 |
ICARDA News 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.org
|
||
|
Media
contact:
icarda-media@cgiar.org
|
|||
|
French
Delegation Visits ICARDA
|
|||
| A
team of senior officials from three French institutions visited ICARDA
headquarters on 14 October. The delegation included Bernard Hubert,
Director of the French Initiative for International Agricultural Research;
Michel Dodet and Bernard Charpentier from the French National Institute
for Agricultural Research (INRA); and Christian Hoste and Michel Trebel
from CIRAD. Discussions with ICARDA management helped dentify specific areas for collaboration, funding opportunities and potential partners. This work will target three important research priorities in the Mediterranean region. Genomics research: development of molecular markers for stress resistance in food legumes. Potential partners include the Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute in Egypt, the regional forum AARINENA, and CGIAR Centers. Integrated pest management: potential targets are wheat stem rust, Hessian fly, septoria, sunn pest and date palm red weevil. In addition to research, efforts will be made to commercialize promising technologies, in order to accelerate dissemination. AARINENA could be an important partner. Water and land degradation: sustainable use of water resources, better management of production systems. ICARDA will work with INRA and CIRAD to initiate project development. Potential partners include IWMI and ICRISAT. All three areas fit well with the funding priorities of the European Union. We will also explore the possibility of partnering with French centers in research proposals currently being submitted to the EU. Another potential area of collaboration is livestock research. The delegation will explore the possibilities of expanding French support for small-ruminant research at ICARDA.
|
About
ICARDA: Established in 1977, ICARDA (www.icarda.org) is one of the 15
international research centers supported by the Consultative Group on
International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ICARDA 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.