06 February 2013
MUSCAT -- The Research Council (TRC) is envisaging a plan to make the Sultanate a regional hub for innovation and a source for new commodities and services. To realise this vision, TRC finalised steps to establish a specialised centre for animal and plant genetic resources.
The centre seeks to preserve the resources of the Sultanate to enhance their sustainability, with a view to providing a decent life to citizens through social and economic gains, including food security, said Dr Nadia bint Abu Bakr al Saadiya, Director of the Centre for Animal and Plant Genetic Resources.
The new institution will utilise the Sultanate's unique resources to address all sorts of challenges by enabling the country to possess a wide-ranging research capacity at the level of the region and to respond rapidly and effectively to local social and economic needs, said Al Saadiya.
Towards the full operation of this centre, TRC will develop human resources, study the challenges facing genetic resources and achieving a high level of specialisation that is conducive to innovation and, eventually, investment.
The centre will open up global channels of communication and join agreements of relevance to genetic resources and management, said Al Saadiya, noting that this assumes significance in supporting food security in the Sultanate. She pointed out that the centre will first and foremost work to raise awareness about the importance of the country's genetic diversity that is deep-rooted in the animals, plants, micro-organisms and marine resources.
Asked about the challenges facing animal and plant genetic resources in Oman, Al Saadiya defined two: environmental challenges and human challenges. The environmental challenges include climate change, while human activities like, for example, urbanisation, unwise grazing in pasture lands and driving of vehicles in unpaved terrain, pose another threat.
MUSCAT -- The Research Council (TRC) is envisaging a plan to make the Sultanate a regional hub for innovation and a source for new commodities and services. To realise this vision, TRC finalised steps to establish a specialised centre for animal and plant genetic resources.
The centre seeks to preserve the resources of the Sultanate to enhance their sustainability, with a view to providing a decent life to citizens through social and economic gains, including food security, said Dr Nadia bint Abu Bakr al Saadiya, Director of the Centre for Animal and Plant Genetic Resources.
The new institution will utilise the Sultanate's unique resources to address all sorts of challenges by enabling the country to possess a wide-ranging research capacity at the level of the region and to respond rapidly and effectively to local social and economic needs, said Al Saadiya.
Towards the full operation of this centre, TRC will develop human resources, study the challenges facing genetic resources and achieving a high level of specialisation that is conducive to innovation and, eventually, investment.
The centre will open up global channels of communication and join agreements of relevance to genetic resources and management, said Al Saadiya, noting that this assumes significance in supporting food security in the Sultanate. She pointed out that the centre will first and foremost work to raise awareness about the importance of the country's genetic diversity that is deep-rooted in the animals, plants, micro-organisms and marine resources.
Asked about the challenges facing animal and plant genetic resources in Oman, Al Saadiya defined two: environmental challenges and human challenges. The environmental challenges include climate change, while human activities like, for example, urbanisation, unwise grazing in pasture lands and driving of vehicles in unpaved terrain, pose another threat.
© Oman Daily Observer 2013
