‘Food security is crucial for ensuring prosperity’

Islamabad In the last century, 75% of the plant biodiversity has disappeared, an alarming fact highlighted by the representative from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Ms. Mina Dowlatchahi in the four-day workshop on Plant Genetic Resources & Genebank Operations Management System jointly organised by COMSTECH, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council and ECO Science Foundation.

Food security and preservation of plant genetic resources was identified as a priority area by COMSTECH in its ten year plan of action, which was approved in the first OIC Summit held in Astana last year in September. This workshop, being attended by participants from OIC countries, will be a first stepping stone towards identifying the current status of genetic resources conservation and research in the OIC countries.

Inaugural session of the workshop was held at the COMSTECH Secretariat and was presided over by Fazal Abbas Maken, Federal Secretary, Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Islamabad as chief guest. In his address, he drew a connection between the food security and peace or prosperity and he has emphasised that food security is crucial for ensuring prosperity in the country. He also highlighted the need of plant genetic resources conservation for environmental protection.

Dr. Khurshid Hasanain outlined COMSTECH efforts to help create collaborations and cooperation between OIC member states to enhance their capacities for preservation of their respective plant genetic resources. Dr. Yusuf Zafar, Chairman PARC pointed out the need of more genebanks in the OIC countries as there are few having these facilities, Pakistan being one of them. This workshop will help participants from the OIC countries to learn better about Gene Bank operations by providing those hands on exposure to some of the techniques, as well as sharing of ideas, information and experiences. In the message from President ECOSF read by their representative Engr. Khalil Raza, the challenges related to agriculture, climate change and how plant genetic resources can help to cope with these challenges were discussed.

The workshop is attended by 23 participants from 15 OIC countries and 14 participants from Pakistan. The four-day intensive workshop includes hands-on activities, educational visits in addition to the lectures. The participants from OIC countries will present the status of plant genetic resources and genebanks in their respective countries. The workshop will connect the experts from the OIC countries having established genebanks with the ones lacking these facilities and hopefully it will be a first milestone towards the establishment of genebanks in those countries.