From April 2 to 5, 2025, the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) held a regional workshop and study tour titled “Scaling Up Innovative Technologies in Local Wheat Seed Systems in North Africa,” in cooperation with the Agricultural Research Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation of the Arab Republic of Egypt. The event took place at the Center’s headquarters in Giza.
This training visit is part of a regional project to develop climate-resilient wheat varieties and accelerate the adoption of modern wheat technologies in North Africa and Central Asia. The workshop gathered participants from Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, and Iraq, including researchers, plant breeders, agricultural engineers, seed companies, private sector representatives, and international and regional organizations. The goal was to enhance scientific and technical cooperation for boosting wheat production and achieving food security in the region.
The workshop focused on the dissemination of improved climate-resilient wheat varieties, enhancing seed quality and certification to ensure farmers have access to high-quality seeds, and transferring knowledge in biotechnology and genetic breeding. It also aimed to promote climate-smart agricultural practices, particularly in water and soil management.
Participants conducted field visits to several research stations and facilities, including Gemmeiza Research Station in Gharbia Governorate, where they met with the national wheat research team and reviewed progress on new high-performing wheat varieties. They also visited the Nubaria Agricultural Research Station to observe applications of innovative technologies in desert environments, and the Biotechnology Research Laboratory, where the latest advancements in genetic engineering and molecular breeding were showcased.
The workshop featured rich exchanges between local Egyptian researchers and their counterparts from participating countries. It also included strategic planning sessions with ICARDA experts, during which participants addressed challenges and opportunities in developing seed systems. Working groups were formed to draft action plans, proposing the harmonization of seed certification standards and strengthening regional integration in research, distribution, and training.
The workshop concluded with key recommendations: accelerating adoption of modern wheat production technologies, including improved climate-resilient varieties and their widespread use by farmers; upgrading regional seed systems and infrastructure for efficient and sustainable seed certification and distribution; and strengthening human and research capacity in participating countries through doctoral programs in wheat sciences, training over one million farmers, and developing young researchers in genetics, biotechnology, and specialized agricultural extension.
This initiative reflects IOFS’s ongoing commitment to supporting its Member States in adopting sustainable solutions to climate challenges and enhancing food security through agricultural innovation, technology transfer, and value chain development.
