The Regional Agricultural Biotechnology Network of Near East and North Africa (RABNENA) aims to enhance knowledge sharing and cooperation in agricultural biotechnology to support food security and development at national and regional levels. Its objectives include establishing a centralized access point for biotechnology information, facilitating knowledge exchange among stakeholders, and promoting cooperation between countries. RABNENA involves various stakeholders, including policymakers, educational institutions, and NGOs, and focuses on creating an effective agricultural biotechnology knowledge management system.

1. Agricultural Biotechnology Network for Regional Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
An Overview on
Regional Agricultural Biotechnology Network
of Near East and North Africa (RABNENA)
Magdi Latif
FAO Knowledge and Capacity for Development Division
Knowledge Exchange, Research and Extension Office
FAO/RNE, Cairo, Egypt
July 2012
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

2. Agricultural Biotechnology Network for Regional Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
What is RABNENA?
Regional Agricultural Biotechnology Network
oF Near East and North Africa (RABNENA) is a
regional platform for strengthening
knowledge sharing and cooperation for
Agricultural Research and Development
(ARD) for biotechnology target groups and
stakeholders at national and regional levels.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

3. Agricultural Biotechnology Network for Regional Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
RABNENA Objectives
• To create a regional gateway as a single access point for agricultural biotechnology
where the different countries of the region can share a united vision of the
agricultural biotechnology policies, regulations, research and innovations that will
support agricultural development and food security at a country level.
• To facilitate biotechnology knowledge sharing and information exchange for
stakeholders at national and regional levels through the development of a thematic
biotechnology knowledge management system for the collection, management and
dissemination of information/knowledge on advances in agricultural biotechnology
research and innovation results that will support strengthening performance of
farmers and agrarian businesses.
• To establish functional mechanism for cooperation and enhancement of
communication and exchange of experiences and good practices on agricultural
biotechnologies among different countries in the region in support of agricultural
development and food security.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

4. Agricultural Biotechnology Network for Regional Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
RABNENA expected Outcomes
 Prevent redundancy and duplication,
 Create access to research information, knowledge
and innovations,
 Ensure maximum knowledge sharing among
various agricultural research institutes, programs
and personnel on regional, national and institutional
levels,
 Provide enable environment for good coordination
and Cooperation.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

5. Agricultural Biotechnology Network for Regional Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
RABNENA Stakeholders
• Policy-makers in agriculture and rural development, especially in
the MOA and NARIs.
• Biotechnology Department heads and professional technical
officers within the MOA and NARIs.
• Other Ministries related to rural development.
• Universities and colleges with agricultural biotechnology-related
faculties and departments.
• Farmers’ and producers’ organizations.
• Credit and marketing associations and Chambers of Commerce.
• Private sector involved in agricultural biotechnology.
• Non-Governmental Organizations involved in agricultural
Biotechnology for agricultural development and food security.
• Regional and International Organizations involved in agricultural
development and food security and General Public.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

6. Agricultural Biotechnology Network for Regional Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
Regional Agricultural Biotechnology Network
Multilingual (Arabic and English) knowledge
management system implemented in RABNENA
• Strengthening the capacity of the biotechnology institutes in the
Ministry of Agriculture and Other Stakeholders
• Development and management of relevant and effective
regional agricultural biotechnology knowledge management
system in support of agricultural development and food security
policies
Achievements:
• Networked all agricultural biotechnology institutions
through a regional gateway
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

7. Agricultural Biotechnology Network for Regional Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
RABNENA Interfaces
1- Front end Interface:
The front end components provide the information
browsing and retrieval functionalities, and are
available to any site user.
2- Back end Interface:
The backend components provide the data
management functionalities that enable system
administrators to input/update/delete data items
into the RABNENA database. These components are
accessible by system administrators only.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

8. Agricultural Biotechnology Network for Regional Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
Publications Projects Experts Institutions
RABNENA
Modules
Focal Points Links
Country Collaborative
Reports
News Events
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Extension
Bulletins
Media
Centre
Online
News
Online
Events
RSS
Success
Stories
Good
Practices
About Marquee

9. Agricultural Biotechnology Network for Regional Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
RABNENA FRONT END
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

10. Agricultural Biotechnology Network for Regional Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
RABNENA BACKEND
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

11. Agricultural Biotechnology Network for Regional Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

12. Agricultural Biotechnology Network for Regional Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
Information Standards and Tools
for Content Management
• AGMES – Agricultural Metadata Element Set
• AGRIS Application Profile
• AGROVOC Arabic/English
• Real Simple Syndicate - RSS
• Open Archives Initiative Compliance
• Online Web services
• Software – MySQL Open Source
• CIARD Manifesto and a common set of
Principles
To develop and promote interoperability standards
to facilitate the efficient dissemination of content.
www.fao.org/aims
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
interoperability is connecting
people, data and diverse
systems.

13. Agricultural Biotechnology Network for Regional Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
Mobilizing and Providing Access to
Agricultural Information
• AGRIS – Providing agricultural research and development
institutions with an avenue to publish and disseminate
the outputs of their work
• AGORA - Providing access to the world’s scientific
literature in agriculture in peer-reviewed learned
journals
• CIARD – Providing commitment to promote the sharing
of data, information, and knowledge in a global network
of truly public collections of information, based on a
Manifesto and a common set of Principles.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

14. Agricultural Biotechnology Network for Regional Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
Coherence in Information for Agricultural
Research for Development (CIARD)
Partners in the CIARD initiative have made a collective commitment
to promote the sharing of data, information, and knowledge in a
global network of truly public collections of information, based on a
Manifesto and a common set of Principles.
Accessibility: Information is openly accessible for all users, and easily located via the
Internet from outside the institution using tools and services adopted by the international
community.
Availability: Information is stored in digital formats, with clearly defined copyright,
managed in one or more institutionally-owned, thematic or other repositories, built
and structured according to accepted international standards.
Applicability: Research planning, implementation and communication are an inclusive
process bringing together all perspectives and knowledge. Research outputs and
messages are adapted for easy access, use and re-use by different stakeholders,
increasing the public benefits derived from the research.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

15. Agricultural Biotechnology Network for Regional Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
Success Factors for Regional Network
1. Commitment for contribution/collaboration at national level;
2. Focus on capacity building at national level;
3. Existence of a regional information strategy;
4. Development of a Secretariat role for regional activities;
5. Focus on community of practice amongst the info specialists;
6. Raising awareness of ICM issues at Manager./political levels;
7. Formation of strategic partnerships amongst the major
stakeholder organizations.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

16. Agricultural Biotechnology Network for Regional Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
Thank You for your Attention
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations