ICARDA Training On Genetic Resources Concludes in Tashkent

Country: Uzbekistan
ICARDA Training On Genetic Resources Concludes in Tashkent
17 December 2024

Tashkent, Uzbekistan - 17 December 2024 - The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), in collaboration with Uzbekistan’s National Institute of Plant Genetic Resources, successfully concluded a week-long training course on Plant Genetic Resources Conservation and Utilization in Tashkent on December 17, 2024. The event brought together more than 30 specialists in plant genetic resources from 11 countries across Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East.

Over the course of the training, participants gained practical insights into the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources. The curriculum covered essential Genebank operations, as well as strategies for addressing gaps in genetic resource conservation, improving documentation systems, and ensuring germplasm health were also discussed. In addition, the discussion session participants shared their views on further mutual beneficial collaboration.

Another discussion took place between teams of IOFS and ICARDA regarding the IOFS International Genebank initiative. As a follow-up, ICARDA plans to visit the Kazakhstan Genebank in Almaty, as well as the IOFS Headquarters in Astana, during the second quarter of 2025 to further advance this collaborative effort.

On the final day, participants received certificates of completion and outlined action plans to apply their newly acquired knowledge and techniques in their respective countries. This successful conclusion marks an important step in strengthening cooperation between IOFS and ICARDA in the capacity building activities, within the proposed projects to contribute to the member countries for the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resource to greater food security and agricultural resilience.