Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in the Arab world

Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in the Arab worldThe Arab Region conceals important plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and has three geographical areas of genetic diversity of major crops (West Asia, the Southern Mediterranean and Eastern Africa).The Arab World, with its many countries, not only life on the margins of many events and changes that characterize the world today at the political, economic and environmental levels. These aspects have a significant impact on plant genetic resources perspectives availability, conservation and use.This study is a contribution to a better understanding of the state of plant genetic resources across the Arab world, the analysis of their current situation and highlighting a common vision for the conservation and sustainable use Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in the Arab world at the national and regional levels.The Arab World extends from the Arabian Gulf in the east to the western Atlantic Ocean, and occupies an area of ​​about 14.1 billion hectares. Through this vast geographical area, there is very diverse ecological zones with very nuanced climates. This diversity has had great impacts on vegetation cover in terms of both the diversity of ecosystems and species at the genetic level. This ecological diversity has led, also, the people of the Arab world to practice farming through a multitude of speculation and various farming systems. It should be noted that agriculture is the mainstay of the economy in most Arab countries, although it is the least growing. The low contribution of agriculture to the Gross National Product is due to several causes, including natural resource degradation and expansion of desertification, which led to a substantial increase in food deficit in the Arab world, and represents a challenge, where the plant genetic resources can play an important role in the rise.Location of genetic diversityThere are a multitude of speculation cultivated in the Arab World, which contains, in its different areas, very diverse plant genetic resources. This diversity includes cereals, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, fruit trees, sugar plants, tubers, fiber crops, fodder, and the pastoral and forest plants.Among cereals known in the Arab region, wheat (hard and soft), barley, sorghum, millet, rice, etc ... The wheat has an important place in the Arab world, in economic terms, but also because of the diversity of genetic resources under their cultivated and wild forms in the centers of origin and diversity centers, some of which exist in the Arab world. Barley is considered the second culture, the importance of perspective in the Arab World, and its origin, through a number of plant genetic resources in the wild, is concentrated in the Middle East or East Asia West, particularly in Syria and Iraq, and were transported at the same time that wheat resources to the countries of North Africa and the South of the Arabian Peninsula. Sorghum and millet are essential speculation supply a significant proportion of the population of some Arab countries like Sudan, which is considered the center of origin for sorghum and natural extension to the African Centre for millet. On the other hand, there are varieties of sorghum in the wild in countries like Oman, United Arab Emirates and Egypt. Also among cereals grown in the Arab World, rice, which is a marginal culture in the Arab region, but some old traditional or wild varieties are cultivated or grow in a limited way in some Arab countries. Maize is also an exotic speculation known in the Arab world, and there are ancient species that have adapted in several Arab countries.Legumes such as lentils, chick peas and beans, grown in the Arab Region are a large group of foods. Several species and local varieties of these crops are grown in different parts of the Arab Region. In addition, other wildlife lenses, for example, grow in some countries such as Syria, Oman and Egypt.In the Arab Region engaged in certain speculations oil such as sesame, peanuts and sunflower and others like safflower and castor. A lot of vegetables (onions, peppers, melons, watermelons, carrots, beets and turnips, and more leafy vegetables such as mouloukhia) and fruit trees (olive, date palm, pomegranate, grapes, various citrus, apple , pear, loquat, apricot, quince, peach, almond, pistachio, pecan and some tropical fruit trees such as mango, guava and banana) are grown in the Arab region. The region is also experiencing some species and traditional fruit tree varieties and even wild. Some examples that can be cited, the southern regions Mediterranean and the Fertile Crescent which contain a wide variety of species of cultivated and wild olive tree, like the genetic diversity of date palm in different countries of the Region Arabic. Growing grapes is ancient for thousands of years in the Middle East and the Southern Mediterranean and there are several local and wild varieties of superior quality. The Arab region has other fruit trees, including old local varieties imported or, again, to the wild state as apple, apricot, pistachio, including the part of the West Asian Arab World is the origin, like mango, is by some 50 new and old varieties evaluated. Local genetic resources and ancient speculations about other horticultural also exist in the Arab Region as stimulants (tobacco, drip pan, coffee).Among the important agricultural crops in the Arab world, such speculations sugar cane and sugar beet, the plant genetic resources are represented by improved varieties, local and wild.Fiber crops are, also, an economically important group for some Arab countries. Cotton is at the top of this speculation and is grown mainly in Syria, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia and Morocco. Plant genetic resources of cotton are nuanced in the Arab world between improved commercial varieties and local and wild varieties. On the other hand, there are other speculations producing fibers, cultivated or wild, and used on a small scale in various Arab countries such as jute, sisal and Alfa, the latter being a grass which grows in the wild ..Notable speculation in the Arab World, forages as grassland and legumes. Among the important grasses, oats whose birth emanates from the center of southern Mediterranean diversity covering the North African Arab countries, in addition to some grasses such as sorghum and maize. Forage legumes are distributed among the various species such as alfalfa, clover and pea forage, the centers of origin of many of the species are found in the Arab countries of North Africa and the region fertile crescent.The Arab region has a wealth of material pastoral plant genetic resources, composed of various wild species according to ecological zones. Tree species in the area are also of great diversity, leaving predominate species such as juniper, Atlantic pistachio, many species of oak, almond, wild olive, acacia gum, Argagner ...Despite the lack of reliable and accurate data on the degradation and the decline of plant genetic resources in the Arab world, the few available data portend a degradation due essentially to the change in operating practices and land use, the extension of modern agriculture through the use of improved varieties at the expense of traditional varieties, increasing pressures on natural ecosystems (overgrazing and overexploitation of forests), environmental changes and natural disasters such as drought, Finally, socio-economic considerations such as civil wars.EffortsEfforts currently for the conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) in the Arab World are limited to actions against the causes of degradation of these resources, and this is clearly visible in policies, plans and programs, institutions, research, human resources and advocacy. Policy and national plans, many countries have national biodiversity action plans covering PGRFA. Other countries have begun to develop plans and PGRFA conservation programs either within agriculture development plan or independently. Regarding programs and institutions for the protection of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, there are many research programs and institutions working for the collection, conservation, characterization, evaluation and use of plant genetic resources across the Arab world. These programs belong to academic institutions or research centers under the tutelage of different ministries (agriculture, environment, scientific research or higher education). Programs and different institutions within the same country as one country to another, leaving the effort disparate and scattered, or repetitive. For basic infrastructure, some countries have genebanks well equipped to seed conservation at low temperatures (below 0 ° C.), in addition to in-situ bank for the conservation of certain tree species fruit.Furthermore, and despite the existence of a significant number of competent staff in the field, especially in the institutions of research and education, very few of them work full time in the field of conservation and use plant genetic resources. Development limited to a few programs running between some Arab countries and some international research centers, and the almost total absence of national development cycles or in the Arab world.It is also useful to note that a reasonable level of awareness for the management of plant genetic resources component and the importance of their conservation is achieved across some policymakers as a result of a number of activities executed by parties working in the field, however, the level of awareness is limited to certain groups and individuals, and that has not been reflected in the form of outreach programs involving all parties and the different levels of intervention national and regional level in the Arab World.At present, the conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture is provided either at the national level in specialized centers or institutions of research and education, or international level centers international agricultural research. Available statistics show that the number of specimens and inputs of plant genetic resources held in the Arab world varies from tens of thousands of entries as in the case of Morocco, and several thousand in Egypt, Tunisia and Sudan and some hundreds in Oman. The conserved genetic resources relate mainly mixed farming, horticulture and fruit trees. Note the important role of gene banks of the International Agricultural Research Centres in preserving samples of plant genetic resources collected in different Arab countries. All specimens collected is estimated at nearly 75,500 various speculations entries including wheat, barley, sorghum, certain food legumes and forage grasses and legumes, divided between international agricultural research centers of the CGIAR, including, ICARDA, CIMMYT, ICRISAT. At the level of the Arab World, the Arab Center for Studies of Arid Zones and desert (ACSAD) was established in Syria a collection of fruit trees and has collected nearly 3,000 entries durum wheat, soft wheat and barley.Legislative and organizational frameworksThere are several legal and organizational frameworks related to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture at the international and regional levels, as well as some national frameworks in the Arab world who have sex one way or other, with the various international and regional regulatory frameworks in this area. During the last decades several international agreements and conventions have emerged, particularly the Convention on Biodiversity (1992) and the International Agreement on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (2001). About 20 Arab countries have ratified the Convention on Biodiversity, while ratifications and signatures for other conventions are very nuanced one country to another; and, for example, the international agreement on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture was signed by seven Arab countries, while only three countries have ratified it. In addition; it is noticeable slowness on the part of Arab countries in the signature and ratification of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety emanating from the Convention on Biological Diversity, where only five Arab countries have signed and ratified one .At the national level, it seems that the common denominator between the Arab countries is the lack of laws and regulations that govern, direct manner, plant genetic resources. This does not exclude the existence of other regulations relevant in some countries, such as regulations relating to environmental protection or, even, regulations relating to agriculture or natural resources. Some state institutions such as ministries, councils of the environment or, again, the various research institutions working at the national level, with systems and international conventions.Analysis of the current situationThrough the analysis of the current situation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in the Arab world and efforts for conservation and the situation of institutions, basic infrastructure and executives working in this field, it turns out that this situation has strengths and weaknesses. Among the highlights we note the location of the Arab world characterized by the existence of a number of centers of genetic diversity and centers of origin for several key crops in the world. Most Arab countries include significant human resources and university staff well trained in areas related to plant genetic resources. In addition, there is the beginning of a level of awareness in civil society and line managers, and a number of resources and technical capacity for the conservation of these resources in some Arab countries. On the other side, and among the weaknesses, there is a lack of political will among decision-makers with regard to the conservation of plant genetic resources due to the lack of national policies and programs in these areas. We also note the dispersion of efforts and resources and the lack of funding that impede the rational use of available infrastructure and implementation of development projects. Among the weaknesses also, the lack of a clear national overview on PGRFA and the lack of national and regional networks for information exchange in the field of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.Suggestions and recommendationsIn light of the results of the analysis of the current situation, the study proposes a number of suggestions and recommendations to strengthen the efforts of countries and Arab organizations for the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources. Nationally, the study suggests the implementation of strong national plans and programs, effective and sustainable, taking into account various aspects, including the collection and characterization of plant genetic resources conservation, multiplication, renewal, classification , evaluation and improvement, in addition to archiving operations in a scientific and efficient manner, all the information and inherent data. The development of this plan requires the establishment of a coordinating body that brings together all parties involved in the field, not to mention the training aspects of national human resources and awareness of local people, professionals, researchers, and political and executive leaders. The achievement of the main objective for the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in the Arab World, in accordance with international agreements, conventions and frameworks requires the determination of a clear national vision and Development of appropriate legislation and regulatory frameworks.It is necessary for organizations and Arab regional centers and especially the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development to play an active and effective role in the coordination and program support and management development in this area. This, can not succeed without an implementation consistent regional plan and the creation of an Arab network for the conservation and sustainable development of plant genetic resources in the Arab World. The activities of this network are focused on the collection, processing and exchange of information, technical support for coordination among Arab countries in international negotiations and training of human resources and continuing technical development. This Arab network is difficult to achieve without the establishment of reliable national programs managed by effective national bodies with the support of the Arab League organizations that have a role to play in all stages in the development of a plan Regional with the help of a specialized technical committee. On the other hand, relying on the bases of international agreements and conventions, it is time that organizations of the League of Arab States play their full role in the preservation of intellectual property that obviously strongly linked to conservation and development of agricultural plant genetic resources and related rights, which can not succeed without the basis of availability of sufficient knowledge in this area, but also the definition of a common Arab position towards coordination of intellectual property in agriculture.Finally, it is clear that the global environment in which all efforts are being made in the field of pyhtogénétiques resource consists of systems, management, and complex relationships that require inevitably a vigilant and effective behavior to fire maximum advantage of the opportunities and avoid the negative consequences that may result. In this regard, the organizations of the League of Arab States must play their role and encourage Arab countries to integrate into the international conventions report, including the International Agreement on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety emanating from the Convention on Biological Diversity.