Doha, March 03 (QNA) - The International conference on conservation and sustainability: the Role of gene banks in the conservation of genetic resources and achieving sustainable food security started Sunday in Doha.

Organized by the Ministry of Municipality, represented by the Department of Agricultural research, the conference brings together 27 interlocutors from seven Arab and foreign countries to discuss the conservation of biodiversity and protection of genetic and plant resources for agriculture and food. The event touches on the international convention as a key tool in conserving genetic and plant resources for agriculture and food and utilizing them in a more sustainable way, in addition to adopting the Global Biodiversity Framework as a critical method to address the global biodiversity loss crisis, as well as following up on the global biodiversity policy.

The conference reinforces dialogue between decision-makers and stakeholders in eco-systems and biodiversity, the role of community in conserving biodiversity, gene banks in countering climate change and supporting food security. It features workshops and panel discussions that highlight the importance of the sustainable development goals 2030 through interactive discussions on various aspects related to biodiversity and its conservation.

Commenting on this occasion, Director, Agricultural Research Department. Ministry of Municipality, Hamad Saket Al Shammari stressed the importance of this convention that reflects the increasing interest in the priority issues of food security and sustainability for the future of humanity, pointing out that the State of Qatar will greatly benefit from this conference to share expertise, deepen dialogue, and set the practical solutions to conserve the diversity and sustainability of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

This diversity represents a real significance to meet needs for food and medicine. Therefore, it is essential to leverage the cutting-edge technologies, such as AI and the Internet of Things (IoT) in preserving biodiversity and sustaining the resources, Al Shammari underlined, pointing out that the State of Qatar has become the oasis of investment and the critical regional hub in multiple fields.
Notwithstanding its dry desert nature, he said, Qatar has succeeded in occupying a premium position on the future map in agricultural and scientific research, highlighting that plant genetic resources are one of the national treasuries with strategic and economic value in Qatar, which represent the core biological pillar for food security and sustainable agricultural development that support human livelihood.

Al Shammari emphasized that land and genetic resources play a crucial role in the national strategy and help achieve self-sufficiency and food security in the State of Qatar, with the strains of crops and their genetic diversity providing the basis for farmers to diversify seed systems, along with scientists' efforts to grow new plant varieties to adapt to climate, social and environmental changes.
Considering the environmental challenges currently facing the world, such as poverty, food insecurity, climate change and the loss of globally important biodiversity, the current time prompts synergistic efforts to conserve the remaining natural resources as confirmed by the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the ministry's strategy in conserving biodiversity and sustaining resources and food security, Al Shammari noted.

For her part, Head of the Genetic Resources Section at the Department, Aisha Dasmal Al Kuwari, highlighted that the conference and workshops are primarily laser-focused on 5 key themes, chiefly conservation of biodiversity and sustainability, rehabilitation of eco-systems and afforestation, role of gene banks and plant gardens in conserving natural resources, AI and IoT applications in agricultural research and food security sustainability, impacts of disasters, crises and international financing policies on preserving biodiversity, alongside a range of other critical themes.

Al Shammari pointed out that interest in plant genetic resources is of paramount importance for the benefit of the generations to come, emphasizing that the State of Qatar has made tremendous efforts in this field over a decade ago, emphasizing that biodiversity is one of the major sources for human welfare.

Expert of Plant Genetic Resources at Agriculture Research Department, who is organizing the conference, Dr. Elsayed Mohamed Elazazi said 27 global and local interlocutors were invited to the event from most outstanding universities and international organizations operating in biodiversity, gene banks, agricultural research and afforestation, mainly from Canada, Sweden, England, Qatar University and Kuwait. (QNA)