Under the direction of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chair of the Council of the Abu Dhabi Food and Agriculture Safety Authority, ADAFSA launched the Abu Dhabi Agricultural Genome Program in collaboration with several national research centers in the UAE to reflect international best practices in the field of genetic research agriculture.
This program is considered the first of its kind in the region, enhancing Abu Dhabi’s position at the regional and international level and making it a scientific reference in the field of agricultural genomes, in addition to the UAE requirements of the Convention on Food and Agricultural Genetics.
The Abu Dhabi Agricultural Genome Program is part of Abu Dhabi’s ambitious food abundance initiative, where genetic research is a key step in providing innovative solutions to future food security challenges and strengthening the emirate’s and country’s food security systems.
It will also help increase sustainable agricultural production by increasing animal and plant varieties and providing them with economically valuable genetic traits to enhance the agricultural sector, enhance food security and increase its contribution to the emirate’s GDP.
This program is an important pillar of the Abu Dhabi Agency for Agriculture and Food Safety Strategic Plan 2022-2025 initiatives and programs. It aims to develop local crops, livestock and fish species, ensure increased agricultural production and address the challenges of the emirate’s climate and environmental conditions.
It also aims to establish a gene bank to protect the genetic resources of local plants, animals and fish and create a database of their genetic strains and more potential samples if needed in the future.
The program will also develop local capacities to promote the conservation and international registration of native plant and animal breeds, genetic sequencing processes, study of virtual and genetic traits of plants and animals, and identification of genetic evidence of desirable animal and animal traits. Plant Genetic Resources.
Saeed Al Bahri Al Ameri, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Office of Agriculture and Food Security, emphasized that the Abu Dhabi Agricultural Genome Program is one of the leading projects in predicting the future of the agricultural sector in the crop, livestock and fish industries. This qualifies the agricultural sector to enter a new phase of development based on the use of genetic information to improve animal breeds and plant varieties and to strengthen programs to prevent epidemic diseases and agricultural pests into agricultural, animal and fishery products of high quality and in equivalent quantities. for Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s food security aspirations.
Al Ameri emphasized that the Agricultural Genome Program embodies the vision and commitment of the wise leadership overseen by the UAE Genome Program Council to strengthen the UAE’s position as a center for genome research and innovation.
This program is receiving a lot of attention and support due to the great benefit of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Abu Dhabi Agency for Agriculture and Food Security will lead to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, where it will lead to the creation of Al Ameri said that it would contribute to the scientific base and qualification of the selection of qualified national personnel in the field of research and application of agricultural genomes.
The program also helps reduce the time required for genetic improvement and evaluation of animal and plant breeds and ensures the preservation of genetic resources unique to Abu Dhabi native varieties in the Genetic Resources Genebank to ensure that they will be conserved and used for future generations in improvement programmes, added Al Ameri.
Noting that this program reduces livestock and plant resource maintenance costs by selecting disease-resistant cultivars and breeds of high production quality and appropriate to the climatic and environmental conditions of a country, noting that the program provides a local reference and will serve as a regional reference in using techniques genomics to increase agricultural production and rationalize consumption of natural resources by selecting varieties that are resistant to drought and salinity, increase agricultural production and quality, and improve food security and livelihoods.
Al-Ameri also noted that the agricultural genome program is in line with Abu Dhabi’s plans and the country’s alignment towards global leadership in food security. The government’s strategic plan is to develop sustainable development sectors in agriculture, food security and biosecurity by providing innovative services, using modern technology and driving investment.
He explained that ADAFSA is a top priority for the next phase of activating and strengthening partnerships that support research and development to establish and implement scientific and practical research and study methodologies that support agricultural sustainability goals and leadership in food security.
