Amman, Jan. 26 (Petra) – The National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on Monday signed a cooperation agreement for the project titled "Conservation and Genetic Improvement of Local Almond Varieties in Jordan for Sustainable Agricultural Development." Director General of the NARC Ibrahim Rawashdeh said the agreement marks a significant step in Jordan’s efforts to preserve plant genetic resources, particularly local almond varieties, which constitute an essential component of the Kingdom’s agricultural heritage.

He said the agreement aims to conserve and genetically improve local almond varieties through scientific documentation and certification, enabling them to adapt to climate change and enhance productivity and crop quality. He added that the project will contribute to strengthening the sustainability of the agricultural sector and bolstering national food security.

For his part, FAO Representative Nabil Assaf said the agreement represents an important step toward protecting local almond varieties in Jordan, given their high agricultural value and their role in strengthening the sector’s capacity to address future challenges, particularly climate change and genetic erosion.

He said the agreement will enable the NARC to implement a range of activities, including field surveys, sample collection, and morphological analysis of local almond varieties across various regions of the Kingdom, providing a solid scientific basis for the sustainable conservation and development of local genetic resources.

//Petra// AJ