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| Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy (right), ICARDA DG, and Dr J.A. Hans van Ginkel, Rector of UNU, sign a "twinning agreement" for the establishment of a joint ICARDA-UNU platform for dry area agricultural research and human resource capacity building at ICARDA. |
ICARDA has forged a productive partnership with the United Nations University (UNU) over the years. On the invitation of the UNU Rector, Dr J.A. Hans van Ginkel, Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy, ICARDA Director General, visited the University on 14 March 2003. He presented the highlights of ICARDA's work in the dry areas to the faculty and management of UNU. Later, he signed with the Rector of UNU a "Twinning Agreement" for the establishment of a joint ICARDA-UNU platform for dry area agricultural research and human resource capacity building at ICARDA. Under this agreement, a training and research program will be implemented through exchange of visiting scientists and post-doctoral fellows; development of joint research projects for seeking donor support; joint training programs; and joint research supervision of post-graduate students from Central and West Asia and North Africa.
Japan International Cooperation Agency
The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been a strong supporter of ICARDA through its Overseas Volunteers Program, Experts Program, and the Program for Third Country Training. The DG visited JICA headquarters in Tokyo on 14 March with Prof. Iwao Kobori, former Member, ICARDA Board of Trustees. He was received by Mr Hisao Azuma, Senior Vice-President of JICA and Mr Hiroyuki Mori, Deputy Director, Middle East and Europe Division of JICA. JICA is in the process of revising its structure and protocols for deputing experts. The requests made by ICARDA for new volunteers and the progress in the JICA-supported training course on water management were reviewed and support for continuation of these programs was emphasized.
Japanese International Research Center for Agricultural Services
The Japanese International Research Center for Agricultural Services (JIRCAS), a premier research institution, based in Tsukuba, has been a long-time partner of ICARDA in agricultural research. On the invitation of Dr Takahiro Inoue, President of JIRCAS, Prof. Dr El-Beltagy visited JIRCAS on 12 March 2003, with Prof. Shinobu Inanaga, Director of the Arid Land Research Center of Tottori University and Member of ICARDA Board of Trustees.
Prof. Dr El-Beltagy was received by President Dr Inoue, Vice-President Dr Yoshi Morooka, Executive Director Dr Akinori Koyama, and Director of Biological Resources Division Dr Ryoichi Ikeda. He made a formal presentation to JIRCAS scientists and management team on ICARDA research and training activities and reflected on current collaboration. He also visited several important laboratories and held discussions with scientists, including Dr Shinozaki, with whom ICARDA is collaborating on DREB genes to transform ICARDA mandate crops to enhance resistance/tolerance to abiotic stresses, such as drought and heat.
To help expand collaboration with JIRCAS, it was agreed that the joint agreement signed several years ago would be revised. It was also agreed that JIRCAS would soon send Dr Masanori Inagaki, International Research Coordinator, to ICARDA to prepare a new joint project. Under this project, ICARDA will host Dr Inagaki for several years to implement the project in collaboration with plant breeders and molecular biologists in the Center’s Germplasm Program.
Drs. Inoue and Morooka showed great interest in expanding collaboration with ICARDA in Central Asia.
