Amman: Ibrahim Rawashdeh, Director General of the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), met Tuesday with Director General of the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) Aly Abousabaa to explore avenues for cooperation in applied research, particularly the development of the national seed bank.
According to Jordan News Agency, Rawashdeh highlighted the long-standing collaboration between NARC and ICARDA since the center's inception, noting joint efforts in water harvesting, climate change adaptation, and preservation of plant heritage. He called for enhancing this cooperation through long-term national programs in genetic improvement, completion of seed bank laboratory facilities, capacity building for Jordanian researchers, and integrating artificial intelligence and modern agricultural technologies in research projects to improve land-use efficiency and strengthen food security, including innovative solutions such as saline water desalination and agricultural mechanization.
Abousabaa outlined ICARDA's key projects in developing sustainable high-value food alternatives, such as barley, potatoes, rice, and quinoa, as promising sources to meet food security needs and provide alternatives for bread production. He also stressed the importance of knowledge exchange between countries and building research capacities to foster agricultural innovation in the region. He praised the advanced facilities and infrastructure of the national seed bank, emphasizing its pivotal role in conserving genetic resources and ensuring their sustainable use for future generations.