Farming for Biodiversity

NATIONAL AGRIULTIRE RESEARCH CENTER-MINISTRY F AGRICULTURE

Jenin, Wilayah Palestina

An Overview Of Our Solution

Livestock production systems in Palestine are largely based on low cost agro-byproducts and traditional technologies primarily for producing milk, meat, eggs, etc., and the devoted land holding is invariably small. However, the livestock sector in Palestine is undergoing unprecedented rapid and dynamic change which maypresent opportunities for improvement in livestock-related livelihoods as well as posing a number of challenges to poor livestock keepers. Rapidly growing demand for livestock products are creating new opportunities for poor livestock keepers, but changes in processing and retailing such as the supermarket revolution increased concerns about environmental impacts of livestock production, and new and emerging diseases could threaten the access of poor livestock keepers to these opportunities. This is in addition to many other concerns.
Who is this solution impacting?
Community Type
Suburban
Suburban
Additional Information
  • Population Impacted:
  • Continent: Asia
General Information

Organization type

Pemerintah
Ecosystem (select all that apply)
Deserts
Deserts
Grasslands
Grasslands

Population impacted

N/A
Challenge

Size of agricultural area

N/A

Production quantity

N/A

People employed

N/A
Solution

Describe your solution

Cryoconservation of animal genetics resources is an urgent need to preserve and maintain animal genetic diversity in Palestine. The gene bank advisory committee should be responsible for all aspects of the project including financial support, establishment, and maintenance of the gene bank. The committee should include representatives from MoA, academia, private companies, and farmers. For cryoconservation of semen, ova, embryos and tissues, there is an urgent need to train three graduate students in the fields of molecular genetics, quantitative and population genetics, and reproductive physiology in addition to at least one laboratory technician. Breed characterization is the first critical step in livestock improvement. Because of the special circumstances in Palestine regarding the observed sharp decrease in numbers of local breeds such as Baladi cattle and Awassi sheep, it is urgent to characterize these breeds as soon as possible. After breed characterization, it is necessary to start collecting semen, blood, and skin tissues from local Baladi cattle and the different sheep and goat breeds as described in detail in the report. For the location of the proposed gene bank, I would
Implementation

Describe your implementation

- Plan and conduct exploration missions to survey the genetic resources in their native habitat; 2- Collection, , Identification, Characterization and Evaluation of National Collections of Animal an Genetic Resources Conservation ( Identification of genes of agricultural importance, Genetic characterization of breeds/populations and Possession of unique traits ( Genetic uniqueness ) 3- Availability of genetic materials forcentral artificial insemination unit , association , farmers etc… 4-Strengthening the international cooperation in the field of genetic resources ( GR) 5- Facilitate the exchange of GR and related information under a Material Transfer Agreement 6- Document all the information generated for each accession on the NGBGR database 7- Enhance public awareness on the importance of maintaining genetic resources and promoting in situ and on-farm conservation Main constrains: In the first phase, most neededequipment necessary for animal gene bankwere already provided by FAO,but upon detailed analysis, the following concerns should be taken into account: 1- There is a serious lack of expertise in animal gene bank management 2- Lack of required qualifications and skills to run the animal gene bank 3- lack of any archived data related to animal genetic resources in Palestine - Specific activities and/or specifically what your solution does to address the identified problems above in the Context Analysis section - How you ensured your solution was adopted and promoted change in human activities - Enabling conditions - Key success factors - Any obstacles and how you overcame them

External connections

No Response
Results

What is the environmental or ecological challenge you are targeting with your solution?

Improved productivity of animal breeds in Palestine Conservation of farm genetic resources in Palestine

Describe the context in which you are operating

1. Introduction: the importance of livestock species
Livestock production started approximately 10,000 years ago with the domestication of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and chicken (Rothschild & Plastow 2008). Following domestication, livestock species have been successfully improved through breeding and selection in terms of yield and production efficiency, allowing better use of land resources (Rosa 2011). At the present time, livestock species supply human populations with food (e.g., milk, meat, and eggs), raw material for clothing and other goods (e.g., leather, wool, and feather), labor (e.g., transportation and traction power), manure, and companionship (Randolph et al. 2007; Rosa 2011). In addition, livestock species significantly contribute to human medicine and are commonly used for biomedical research purposes. Remarkable genetic improvement of different economically and socially important traits in livestock species has been observed in the last decades. Such genetic improvements have been achieved mainly through the selection and breeding of superior animals using basic principles of population and quantitative genetics.

2. The need to establish a gene bank in Palestine
Genetic resources that are maintained outside of their natural habitats and managed under artificial conditions in facilities are known as gene banks. A gene bank should be established in Palestine with several justifications.

How did you impact natural resource use and greenhouse gas emissions?

The need to establish a gene bank in Palestine Genetic resources that are maintained outside of their natural habitats and managed under artificial conditions in facilities are known as gene banks. A gene bank should be established in Palestine for the following justifications: • To maintain domestic animal diversity. Animal genetic diversity will allow livestock species respond to environmental changes, market demand, and disease challenges. Animal genetic diversity can be maintained either by in-situ conservation (active breeding) or cryoconservation, which is a collection and deep freezing of biological materials as such semen, eggs, embryos, or tissues. Given that there are no structured active breeding programs in Palestine, • A gene bank in Palestine would provide an immediate response to the sharp decline in numbers of some breeds such as Baladi cattle. Currently, there are only about 2,000 Baladi cattle in Palestine Tubas area and those are under threat of additional decline. • Biological samples stored in a gene bank can be used as a backup in cases of natural or man-made disasters. Frozen embryos or semen can be used to restore breeds if they are lost. A gene bank in Palestine would provide a unique opportunity for research and training of technicians and students in the Palestinian universities. DNA

Language(s)

Which language(s) are spoken in the area where your solution is implemented?

Social/Community

500 characters max.

Water

500 characters max.

Food Security/Nutrition

500 characters max.

Economic/Sustainable Development

500 characters max.

Climate

500 characters max.

Sustainability

1-Our knowledge of indigenous animal genetic resources improved .
2- Our knowledge in Breeding programs improved
3- Quantitative methods to improve the understanding and utilization of animal genetic resources
4- Partnership with other genetic resources unit established
5- Overall capacities and skills of staff improved

Return on investment

30000 dolar
Replication and Scale

How could we successfully replicate this solution elsewhere?

Consumable: Chemical for semen freezing, extending etc Chemical and reagents for molecular work 20000 Building capacities 10000 Scientific visits 30000
Overview