICARDA and NGO organizations [it is a non-profit professional and scholarly organization of scientists from both public and private academic institutions]. These networks have become a generic model for the establishment of functional mechanisms for collaboration and enhancement of communication and exchange of experiences among different countries in one region and/or different regions of the world.

The development objectives of the network are to mobilize the collective efforts of the interesting institutions or countries in the region towards promotion of production, protection, utilization, and economic return, enhancement of the product quality, conservation of the eco-system and natural resources and development of agricultural plant production and protection management applications. These could be achieved through the following:

a) Create awareness at various policymaking and technical levels within member countries on the importance of the development of agricultural biotechnology through an integrated approach.
b) Facilitate exchange of information through the development of a thematic knowledge and information network/system for the collection, management and dissemination of information on advances in agricultural biotechnology research results
c) Allow joint programs to be developed for the exchange of experiences and expertise and organization of training courses, workshops and conferences for the effective use and sharing of transferable technical information and skills. d) Enhance cooperation for the analysis and solution of common problems through joint research and development projects.
e) Contribute to the research and growers in developing good agricultural practices for biotechnology by facilitating exchange of information and best practices and putting into place a system of continuous technology adaptation and improvement that is anchored in environmentally and economic sustainability.
f) Contribute to the formulation of national networks in each country to strengthen collaboration among national institutions, non-governmental organizations, private sector and universities.

The objective of this network is to create a single access point where the different countries of the region can share a united vision of the agricultural biotechnology policies, regulations, research and innovations. The network will have full capabilities to allow stakeholders to collaborate, interact, decide, learn, support and monitor the agricultural plant production and protection management policies, regulations, research and innovations.

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