The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has launched a first-of-its-kind Abu Dhabi Agricultural Genome Program to apply the best international practices in the field of agricultural genetic research.
The program is expected to enhance Abu Dhabi’s position at the regional and international levels and makes it a scientific reference in the field of agricultural genomes in addition to the UAE’s achievement of the requirements of the Plant Genetic Resources Convention for Food and Agriculture.
Abu Dhabi’s Agricultural Genome Program is part of Abu Dhabi’s ambitious food abundance plan initiatives, where genetic studies are an important step towards providing innovative solutions to future food security challenges, enhancing the food security system of the Emirate and the country.
It will contribute to improving sustainable agricultural production by improving animal breeds and plant varieties and giving them genetic traits of economic value to promote the agricultural sector, enhance food security, and increase its contribution to the emirate’s GDP.
The program is a key pillar of the initiatives and programs of the Strategic Plan of the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority 2022-2025 and aims to develop local breeds of plant, animal and fish farming, ensuring improved agricultural production and meeting the challenges of the emirate’s climatic and environmental conditions, establishing a gene bank to conserve local plant, animal and fish genetic resources.
In addition, the program will develop local capacities to promote international conservation and registration of local plant and animal breeds, genetic sequencing processes, the study of virtual and genetic traits in plants and animals, and the identification of genetic evidence of desired characteristics of animal and plant genetic resources.
H.E. Saeed Al Bahri Al Ameri, Director General of ADAFSA confirmed that Abu Dhabi Agricultural Genome Program is one of the leading projects to anticipate the future of the agriculture sector and strengthen the prevention programs of diseases and agricultural pests to high quality agricultural, animal and fish products and in quantities that meet the food security aspirations of Abu Dhabi and the UAE.
