The regional two-week training course on climate-resilient crop breeding has ended at the Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), Faisalabad, in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC).
The two-week course on “Application of Nuclear and Molecular Technologies for Enhancing Biotic and Abiotic Stress Resistance in Crop Breeding” was attended by 34 participants from 17 countries, including six scientists from Pakistan.
Dr Shakeel Abbas Rofi, Member (Science), PAEC, was the chief guest at the closing ceremony and congratulated the participants on the successful completion of the specialised training.
He pointed out that the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology has contributed to Pakistan’s socio-economic development, to which PAEC has always made its contribution.
He stated that PAEC’s specialised institutes of agriculture and biotechnology, such as NIAB, are engaged in the development of crops that are resilient to climate change, the promotion of sustainable agriculture and enhancing food security.
Dr Rofi said NIAB’s position as an IAEA Collaborating Centre should give it a certain credibility and status in international nuclear techniques cooperation in the field of food and agriculture.
He felt that the IAEA has played a valuable role in the programme and appreciated them for choosing Pakistan as a host country for the regional course.
Ms Lin Yang, the Programme Management Officer of the IAEA, congratulated the participants and thanked the Government of Pakistan, PAEC and NIAB for their support to successfully conduct the training.
The programme emphasised cutting-edge nuclear and molecular technologies for enhancing resistance of crops to drought, salinity, pests, diseases and elevated temperatures.
All participants were trained in mutation breeding, molecular screening, genotyping, phenotyping, marker-assisted selection, genome editing, DNA sequencing and application of artificial intelligence and big data analysis in precision breeding.
The course also comprised hands-on lab sessions and an institutional visit to National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE) and NIAB.
The participants were provided with hands-on experience in DNA analysis, mutation breeding and molecular screening and association mapping.
The training was carried out under the Technical Cooperation Project RAS 5102 of IAEA and in collaboration with the experts of the Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
At the closing ceremony of the regional training programme, certificates were awarded to the participants.