Represented by the Agricultural Research Department, the Ministry of Municipality recently concluded a regional training course on methodologies and mechanisms for biotic stress examination, bioinformatics and genetic improvement of crops to achieve food security.
The ministry organised the course in co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, with the participation of 30 trainees from Qatar, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
The course focused on providing participants with practical skills in using modern technologies to analyse agricultural data and develop crops to meet climate challenges, and to learn about the latest programs and technologies used globally in this field. Director of the Agricultural Research Department at the Ministry of Municipality, Hamad Saket al-Shammari, said that organising the training course was an important step towards enhancing food security in the region, indicating that the course brought together a group of researchers and specialists from eight Arab countries. Al-Shammari stressed Qatar’s keenness to continue its role in supporting scientific research and developing the agricultural sector in the region. For their part, participants expressed their satisfaction with the excellent level of the course and the knowledge and experience they gained, commending the level of organization and high-level facilities provided by Qatar.
This training course comes within the framework of the regional technical co-operation project to develop climate-smart crops, and reflects the country’s commitment to supporting efforts to achieve food security in the Arab region.
The course resulted in several important recommendations, including the need to intensify regional co-operation in the field of agricultural research, organise specialised courses in agricultural data analysis, and exchange expertise between Arab countries in the field of developing crops that are resistant to harsh climatic conditions.
