The Role of Gene Banks to Preservation Plant Genetic Resources for Combat Food Insecurity in Qatar

Abstract

Qatar is firmly committed to conserving its biodiversity and is party to the Convention on Biological Diversity and within this the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), and has developed its own National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). Based on an assessment of the status of biodiversity in the country, Qatar's NBSAP identified a total of 11 strategic goals that identify the most pressing biodiversity issues in Qatar including; protected areas, agro biodiversity and desertification, scientific research, education and public awareness. Qatar is home to unique and important habitats, but due to changes in land use and increased development, habitat reduction has emerged as a significant threat to its biodiversity. Qatar is distinguished for its diverse flora that consists of nearly 420 plant species which pave the way for the establishment of the basis gene bank. In accordance with the international conventions which Qatar has recently joined and ratified, the gene bank has conducted ecogeographical surveys about the plant genetic resources. As a result of conducting these surveys, a complete set of seed plants of the Qatari plants genetic resources are conserved as well as integrated database is created to facilitate electronic exchange among relevant stakeholders and countries to use the resources for studies, research, food security and development. A conservation plan is addressed to conserve plant genetic resources to face the challenges of food security in Qatar. This plan is based on Qatar national biodiversity strategy and action plan 2004 and Ministry of Environment national strategy projects 2011–2016. In this study, we focus on the project of Plant Genetic Resources Conservation in Qatar, the project has addressed in five key objectives; plant and seed conservation, molecular genetic characterization, training and capacity building, documentation of Qatar plant genetic resources, and increasing awareness of plant genetic resource's value. We reported that genetic resources department “gene bank” have been collected and conserved 210 seed accessions, 2800 herbarium specimens, and 287 Plant sample for Genetic characterization. On the other hand department of agricultural research start developing field gene bank. Plant genetic resources conservation, including all seed processing and treatments in gene bank “seed cleaning, seeds drying, seed quality test, seeds viability test, seeds germination test as well as store seed at storage rooms. Gene bank make available the conserved germplasm (genetic resources) to several groups of breeders, researchers, graduate and undergraduate students, farmers and other stakeholders. On the other side, we implemented several workshops and training courses about seed conservation in gene bank and access to plant genetic resources and sharing of benefits arising from their utilization. Finally, In fact, Qatar does not have a traditional food insecurity “Lack of access to adequate food during the year due to limited of money”. But food insecurity in Qatar means that Limited resources of biodiversity and agriculture biodiversity resources. As well as it linked to self-sufficiency. Finally, Plant genetic resources provided powerful tools for humanity to control our child's future, and yet not too much been at risk for Qatari genetic resources to be unsustainable, so it is necessary to preserve the natural plant genetic resources on which development is based. Plant genetic resources can be helpful in the achievement of a world without hunger “Food insecurity”.