ICARDA
entrusted with "Blackbox of Biodiversity"
|
| Iraqi researchers and Dr.
Kamil Shideed (standing third from right)
participated in an ICARDA-IFPRI workshop on
policy and property rights in 2000. |
|
|
|
|
In 1996, Iraqi agricultural researchers wanting to safeguard
Iraq’s plant genetic resources entrusted ICARDA with
a "Black Box," a kind of genetic time capsule
to safeguard biodiversity. The box has never been opened,
and its contents — 200 accessions of 28 different
crops grown in Iraq — is stored at -10º Celsius,
and maintained in viable form.
Seen in the backdrop of the war and given the uncertainty
that surrounds the fate of Iraq’s national genebank,
Abu Ghraib, these actions were prescient.
Even if the genebank survived, it is likely that its holdings
were destroyed or looted. Fortunately, in addition to
the "Black Box," ICARDA scientists have collected
more than 1,000 accessions of cultivated and wild species
of Iraq’s most important crops during the 1980s and
1990s for safekeeping. These accessions will play an important
role in rehabilitating Iraqi agriculture.
ICARDA’s partnership with Iraq goes back more than
20 years, an effort that saw the introduction of modern
crop varieties and improved water and livestock management
practices. "What we hope to do in the near future
is bring to bear the expertise of the CGIAR system on
Iraqi agriculture," says Adel El-Beltagy, Director
General, ICARDA. The priority will be to offer Iraq a
package of services and technology that includes policy
reforms, land and water systems, and assistance in rebuilding
the national agricultural research system."
Dr. Kamil Shideed, one of Iraq’s key agricultural
scientists is working with ICARDA to develop a reconstruction
plan for Iraq’s agricultural research system. Nearly
350 Iraqi scientists have been trained in plant breeding
and crop and animal management at ICARDA since 1977.
War, successive droughts, and economic sanctions have
adversely affected agriculture in Iraq. The country is
in urgent need of substantial humanitarian, rehabilitation
and reconstruction assistance. Agriculture must be revived
to regain food security.
"The Black Box literally contains Iraq’s agricultural
heritage," says William Erskine, Assistant Director
General for Research, ICARDA. "These are the seeds
of plants that Iraqi experts decided were their most important
holdings that needed to be safeguarded at all costs. The
Black Box belongs to the Iraqi people, and will be treated
as such until it can be repatriated."
For more information, visit www.icarda.org
 |
|
