Under the patronage of Dr Said BARKAT, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,
IPGRI, INRAA and ICARDA
Organise the first International Conference on
“Agro-biodiversity for Development in North Africa:
Role of Plant Genetic Resources in People’s Livelihood”
Algiers 27- 30 September 2004.
I.
Introduction
Thanks to the Green Revolution a substantial impact on use enhancement of crop genetic
resources was achieved in 70s and 80s through increased production of major staples
thanks to the release of high yielding varieties(particularly cereals s.a. wheat, barley, rice and
other commodities s.a. potato, cassava etc.). These achievements were accompanied
however by unparalleled losses of the very genetic diversity that had fuelled the Green
Revolution.
Awareness of this fact, led the International Community to develop a network of gene banks
and other conservation means to preserve Agrobiodiversity national heritages. Currently an
estimated 6 millions of accessions of plant genetic resources (PGR) are maintained in more
then 300 ex situ collections around the world. Over the years, it has become clear however,
that conservation per se is not very beneficial, unless this is used effectively to address
urgent needs, such as nutritional security (quantity and quality of food), elimination of
poverty, environment health and ultimately improvement of peoples’ livelihood.
In order to achieve the full deployment of PGR in sustainable development, conservation has
been evolving over the years trying to bridge the existing gap between scientists and farmers
as a way to better address needs and opportunities of local communities through a
participatory, bottom up approach. One of the strategic elements in this direction is in situ/on
farm conservation, a relatively new discipline currently spearheaded by IPGRI through a
major Global Project involving more than 8 countries around the world. This conservation
method, which complements ex situ conservation efforts, allows the maintenance of
evolution and adaptation processes in crops within their own environment, the conservation
of diversity and indigenous knowledge at all levels (ecosystem, species, and infra-specific),
and the strengthening of PGR-based income generating mechanisms for resource-poor
farmers.
New developments over the last 5 to 10 years in the area of characterization and evaluation,
molecular markers, gene mining and GIS are opening up opportunities for better
comprehend diversity and ways to exploit it more efficiently and effectively. These tools need
to be disseminated and applied to the benefit of local Communities and other user groups.
Emerging trends directly related to the broadening of Agrobiodiversity and its sustainable
conservation and use include the increasing attention of consumers towards environmental
friendly agriculture (biological, biodynamic agriculture) and under utilized and neglected
species including medicinal plants, source of herbal remedies for more than 80% of the
world's population. In addition to improve nutritional security and health, these group of
species contribute as well to improve local economies, maintain cultural traditions and are
particularly beneficial to the rural poor and fragile social groups for whom they represent a
unique asset. Experiences in these fields need to be scaled up, and streamlined to reach
local communities and other user Groups.
II – Organisation committee:
Dr Kamel FELIACHI / INRAA (President of committee)
Dr George AYAD / IPGRI – CWANA – Aleppo- Syria
Dr Stefano PADULOSI / IPGRI – CWANA- Aleppo- Syria
Dr Aicha BAMMOUN / IPGRI – CWANA- - Aleppo- Syria
Dr Mohamed EL MOURID / ICARDA – Tunis - Tunisia
Dr Mustapha MALKI / INRAA
Miss Rachida ISSOLAH / INRAA
Dr Abdallah NEDJAHI / INRF
Dr Abdelkader HARFOUCHE / INRF
Mr Mohamed ABBAS / DGF
Miss Nadia CHENOUF / MATE
Dr Aissa ABDELGUERFI / MATE
Dr Fatiha AID / USTHB
Mr Rachid AMIROUCHE / USTHB
Mr Halim CHALABI / CRSTRA
Pr Mohamed BELLATRECHE / INA
Dr Ahmed – Cherif BENGUEDDA / Pasteur Institute
Mr Laid AZZI / ANN
Dr Mohamed KERBOUA / MADR
Miss Ouahiba GHALEM / MADR
Miss DJAHICH / MADR
Mr Ahmed SADOUDI / MADR
Miss Amel BENCHEHIDA / MADR
Mr Chikh LESSEHAL / NGO
III.
Objectives of the Conference
The major objectives of the Conference are:
 To review the state of conservation and use of plant genetic resources in North
Africa.
 The analyses of trends and opportunities in sustainable development and
identification of best approaches, methods and techniques to allow the realization of
the full and sustainable use of Agrobiodiversity to enhance food and nutritional
security, income generation and environmental conservation.
 The strengthening of mainstreaming research and actions to further integrate
agricultural research into national development plans and programmes.
Using Agrobiodiversity for development involves building national capacities, supporting crop
diversity assessment and develops sustainable management practices.
The conference will therefore also focus on how to strengthen capacities of national
programs at various levels and bring about mechanisms to raise Governments' attention
through public awareness initiatives.
The Meeting represents also an effort to promote greater cooperation in the area of
Agrobiodiversity use among countries and Stakeholders Groups in North Africa and explore
ways to bring about synergies between existent efforts. The presentations will be structured
around priority themes and species and review progress so far in the implementation of
major development commitments such as Agenda 21/CBD/WSSD and the FAO's Global
Plan of Action for PGRFA.
The Conference will be a joint effort between the International Plant Genetic Resources
Institute (IPGRI) and the Algerian National Agronomic Research Institute (INRAA) and
International Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA ).
IV. Contents
Presentations will be delivered by a number of invited speakers from North Africa as well as
from other countries across CWANA. IPGRI experts and leading scientists from around the
world will be also invited to address strategic topics. The tentative list of topics that will be
covered in these presentations include:
Tentative Programme
Venue: El Aurassi Hotel, Algiers
Sunday, 26 September 2004
Arrival of Participants
Monday, 27 September 2004
08:00-09:00
Registration
09:00-10:30
Opening
10:30-11:00
Coffee Break
Session1: Inventorying and evaluating Agro biodiversity
This session will provide an overview of extent of Agro biodiversity and
its role in nutrition, income, and environment health
1.1 Introductory papers
11:00-11:30
Agrobiodiversity in North Africa:
(A. Bammoun/ G.Ayad)
a framework for its conservation and
sustainable use
11:30-11:45
Plant Genetic Resources: Mauritania
11:45-12:00
Plant Genetic Resources: Egypt
I. Abdelgalil (DRC)
12:00-12:15
Plant Genetic Resources: Morocco
H.Narjisse (INRAM)
12:15-12:30
Plant Genetic Resources: Tunisia
M.Benmechlia (INRAT)
12:30-12:45
Plant Genetic Resources: Libya
T.Azzabi (ARC)
12:45-13:00
Plant Genetic Resources: Algeria
k.Feliachi (INRAA)
13:00-13:30
Discussion
13:30-14:30
Lunch
14:30-14:45
Inventorying and assessing diversity in IFAD
A.Meschinelli (IFAD)
Projects
14:45-15:00
Current status of Agro-biodiversity in North
(FAO)
Africa
15:00-15:15
AOAD efforts on useful plant
Kerboua (AOAD)
Agrobiodiversity
15:15-15:30
Threatened and useful species in North
K. Batanouny (Egypt)
African Flora
1.2. Case studies
15:30-15:45
15:45-16:00
Olive genetic resources
Genetic Resources of Date Palm
16:00-16:15
16:15-16:30
The genetic diversity of food legumes in North
Africa and their role in people’s livelihood
Forest Genetic Resources in North Africa
16:30-16:45
Forage genetic resources in North Africa
Touzani (IOC/Spain)
M.Belguedj
(INRAA/Algeria)
M.E.H. Maatougui
(ITGC/Algeria)
A. Harfouche, A.
Nedjahi, M. Elatifi, H.
Daly-Hassen, A.
Benmansour
(Algeria,Tunisia,
Morocco.)
A.Abdelguerfi/
A.Nefatti / C.Faiz
(Algeria,Tunisia,
Morocco.)
16:45-17:15
Discussion
17:15-17:30
Coffee break
17:30-18:30
Posters session
20:30-22:00
Dinner
Tuesday, 28 September 2004
Session 2: Conservation and management of Plant Genetic
Resources The session will provide the-state-of-the-art on methods
and techniques in the conservation of plant genetic resources along
with case studies on relevant projects in North Africa
2.1. Complementary conservation and use
08:30-08:45
An overview of methods and approaches on
complementary conservation of plant genetic
resources
08:45-09:00
Development of bases for supporting the
maintenance and management of crop diversity
in agro-ecosystems in Morocco.
09:00-09:15
in vitro culture techniques for the conservation
of Plant Genetic Resources: progress and
prospects
E. Dulloo (IPGRI)
M.Sadiki
(IAV/Morocco)
F. Engelmann (IPGRI)
2.2. Case studies
09:15-09:30
09:30-09:45
09:45-10:00
10:00-10:15
10:15-10:30
Experiences from IFAD Projects in Morocco
In situ conservation of Agro biodiversity in arid
zones: the case of the Near East
Agrobiodiversity Project
IFAD-supported Biodiversity Project in Tunisia
Genetic resources of Medicago truncatula
Coffee break
2.3. Management of germplasm collections
M.El Khiar(Morocco)
A. Amri (ICARDA)
A.B.Aicha (Tunisia)
Huguet(CNRS/France)
10:30-10:45
10:45-11:00
11:00-11:15
11:15-11:45
11:45-12:00
ICARDA efforts on ex situ conservation of
Agrobiodiversity in the semi arid zones
The Role of Information & Communication
Technology (ICT)In Gene banks’ Management
Molecular characterization of plant genetic
resources by molecular techniques: an overview
Posters session
Discussion
J. Valkoun (ICARDA)
K. Durah (IPGRI)
M.Pagnotta (Italy)
Session 3: Valorisation of Agro biodiversity This session will
address latest approaches and trends in assessing, value-adding and
marketing strategies for Agro biodiversity and its products.
3.1. Neglected and under-utilised species
12:00-12:15
12:15-12:30
12:30-12:45
Lessons and experiences so far
Medicinal and Aromatic plants in Algeria and
Morocco
Medicinal and Aromatic plants in Tunisia
12:45-13:00
Role of figs in the socio-economic development
of marginal zones
13:00-13:15
Pistachio: a case study
13:15-13:45
13:45-15:00
Discussion
Lunch Break
S. Padulosi (IPGRI)
Mokkadem/Aouragh ,
(Algeria/Morocco)
Neffati / El Mourid
(IRA/ICARDA)
Bourayou/ Mars/
Oukabli
(Algeria,Tunisia,
Morocco)
E.H.Oldache,
A.Morsli,B.Belarbi,Y.
Chebouti (Algeria)
3.2. Strengthening Stakeholders, participatory approaches and socio-cultural aspects
15:00-15:15
15:15-15:30
15:30-15:45
15:45-16:00
16:00-16:15
16:15-16:45
16:45-17:00
17:00-17:15
17:15-17:30
17:30-17:45
17:45-18:15
18:15-19:00
20:30-22:00
Strengthening Capacity Building in North Africa
Participatory approaches in the management of
Agro biodiversity
Participatory approaches in the Maghreb Date
Palm Project
Marketing diversity: a case study in West Asia
The participatory process of effective
implementation of in-situ conservation of
agrobiodiversity on-farm
Discussion
Coffee break
Enhancing Human Capacities through distance
learning
Ecotourism and its role in conservation of
Agrobiodiversity
Organic Agriculture: successes and failures
Discussion
Posters
Social Dinner
Wednesday, 29 September 2004
Session 4: Legal, institutional and policy issues The session will
cover relevant policy and legal aspects related to Agrobiodiversity
N. Sellamna (ICRA)
P. Eyzaguirre (IPGRI)
N. Nasr
(IPGRI/UNDP/GEF)
A. Giuliani (IPGRI)
B. Sthapit (IPGRI)
A. Sobky
(RITSEC)
B.Gaci (Algeria)
Y. Hamdi (Egypt)
conservation and sustainable use
08:30-08:45
08:45-09:00
Treaties, Conventions and International
Agreements related to Agrobiodiversity
Elements for an effective National
Agrobiodiversity Policy Framework
Session 5: Public Awareness
The session will present current experiences in using public
awareness to strengthen policy makers’ commitment on
Agrobiodiversity
09:00-09:15
Public Awareness to enhance better use
for Agrobiodiversity and Poverty Alleviation
09:15-09:30
Tools and methods used in raising public
awareness
09:30-10:30
Discussion
10:30-10:45
Working Groups
10:45-11:00
Coffee break
G. Ayad (IPGRI)
A.Benchehida
(MADR/Algeria)
R. Khalil (IPGRI)
A.M’hamed
(NGO/Algeria)
Session 6: Working Groups concurrent sessions
11:00-13:30
13:30-14:30
14:30-18:00
Group 1: Conservation and management of PGR
Group 2: Medicinal and aromatic plants
Group 3: Legal, institutional and policy aspects
Group 4: Public Awareness
Lunch
Working Groups concurrent sessions (cntd.)
Thursday, 30 September 2004
08:30-10:30
10:30-11:00
11:00-13:30
13:30-14:30
14:30-15:30
15:30-16:30
16:30-17:00
17:00-18:00
18.00-18.30
Working Groups concurrent sessions (cntd.)
Coffee break
Working Groups concurrent sessions (cntd.)
Lunch
Reporting on Plenary Session of Working Groups
Discussion
Coffee break
Recommendations
Closing of Conference
The forum will bring together representatives from all Stakeholder Groups (research
environment, NGO, private sector, policy makers, etc) who will shares views on viable
options for the strengthening of current regional and national plan of actions for
Agrobiodiversity.
V.Posters
Posters sessions are planned during the conference. They concerned the work realized on
Plant genetic resources. In order to ensure the uniform presentation of posters, they should
be prepared on blanc paper (840 x 595 mm), with 30 mm margins.
The tables and figures should not below 200 mm hight. The use of colors and titles should be
visible from 3 m is highly requested. The posters should be presented in the form of: Title,
Authors and Address, Introduction, Materiel and Methods, Results and Discussion,
Conclusion.
VI. Organisation
The Conference is being jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture of Algeria (MA)
through the National Institute of Agronomic Research (INRA) and IPGRI's Regional Office for
Central, West Asia & North Africa and International Center for Research Agriculture in the
Dry Land (ICARDA).
The Conference will be held in Algiers during the period of 9-12 February 2004.
English, French and Arabic will be the working languages of the Conference.
VII.
Participants
Leading scientists and representatives of different Stakeholders groups from North Africa will
join IPGRI and INRAA experts. Invitees from other regions (such as Central and West Asia),
will be also invited to share experiences in various fields covered by the Conference.
International Organizations (including FAO, IPGRI and other CGIAR Centres such as
ICARDA), National and Regional Research Institutions, Universities, Governmental and nonGovernment Organizations will be represented at the Conference. Some 200 participants
will be expected to attend.
VIII.
Accommodation/ Insurance
Accommodation and insurance will be provided by INRAA.
IX. Scientific committee:
-
Dr FATIHA AID (President of Committee)
Dr GEORGE AYAD
Dr STEFANO PADULOSI
Dr AICHA BAMMOUN
Dr MOHAMED EL MOURID.
Pr MOHAMED BELLATRECHE
Dr AISSA ABDELGUERFI
Miss MERIEM LOUANCHI
Dr ABDELKADER HARFOUCHE
Dr MUSTAPHA MALKI
Dr MOHAMED LARBI CHERFAOUI
Mrs OUAHIBA GHALEM
Mr AHMED SADOUDI
Mr RACHID AMIROUCHE
Pr. AHMED CHERIF BENGUEDDA
Miss RACHIDA ISSOLAH
Mr SALAH CHOUAKI