oapgrc a year in review - mawarid.gov.om

3OAPGRC A Year in Review 2014

Haitham Al Shanfari

Foreword

As food security gains increas-

ing prominence on the glob-

al stage, the importance of

preserving genetic resources

comes into ever sharper focus.

Oman, thanks to its diverse

climatic conditions, size and

geography, has been blessed

with a treasure trove of vibrant

biodiversity and a huge and

untapped wealth of globally

signiicant genetic resources - including over 1,200 species of

plants, more than 1,200 species

of ish, 10 livestock species, 128 breeding species of birds, more

than 130 coral species, and ive turtle species. These rich indig-

enous genetic resources are a

great national treasure which

not only feed us but support our

health, society and economy.

The sultanate’s commitment to

preserving and developing our

genetic resources is highlighted

by the establishment of OAP-

GRC in 2012.

A rich genetic pool mitigates

the risks associated with cli-

mate change and helps us meet

the challenges of feeding a

growing world population. The

unique characteristics, or com-

binations of characteristics, of

each species, or variation within

a species, of animal, plant, ma-

rine life or microbe are a safety

net for the future - they can pro-

vide the key to disease resist-

ance; they can help us develop

breeds tolerant to climatic ex-

tremes; they can be the source

of innovative new products and

medicines. Indeed, they can

also generate exciting new eco-

nomic opportunities.

Every link in the genetic chain

is indispensable, from the mi-

croscopic bacteria that help us

digest food, protect us from in-

fections and turn milk to yogurt,

to the livestock that work the

ields, feed, clothe and trans-port us. We must accept it as our

collective obligation to protect

and conserve our genetic re-

sources and take on the shared

responsibility to leave our plan-

et productive and bountiful for

generations to come.

The center’s participation in

workshops, meetings and

seminars during the year has

established its regional and

international presence and in-

deed 2014 has seen it take on

an increasingly important role

on the international stage. This

is relected in its leading role in The First Meeting of Medici-

nal Plants Focal Points of IORA

RCSTT and its signiicant con-

tribution to Implementation of

the Regional/Near East North

Africa Plant Genetic Resources

Network Strategy: National,

Regional and Global Roles.

With its expertise increasingly

recognized, OAPGRC has been

called upon to play a major part

in the review of internation-

al action plans, conventions,

protocols, and domestically, in

the review of laws and by-laws

relating to genetic resources.

In particular, this is relected in its work on the Strategic Action

Plan for the Implementation of

the Beneit-Sharing Fund in the Near East and North Africa and

Beyond: 2014 – 2020 as well as

the Cartagena and Nagoya Pro-

tocols.

The center has also been cen-

tral to the publication of the Re-

gional Strategy for the NENA

Region and the development

of the Strategic Action Plan for

the Beneit Sharing fund of the International Treaty on Plant

Genetic Resources for Food and

Agriculture.

As a key strategic priority, the

initiation of the National Plant

Agro-biodiversity Conservation

Strategy for Oman has been

a particularly signiicant mile-stone for OAPGRC this year.

International collaboration

has been a key element in the

center’s activities in 2014. This

can be seen in its missions to

Switzerland, South Korea, the

United Kingdom, the United

States, and Turkey; the wide

range of international collab-

orations the center has estab-

lished over the year; the variety

of domestic and international

memoranda of understanding

it has entered into. OAPGRC

has also initiated an important

domestic collaboration with

Dhofar University.

Dr. Nadiya Al Saady

Executive Director,

OAPGRC

Citation: Oman Animal and Plant Genetic Resources Center (OAPGRC). 2014.

[OAPGRC Year in Review 2014]. Muscat. Sultanate of Oman.

Copyright © 2016, Oman Animal and Plant Genetic Resources Center (OAPGRC). All Rights Reserved.



Hamad Al Busaidi



In response to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s order to review Oman’s opportunities to protect its

globally signiicant genetic resources, the Oman Animal and Plant Genetic Resources Center (OAPGRC) was established by TRC in 2012.

With a mission is to promote the recognition, sustainable utilization and value of the genetic diversity

inherent in Oman’s animals, plants and microorganisms as a natural heritage resource, the Center has

been created speciically to advance the sustainable use of animal and plant genetic resources through education, research and innovation. This important work is intended to serve and beneit not only the people of Oman but the wider international community and the generations yet to come as OAPGRC

develops as a collaborative regional center for all animal and plant genetic resources activities, promoting

the sustainable use of knowledge across economic sectors and social segments and creating value from

world-class research and practical innovation.

About OAPGRC

Mission

To promote recognition, sustainable

exploitation and valuation of genetic

diversity inherent in Oman’s animals,

plants and microorganisms

Vision

Develop as a collaborative hub for all

animal and plant genetic resources

activities.

Promote the sustainable use of

knowledge across economic sectors and

social segments.

Create value from world-class research

and practical innovation.

Open to the world of international

science and have a speciic concern for building a recognized local capacity

in the ield of genetic resources. als, plants and microorganisms as a natural

heritage resource.


Governance

The proposed governance structure aims at opening up fruitful collaboration with local and international

actors

The OAPGRC was created under the Research Council

A steering committee oversees initiatives and assess progress

An advisory board provides scientiic and technical guidance

Thematic and kingdom-based committees advice on speciic matters

Partnerships with local stakeholders shall be established

The CEO shall report to the steering

committee

The advisory board shall provide some

inputs on the scientiic, strategic and operational choices of the OAPGRC

Detailed operational plans, investment and asset decisions, research priorities shall be discussed

by permanent and ad hoc committees that include local subject matter experts

The Center’s research and innovation activities, education, training and service doings shall

involve collaboration with staf from other local organizations

The steering committee shall include

representatives from the local

stakeholders

It shall also regularly review progress and

provide opinion on the eiciency of the OAPGRC


Animal PlantAs the world’s human population expands, great

demands are being placed on our environment and

resources – the very environment and resources

we share with our native animals. We share their

landscapes and ecosystems, we breathe the same air

and drink the same water; we eat the same food.

Oman is home to a great variety of native animals

from oryx and leopard to goat and turtle. Of these,

there are many endangered and critically endangered

species. Currently, six species of mammals are critically

endangered and three are endangered. In addition,

nine species of birds are endangered as are three out

of Oman’s ive species of turtle.

A vital link in our food chain, we need not only to

preserve each species of animal but also the diversity

that exists within each species; Increased diversity of

genes within species, reduces the risk of diseases and

increases the potential to adapt to climate change.

If we don’t manage our native animals, if we don’t

ensure their habitats are not compromised, if we don’t

ensure they have the food and water they need, not

just to survive but to thrive, we risk more of them

becoming endangered and extinct. Their survival

is crucial – each species lost is a vital link broken in

the chain of biodiversity that is fundamental to our

ecosystem.

It is estimated that today, only 30 crops provide %95

of human food energy needs and just four of them –

rice, wheat, maize and potatoes – provide more than

%60. Given the signiicance of this relatively small number of crops for global food security, it is crucial to

conserve diversity within them.

A key element in food security, agrobiodiversity has

become an issue of increasing international concern

in recent years, as a rapidly growing world population

has already begun to impact on food demand. This,

along with the globalization of agricultural markets,

has lead to signiicant land use changes and a rapid loss in agricultural biodiversity worldwide.

Oman has been blessed with a rich abundance of

biodiversity of which our plant agrobiodiversity is

a signiicant and vital part. Plant agrobiodiversity includes, but is not limited to: seed varieties, plants

and weeds.

Crop wild relatives are a crucial part of our agricultural

landscape. Closely related to our crops, they grow

naturally under a wide range of environmental

conditions. By cross-breeding them with existing

crops, varieties more resilient to climate change can

be produced.

Organized preservation of genetic resources is a

prerequisite for future generations to be able to breed

crop varieties as they face the challenges of a growing

population and changing environmental conditions.

They are a part of our natural capital and, underpinning

our food chain, are essential not just to the well-being

of those whose livelihoods are connected to the land,

but to every single one of us and the generations that

come after us.

As yet, we do not know everything about future

demands for crop varieties, but we do know that they

will have to be part of a more environmentally friendly

cultivation system, be of better quality and have

improved resistances.

MicrobialOman has been connected to the water for generations

and with over 1,200 species of ish, an exciting variety of turtles and other sea creatures and organisms, the

sultanate is justly famous for its vibrant marine life.

Our ish, our marine biodiversity, our seas are essential parts of the life-support system of our planet. They

provide us with enormous value and beneits and we have a responsibility to ensure that we leave future

generations a marine ecosystem that is productive

and plentiful.

Fish are an important source of nutrition, supplying

proteins and minerals in a combination ofered by no other foodstuf. However, advances in technology have led to increased ocean exploration and we now

see new value and possibilities coming from our ish and other forms of marine life. More chemicals and

biological materials from ish and marine organisms are coming into use or are under development. Drugs

from our seas are, without doubt, one of the most

promising new directions in marine science.

Oman has a huge and untapped treasure chest of ish and other marine life – it is a precious commodity,

both a key to a rich and productive future and a vital

element in our food security. We need to protect this

almost unfathomable biodiversity and astonishing

genetic resource from the joint threats of pollution,

over-ishing and climate change. If our oceans are to cope with what the future has in store, we need to act

now to take care of the fabric of life in our seas.

A menagerie of invisible organisms encompassing

viruses, bacteria, archaea, and protista are commonly

known under general term of microbes. Microbes are

found in every imaginable habitat – from the peaks

of the highest mountains to insides our digestive

systems. The arid climate of Oman, together with its

unique geological and hydrological features, ofers conditions for development of a range of diverse

microorganisms. Many of those are still waiting to be

discovered.

Fortunately, despite their reputation, most of the

microbes are harmless. Indeed, we need them to stay

healthy and to keep the Earth›s ecosystems running.

They can also help us deal with new challenges – from

treating water and solid waste to producing renewable

biofuels and breaking down toxic petrochemicals.

As with animals, plants, and marine life, we need

to preserve each type of microbes, and its varieties

(strains). The power of diversity is required to ensure that we have a variety of genetic resources to deal

with the demands and challenges presented by our

changing planet.

Marine



OAPGRC Programs

Data Collection

& Maintenance

Program

Information

System Backbone

Program

2014 saw collaboration between OAPGRC and Biodiversity

International to create GRIP, a comprehensive database of Oman’s

plant genetic resources. The export of data to the database is ongoing .

GRIP is accessible, through the OAPGRC website, to researchers who

are interested, or involved, in genetic resources.

GRIP is being developed and expanded to include animal, marine and

microbial genetic resources information.

The goal of GRIP is to support and preserve indigenous plant,

livestock, marine and microbial life and empower Oman to respond to

biosecurity issues, environmental changes and food risks.

For more information visit:

https://oapgrc.gov.om/Pages/DataBase.aspx

During 2014, a database on 1,200 native plant species was completed

from information collected from public sources and publications.

It contains details on family, genus, species, use, distribution and

references. Stored in Excel databases, this resource has been exported

to the Genetic Resources Information Platform (GRIP) and is available to researchers through the OAPGRC website.

The compilation of data from literature on native fungal, microbial,

animal and marine species is ongoing.

Similarly, work is underway to compile databases of publications on

plant, animal, marine and microbial native species.

Numbers indicate current species data in the OAPGRC database.


Public Awareness

Program

Reaching out across a range of platforms, in a variety of ways, to all

sectors of the community, our public awareness campaign highlights

the importance of Oman’s genetic resources and promotes the

recognition, sustainable utilization and valuation of the genetic

diversity inherent in Oman’s animals, plants and microorganisms as

natural heritage resources.

The program includes a range of activities and initiatives: OAPGRC

Science Café; OAPGRC Roadshow; participation in exhibitions;

website; development of OAPGRC brand identity; and ilms.

Science Café

Exhibitions

Website

Brand

Films

Roadshow

Public Awareness Program


Launched in 2013, OAPGRC’s

popular Science Café series

has taken place regularly

throughout 2014 with sessions

alternating between English

and Arabic and has drawn an

increasingly large audience.

This OAPGRC initiative was

designed to introduce the

general public to Oman’s wealth

of animal and plant genetic

resources and share their

possibilities and potential. Held

in relaxed and informal settings

and covering topics pertinent

to Oman, the Science Cafés

connect the audience with

scientists and those involved

in, and connected to, genetic

resources.

Science Café sessions in 2014

were:

• Bio Diversity and

Genetic Erosion

• Global Warming and

Biodiversity

• Renewable Energy

• Horses and Camels,

History of 4,000 years

and Endless Story

• You are what you Eat,

Food for Thought

• Millennials and the

Future of Food

Science Café

2014 saw the adoption of a strong, clearly identiiable OAPGRC brand that relects its work and goals.

Inspired by the double

helix of DNA, the

OAPGRC logo is made

up of two overlapping

strands which also

relect the X and Y male and female

chromosomes. The

two-strands resemble

a sheath of wheat - one of the most important

plants in Oman and

fundamental to our

food security. The

lower half of the

symbol represents a

seed (plant) or an egg (animal).

The red and green in

the logo are the same as

the colours of The Research Council, acknowledging

the organization responsible for establishing the

OAPGRC. These are, of course, also the colours of

Oman.

In December 2014, OAPGRC began work on the

production of a ilm to highlight the importance of genetic resources in the sultanate, the goals and

aims of OAPGRC. By featuring people involved in

OAPGRC projects and initiatives, the ilm gives a clear illustration of the center’s important and wide-

ranging work.

Brand

Films

Roadshow

2014 saw the planning and preparation for the

OAPGRC Roadshow. The Roadshow will present

a unique opportunity for children to connect with

Oman’s amazing

biodiversity, its

possibilities, and

the importance of

conservation by

engaging in a variety

of fun educational

activities.

The Roadshow will commence in February 2015

and, over a 12 week period, will visit all 11 of Oman’s

governorates. It will target schoolchildren aged -12

8, their parents and

teachers.

OAPGRC participates in relevant exhibitions in

Oman and the region.

In January 2014, OAPGRC took part in the

International Horse, Camel and Heritage Exhibition

at the Oman Exhibition Centre.

Exhibitions

In 2014, work on the OPAGRC website was initiated

and became fully operational in 2015.

Our website will play an important role not just in

providing information on OAPGRC, its achievements,

its initiatives and its activities but as an access point to

our Genetic Resources Information Platform.

Website



Co-ordination

& Dialogue

Platform

The objectives of the Co-ordination and Dialogue Platform are to:

Strengthen dialogue, co-ordination and synergy among stakeholders

and across facilities available for genetic resources activities

Share experience, expertise and best practice

Create a platform for mutual learning and dissemination of knowledge

and examples

Scientiic Committees

Documents Review

Conferences, Seminars,

Workshops & MeetingsCo-ordination & Dialogue Platform


Composed of local and international experts,

scientiic committees for the animal, plant, marine and microbial genetic resources have been set up

as part of the Co-ordination and Dialogue Platform.

The committees advise the executive director on a

variety of issues – from species and research area

priorities to conservation and research facilities.

During 2014, two meetings were held with each

scientiic committee. The outcomes were as follows:• Summary reports of OAPGRC stakeholders on

genetic resources activities were documented

for all sectors.

• The scientiic committees established criteria to prioritize species of all related sectors, followed

by a list of priority species.

• Two ad hoc committees for the animal genetic

resources sector were set up, for wild and

domesticated species, to accomplish this task.

• Scientiic Committee members advised on OAPGRC genetic resources database structure

for all four related sectors.

• Members contributed related scientiic publications on the genetic resources of Oman

to the OAPGRC e-library, to be used in the

developing genetic resources databases.

• The animal, microbial and plant sector

committees received, discussed and evaluated

three research

project proposals to be submitted as commissioned

research grants:

• Bio-banking cells and tissues from endangered

species in Oman (animal genetic resources sector);

• Establishment of a culture collection of Fungi

at Sultan Qaboos University (microbial genetic resources sector);

• Conservation of the Seed and Plant Genetic

Resources Unit seed collections, Directorate

General of Agriculture and Livestock Research,

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (plant genetic resources sector).

• The committee members contributed to

discussions on all current related OAPGRC

activities, including:

- Research facilities infrastructure

- Genetic Resources Roadshow

- Science Café

- Website

Scientiic Committees Conferences, Seminars,

Workshops & Meetings

Regional Training Workshop

National Plant Genetic Networks for Strengthening Regional Co-operation and Knowledge Sharing

August, 2014, Cairo, Egyp

2014 IORA Council of Ministers meeting

October, 2014, Perth, Australia

45th Session of the UPOV Technical Working Party for Fruit Crops

May, 2014, Marrakesh, Morocc

UPOV - Technical Committee (TC/50)April, 2014, Geneva, Switzerland

The Role of Global Plant Genetic Resources for Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture in the Middle East

November, 2014, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

International Conference on Marine Invasive Species: Management of Ballast Water and Other Vectors

February, 2014, Muscat, Oman

The International Treaty, Climate Change & Food Security

The 4th High-Level Round-Table on the International Treaty

New York under the patronage of H.E. Minister Al-Sajwani of Oman

on the occasion of the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

September 2014, United Nations Headquarters, New York, USA

A seminar was held with in conjunction with the College of Agriculture and Marine

Sciences (CAMS), Sultan Qaboos University, to introduce OAPGRC projects and to discuss future collaboration with CAMS September, 2013, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman

During 2014, OAPGRC staf participated in a number of regional and international meetings and conferences. They were:



In collaboration with Dhofar University, OAPGRC

organised the First Meeting of Medicinal Plants

Focal Points of Indian Ocean Rim Association

the Regional Centre for Science and Technology

Transfer (IORA RCSTT) Cum Exhibition 25-23 June, 2014, Salalah, Oman

Topic covered at the event included:

• Policy making for medicinal plants and herbal

medicine in IORA member states

• Standards and standardization process for

medicinal plants and herbal medicine

• Technology transfer and commercialization

• • Import and export of medicinal plants and

herbal medicine and relevant criteria in

diferent countries in the region

• Role of focal points in developing IORMPNet

and deining their tasks, duties and missions in regard to the above issues in their countries

• Establishment of a special fund for medicinal

plants and herbal medicine for IORA member

states

• Country reports of IORA member states on

the status of herbal medicine

Attended by resource persons and private

sector from Egypt, India, the Islamic Republic of

Iran, Malaysia, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Thailand

and Oman, the outcomes of the meeting were

highlighted in Salalah Declaration.

The following was recommended to support

networking among IORA Member States and

other developing countries on applied research,

technology transfer and commercialization

considering the following issues and activities:

To conduct co-operative and joint activities

in applied research, technology transfer and

commercialization including:

• Technology exhibitions;

• Conference/training programs;

• Technology transfer activities;

• Developing a regional vision for technology

development and commercialization;

The First Meeting of Medicinal Plants Focal Points of IORA RCSTT cum Exhibition

The following was resolved:

• To continue the experts’ meetings program. This

event shall be held at least annually, to be hosted

by one or more countries which are voluntarily

selected in the previous meeting with IORA

RCSTT as the biannual host.

• An Ad Hoc committee on ‘Standards and

Standardization for Medicinal Plants and Herbal

Medicine’ was established.

• Dhofar University, Salalah, Oman proposed

a collaboration with CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow,

India, for the development of a research/

academic program for the characterization and

conservation of the biodiversity of medicinal

plants in the Dhofar region of Oman.

• Dhofar University, Salalah, Oman initiated a

signage of a memorandum of understanding

between Dhofar University, Oman and seven

private companies to work on developing and

transferring technological methods of producing

herbal medicine and other herbal processing

products.

• The private sector participants of this meeting

would meet their counterparts in the chamber of

commerce of the Sultanate of Oman to explore

the possible technology transfer and business

co-operation.



The Center assist in the review of international action plans, conventions, protocols, and domestically, laws

and by-laws relating to genetic resources.

in 2014, the center contribute to the following:

• Strategic Action Plan for the Implementation of the Beneit-Sharing Fund in the Near East and North Africa and Beyond: 2020 – 2014

• Convention on Biological Diversity documents:

- Potential positive and negative impacts of components, organisms and products resulting from

synthetic biology techniques on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity

- Possible gaps and overlaps with the applicable provisions of the Convention, its Protocols and

other relevant agreements related to components, organisms and products resulting from

synthetic biology techniques.

- Cartagena Protocol: National biosafety strategic action plan.

- Nagoya Protocol.

• By-Law of Plant Variety Protection of plant breeding rights by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

This By-Law gives an explanation of the Royal Decree N0.49 in 2009 (The Law of Plant Variety Protection).

Documents Review

Strategic

Priorities

• National Plant Agro-biodiversity Conservation Strategy for Oman

Agricultural biodiversity plays a crucial part in our natural ecosystem

such as soil and water conservation and the maintenance of soil

fertility and pollination. It also contributes to food security and the

security of the livelihoods of farmers, and those in related industries,

across the sultanate.

Devised and commissioned by OAPGRC, after consultation with

domestic, regional and international experts and stakeholders,

the strategy will give guidance on preserving Oman’s plant agro-

biodiversity. Building on and meeting regional and international

mechanisms, it will provide for the establishment of best practice and

oversee the sustainable exploitation of Omani plant genetic resources

to beneit the nation.

The irst phase of the strategy began in 2014 with the visit of Dr.

Nigel Maxted, from Birmingham University, UK. An expert in genetic

conservation, Dr. Maxted will guide the development of the strategy

while collaborating with domestic, regional and international experts

and stakeholders.



Waheed Al Fazari



Oicial Missions Visits During 2014, OAPGRC participated in the following:

Meetings of the Inter-governmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources,

Traditional Knowledge and Folklore Geneva, Switzerland, February 2014

Third meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the open-ended Nagoya Protocol on Access

and Beneit-Sharing City, South Korea, February 2014

First Meeting of the focal points in the ield of Herbal Medicine in collaboration with the Regional Center for the Exchange of Information and Technology Salalah, Oman, June 2104

28th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources,

Medicine and Traditional Knowledge Geneva, Switzerland, July 2014

Participated in the Twenty-Eighth session meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee on

Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources, and Traditional Knowledge May-June 2014, Holland, USA,

Germany, United Kingdom

Fourth meeting of the high-level round table of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources

for Food and Agriculture. City, USA, September 2014

13th General Conference and the International Conference of the Association of Agricultural Research

Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA).City, Turkey, October 2014

Fruit tress working group of International Union for Plant Protection (UPOV). Marrakesh, Morocco in May 2014.

During 2014 a variety of visits were undertaken.

The objectives of the visits were to learn about international standard research and conservation facilities,

such as:

breeding facilities for large marine mammals;

in vitro storage and cryo preservation storage of plants and wild animal species;

gene bank documentation system;

bioinformatics analysis system;

learn about animal, marine, microbial and plant genetic resources research programs and projects.

network for future project collaboration.

Identify expert assistance in the development of animal, marine and microbial genetic resources

databases.

Identify OAPGRC staf training possibilities vis-a-vis collaborative projects.

Visits were made to:

San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, USA

Birch Aquarium, City, USA

The Marine Mammal Center, City, USA

Centre for Genetic Resources, Wageningen, the Netherlands

CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, City, the Netherlands

Fraunhofer Research Institution for Marine Biotechnology, City, Germany

CABI center (microbial collections), Egham, UK,

Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, London, UK

Scottish Association for Marine Sciences Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa, City, UK

Fruit tress working group of International

Union for Plant Protection (UPOV)



Collaboration

Recognizing the importance of sharing knowledge, systems and approaches, OAPGRC has undertaken

collaborations with a variety of domestic and international institutions and organizations. These include:

The memoranda of understanding entered into by OAPGRC during 2014 relect its growing international role and activities.

National:

OAPGRC signed an MOU with Dhofar University to enhance scientiic collaboration

international:

• International Association of Agriculture Research Institute of Near East and North Africa (AARINENA)

The center was involved in drafting a strategy for the region with other country members and published this

strategy in 2014.

• Bioversity International

During the year, Bioversity International provided the software for the genetic information database

management system (GRIN-Global) and collaborated with the center and TRC on technical issues regarding its implementation. Additionally, a collaborative concept note on capacity building for the Genetic Resources

Information Network (GRIP) was agreed between Biodiversity International and OAPGRC.

• Kassel University

A research proposal was developed between the center and the University of Kassel, Germany on local

banana genetic resources. The proposal was submitted during the last quarter of 2014

• Birmingham University

A proposal was initiated to develop a national plant agrobiodiversity conservation strategy for Oman.

• Food and Agriculture Organization for the United Nations FAO

Since 2014, the center has been the focal point for the Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

Network Platform (PGRFA Platform).

• Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

Since 2013 the center has been the focal point for medicinal plants.



The Center has increased its Arabic and English

print media presence during the year with its

news, activities and interviews being featured

prominently in daily and weekly newspapers and

magazines.

2014 saw OAPGRC feature regularly in radio

interviews.

In addition, the center’s online media presence

has grown dramatically and its press releases are

picked up by a variety of regional and international

news portals. It also has a strong social media

presence with Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

accounts which are attracting increasing numbers

of active followers.

Facility

Media

Currently located in Al Athaiba, Muscat, plans are

in place for a dedicated facility which will include:

Animal, marine, plant, microbial facilities

Facilities for visiting scientists

Library and museum

Conference and exhibition facilities

A request for tenders was issued during the year

and proposals were received. Contractors will be

interviewed in January 2015.

Human Resources

OAPGRC takes pride in its fast growing team of skilled and experienced

personnel and considers them to be amongst its most important assets.

The team is absolutely committed to conserving and developing Oman’s

genetic resources and enthusiastic about creating opportunities to use

them sustainably; it thrives on the challenge of achieving this.

This year our team has grown from 10 to 24 members and plans are

currently in place to recruit a further ive personnel.