Over the next five days some 200 scientists from research
institutions, universities and industry from all over the world will be
discussing the current trends of barley genetics research and production
improvement, and deliberating on strategies for barley to contribute to
combating threats posed by climate change, global warming and biofuels.
The 10th International Barley Genetics Symposium began here yesterday
at Bibilotheca Alexandrina. Over the next five days some 200 scientists from
research institutions, universities and industry from all over the world
will be discussing the current trends of barley genetics research and
production improvement, and deliberating on strategies for barley to
contribute to combating threats posed by climate change, global warming and
biofuels.

The Symposium has been jointly organized by the International Center
for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) based in Syria, and
Bibliotheca Alexandrina with the support of Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO), Agriculture Research Center of Egypt, and OPEC Fund for
International Development.

Dr Jaroslav Spunar, president of the International Organizing
Committee of the Symposium welcomed all the participants and briefed the
audience on the history and the importance of the IBGS. The Symposium, he
said, was being held for the first time on the African continent. "It is
expected that the Symposium will reveal many new scientific advances that
will add immeasurably to our knowledge and application in barley genetics
and related areas," he said.

Delivering the key note address, Dr Ismail Serageldin, Director of
Bibliotheca Alexandrina, said in his address that feed, food and fuels had
emerged as the major issuses and challenges in agriculture. Scientists, he
said, should focus on genetic research to meet these challenges. He also
provided perspectives for future focus of modern biotechnology and its
importance to cope with major challenges facing the world.

Dr Mohamed El Nahrawy, Director Field Crop Research of the Agriculture
Research Center of Egypt, said that agriculture research has improved the
country's self sufficiency. Over the years there has been nearly 32 percent
increase in agricultural land and some 29 percent increase in the crop area.
The strategic food crop yield has increased from 8.5 million tons to 20
million tons.

Addressing the inaugural session of the Symposium, Dr Mahmoud Solh,
Director General of ICARDA, called upon the scientists to develop innovative
and more effective technologies to cope with the ecological transition that
was affecting lives of people in many different ways.

"Today the world is facing many challenges that threaten food
security, equitable development and sustainability of our natural resource
based. The dry areas are particularly vulnerable to these challenges," said
Dr Solh "Climate change is a serious threat to food security and to the
environment. The rising temperature and its effect on hydrological cycles
are an enormous threat to agriculture. The crop varieties grown today are
not likely to survive in the changed climate tomorrow."

Barley is a major cereal crop worldwide, grown on about 56 million
hectares in a multitude of different environments. About 15 million hectares
is planted in developing countries and about 1.6 million hectares in
countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

"It is the only crop option possible in very dry conditions and those
with salinity problem. ICARDA has developed 190 improved varieties of barley
and these have been officially released in 45 countries, '' Dr Solh said.

Dr Stefania Grando, Chair of the local organizing committee, said that
there will be 14 sessions at the Symposium during which scientists will make
presentations and hold discussions on germplasm, genetic resources,
molecular breeding, barley genomics, barley and development, and uses of
barley as food and malt.

Established in 1977, ICARDA (www.icarda.org) is one of the 15
international research centers supported by the Consultative Group on
International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ICARDA serves the entire
developing world for the improvement of barley, lentil, and faba bean; and
dry-area developing countries for the on-farm management of water,
improvement of nutrition and productivity of small ruminants (sheep and
goats), and rehabilitation and management of rangelands. In the Central and
West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region, ICARDA is responsible for the
improvement of durum and bread wheats, chickpea, pasture and forage legumes
and farming systems; and for the protection and enhancement of the natural
resource base of water, land, and biodiversity.


[www.indiaprwire.com]