Screening chickpea lines for resistance to Fusarium wilt in the an affected plot in Ethiopia. The plot in the middle, weakened by the fungus, turns yellow, while the resistant lines planted on the left and the right fare much better Photo: ICARDA

The rapid development of a clear regulatory biosafety framework is needed to utilise biotechnology in west Asia and North Africa, said delegates at a conference in Syria in September. 

The conference was held at the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).  A network of biotechnology research institutes in the region would “help avoid duplication of efforts and increase cooperation between research centres” says Dr Michael Baum, ICARDA’s biotechnologist.  

Some countries in the region, such as Egypt and Iran, have already established, or are in the process of developing their national biosafety frameworks.
By Simon Varcoe

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