Status of ICT structure, infrastructure and applications existed to manage and disseminate information and knowledge of Plant Genetic Resources Innovations Information in the Region: Egypt. © FAO: http://www.fao.org

1. Status of ICT structure, infrastructure and
applications existed to manage and disseminate
information and knowledge of PGR Innovations
Information in Egypt
Dr. Abeer Elhalwagi
Senior Researcher, National Gene Bank and Genetic Resources
(NGB), Egypt
National Monitoring Officer of TCP/SNO in Egypt
Regional Training Workshop on
“National Plant Genetic Knowledge Networks
for Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Knowledge Sharing”
29 – 30 August 2014
Cairo, Egypt

2. Introduction
2
 Egypt is known as one of the oldest
agricultural civilizations. The
percentage of rural inhabitants is
estimated at about 58%;
 Agriculture plays a major economic
role in Egypt;
 Many regions are rich in wild plants
and landraces, where 2094 plant
species are identified of which 61 are
endemic and 4 are endangered;
 Currently, the Egyptian agriculture is
facing many challenges:
• Limited cultivated area and water
supply;
• Desertification, deforestation, erosion,
climate changes and overuse of
pesticides and other agrochemicals;
• New uniform crop varieties have
replaced many of local varieties and
landraces leading to great losses of
useful genes resistant to many biotic
and abiotic stresses.

3. Importance of PGR
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1. Plant genetic resources (PGR) are important for
sustainable food security.
2. The availability of information on accessions stored in
gene banks is the basis of promoting utilization of the
germplasm to achieve food security, and in turn
justifies conservation.
3. Therefore, both information management and
manipulation of information are essential parts of all
practical work with plant genetic resources.
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is
currently being employed to manage these primary
PGR databases and to generate secondary information
for their effective management and enhanced use.
• There is a strong need for further development of the
PGR documentation system.

4. Management of PGR in Egypt
4

5. In-Situ Conservation of PGR
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1. Conservation in natural protectorates managed by the
Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs according
to the law No. 102 of 1983;

6. 2. In 2012, the number of
natural protectorates
reached 30, of which 14
protectorates include
PGR.
3. The total area of all
natural protectorates
represent about 15% of
Egypt’s total area.
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8. Ex-Situ Conservation of PGR
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1. National Gene Bank (NGB).

9. NGB Objectives
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 Plan and conduct exploration missions to survey the genetic
resources in their native habitat;
 Collection, Conservation, Identification, Characterization and
Evaluation of National Collections of Plant, Animal and
Agricultural Microorganism Genetic Resources;
 Strengthen the international cooperation in the field of GR;
 Facilitate the exchange of GR and related information under a
Material Transfer Agreement in compliance with the IT-PGRFA;
 Document all the information generated for each accession on
the NGBGR database;
 Enhance public awareness on the importance of maintaining
genetic resources and promoting in situ and on-farm
conservation.

10. Genebank Data information System in Egypt
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• Documentation and information section;
Passport data contain comprehensive information about accessions including
geographical (GPS coordinates) environmental (climate and soil maps) data of
the collection site and historical information as well as data on characterization
and evaluation of the material.

11. ICT infrastructure and Capacity
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Hardware:
 NGB made very important progress in the use of information
technology.
 Over 50 of desktop computers are currently installed, and NGB labs
are equipped with PCs of last generation.
Network and Internet
 PC are networked to small LANs with access to the Internet
Application Softwares:
 For desktop applications, MS office is widely used.
 Most of apparatus in NGB labs is operated with PCs using biotech
specific software.

12. Projects
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Project Title Source of Fund Duration
On-farm conservation and in vitro preservation of Citrus local
varieties and sustainable utilization in Egypt.
International Treaty for Plant
Genetic Resources for Food and
Agriculture (IT-PGRFA)
2009 - 2011
National faba bean Rhizobium Germplasm collection, genotyping
and its potential use as inoculants.
Science and Technology
Development fund (STDF)
2010 – 2012
Characterization, preservation and studying the phytochemistry
and antibacterial activity of pomegranate germplasm.
Science and Technology
Development fund (STDF)
2010 – 2012
Sustainable utilization of agriculture biodiversity to develop the
local communities in the western desert.
Agricultural Research and
Development Fund (ARDF)
2010 – 2013
Conservation and Utilization of Egyptian Wild Flora to Improve
Salinity Tolerance
in Cereals
Science and Technology
Development fund (STDF)
2012 – 2015
Optimizing the Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and
Agriculture for Adaptation to Climate Change (TCP/SNO/3401)
Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO)
1/2/2013 –
31/1/2015
Sustainable use of landraces and genetic resources to improve
wheat tolerance to heat stress for food security
International Treaty for Plant
Genetic Resources for Food and
Agriculture (IT-PGRFA)
1/3/2014 –
1/3/2016

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Other Organizations involved directly in plant genetic
resources ex-situ conservation activities:
• Agriculture Research Center Research Institutions;
• Desert Research Center (DRC);
• National Research Center (NRC);
• Faculties of agriculture (17) and science (15) of
different Egyptian universities.

19. The State of Regional and International
Collaboration
• Egypt has been a signatory and ratified to the CBD, and
to the ITPGRFA.
• MALR has appointed the President of the NGB as the
Focal Point and Coordinator of the genetic resources,
breeding, and seed supply systems in Egypt.

20. Future needs
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• Increased and improved sharing and exchange of
data, information, knowledge, skills, technology
and resources.
• Increased capacity to influence national,
regional and International policies and strategies
related to telecommunications and agricultural
development.
• The need to develop learning processes and
learning networks, through sharing experiences,
“best practices” and knowledge on ICT
approaches, strategies and applications.

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