Report on Breeding and Biotechnology Capacity in the Caucasus Available Online

The report on the workshop held in Tbilisi, Georgia on February 21-22, 2007 is now available online. Participants of the regional workshop represented the three Caucasus countries namely Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Among the issues discussed, capacity building on plant breeding was ranked as top priority. The scope of capacity building goes from short-term training on specific breeding techniques to improve the educational level of the scientists. Access to information, mechanisms to exchange national and regional information, and facilities to promote the first two came in second. These will strengthen the countries capacity to use plant genetic resources. Other priority issues were the lack of seed production and distribution system at the national levels; long-term support and planning of breeding programs; raising awareness regarding the importance of plant genetic resources conservation and use; and strengthening linkages between universities and research institutes.

 Read the complete report on the workshop, “Assessing and Designing Strategies to Strengthen Regional Plant Breeding and Associated Biotechnology Capacity in the Caucasus” at http://apps3.fao.org/wiews/docs/Workshop%20Draft%20Report%2004%20Regional%20230207.pdf. To read more: http://www.fao.org/biotech/news_list.asp?thexpand=1&cat=131.