Report on the Regional Workshop "Exchange of Information on National PGRFA Strategies and Development of Regional Collaborative Activities", 22 - 23 September 2014 in Beirut,Lebanon. © FAO: http://www.fao.org

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Optimizing the Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
for Adaptation to Climate Change
(TCP/SNO/3401)
Report on the Regional Workshop
“Exchange of Information on National PGRFA Strategies and
Development of Regional Collaborative Activities”
22-23 September 2014
Rotana-Tamar Hotel, Beirut-Lebanon
By
Lamis Chalak, Regional Project Coordinator
Mona Siblini, National Project Coordinator, Lebanon

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1. Background and Workshop Objectives
As to the climatic change that is drastically affecting agriculture in the Near East Region, plant
genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) have to play a vital role for sustainable
agriculture development through enhancing production and improving livelihoods of people.
Indeed PGRFA provides the most important raw materials for developing required breeding
materials and crop varieties suited to various agro-ecological regions with improved quality and
quantity of crop production. Therefore, the evaluation, sustainable use and conservation of
PGRFA in the region are primordial. The utmost importance is placed in the development of
PGRFA strategies both at national and regional level that can be implemented for the benefit of
farming communities to help them to sustain production and averting the catastrophic impacts
of climate change.
The regional workshop for “Exchange of Information on National PGRFA Strategies and the
Development of Regional Collaborative Activities” is initially planned according to the activity
1.5. of the agreed work plan of the Regional TCP/SNO/3401- Optimizing the Use of Plant
Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture for Adaptation to Climate Change. This workshop
was organized on 22-23 September 2014 at the Rotana Tamar Hotel, Beirut-Lebanon and
consisted of two-day sessions in collaboration with FAO Office in Lebanon and the Lebanese
Ministry of Agriculture (Annex 1).
The objectives of the regional workshop were:
 Introduce the National Strategies on PGRFA developed within the project in Iran, Egypt,
Jordan and Lebanon;
 Review the monitoring and reporting process on the implementation of the Second
Global Plan of Action (GPA2) for PGRFA in each participating country;
 Review the elements to develop collaborative activities on PGRFA in the Near East
Region.
Twenty five participants included staff from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of
Environment, Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute, Lebanese University, National Council
for Scientific Research in Lebanon, ICARDA-Lebanon, National Project Coordinators and National
Consultants in the four project participating countries i.e. Egypt, Iran, Jordan, and Lebanon, FAO
RNE, FAO-HQs and Regional Project Coordinator participated in the workshop (Annex 2).
This document presents a summary of the main workshop activities including presentations,
discussions, working groups outcomes and specific recommendations.
2. Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony was held under the patronage of the Minister of Agriculture Mr Akram
Shehayeb, represented by the Director of Plant resources, Mr Mohamad Abou Zeid, and in the
presence of the FAO Representative in Lebanon Dr Maurice Saade. Ms. Mona Siblini, the
National Project Coordinator, Lebanon welcomed the participants and presented the agenda of
this workshop (Annex 1) and explained briefly the main objectives of this meeting. Project Lead
Technical Officer FAO-RNE stressed on the importance of the project to secure food in the
future, he briefly explained that due to the limitation of agricultural area and scarcity of water
resources, an increase in crop production can only be reached by using improved varieties

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through exploring PGRFA; and in this context this regional project gains its importance. Project
Regional Coordinator Dr Lamis Chalak stressed on the major achievements of this project,
particularly the two national training workshops held in Cairo last August and the benefits
gained by the participants, before focusing on the importance of this regional workshop on
National Strategies for PGRFA conservation and management in the Near East Region. Dr.
Saade, FAO Representative, Lebanon, focused on the impact of climate change on the
agriculture sector; he identified as an example the influence of the difference of temperature
between day and night on the production of some fruit crops and linked the proper
management of the PGRFA with food security. Mr Mohamad Abou Zeid, representing H.E. the
Minister, expressed gratitude to FAO for its continuous support to the agriculture sector in
Lebanon and appreciated the valuable contribution of this project to optimize the use of PGR in
the region by allowing expertise exchange and interaction. He finally wished for this workshop
success and fruitful results.
3. Workshop Plenaries
The format for the workshop followed the agenda program (Annex 1) basically constituted of
the following presentations.
Title of the paper Name of the speaker
National PGR Strategy for Jordan Dr Maha Syouf
National PGR Strategy for Egypt Dr Samy Sabry
National PGR Strategy for Iran Dr Javad Mozafari
National PGR Strategy for Lebanon Dr Lamis Chalak
Monitoring and reporting on the implementation of
the Second Global Plan of Action for PGRFA
Dr Stefano Diulgheroff
Monitoring the Second Global Plan of Action for
PGRFA and Data Collection in Jordan
Dr. Nasab Rawashdeh
Monitoring the Second Global Plan of Action for
PGRFA and Data Collection in Iran
Dr. Javad Mozafari
Monitoring the Second Global Plan of Action for
PGRFA and Data Collection in Egypt
Dr. Abeer El Halwagi
Monitoring the Second Global Plan of Action for
PGRFA and Data Collection in Lebanon
Mr Ali Chehade
Elements for developing PGRFA regional collaborative
activities
Dr Chikelu Mba
A Dynamic Regional PGR Knowledge Platform for
the Near East Region
Dr Magdi Latif
The national plant genetic strategies supported by local and foreign data with the major
objectives of improving the livelihood of local communities by implementing policies and

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national programs to enhance conservation and use of PGRFA were first presented by the
NPCs/NCs of the project participating countries. All these presentations were structured in
three main chapters, starting by summarizing the state of PGRFA in each of the four countries,
the establishment of the National PGRFA Strategy and finally its implementation. In all the
presentations, it has been emphasized that PGRFA are of great importance for people and
national interests in terms of food security, agricultural and rural development, and
management of natural resources. Discussion emphasized on the plan of action and
implementation process in the countries.
The national monitoring officers of GPA2 from Jordan, Egypt, Iran and Lebanon presented
respective countries data corresponding to six questions related to: 1) targeted collecting
mission carried out in the country, 2) accessions conserved ex situ under medium- or long-term
conditions, 3) number of accessions regenerated and/or multiplied, 4) number of accessions
and the number of samples distributed, 5) underutilized species with potential for
commercialization, 6) varieties released during the reporting period. After the presentations,
the participants discussed the gaps and constraints hindering the characterization of PGRFA
stored in the national gene banks and exchange of germplasm as well.
An interactive exercise with participants on the use of new software specific to the GPA2 and
the website to enter the needed data was conducted and demonstrated.
Discussion stressed on the key issues that affected conservation and utilization of PGRFA to
develop crops varieties suited to marginal areas affected by salinity and climate change. The
role of the government policies, local and international regulations that affect sharing of
experience/knowledge and exchange of PGRFA materials among the countries was also
debated.
4. Working Groups
After the presentations four working thematic groups to discuss following topics were
convened: WG1: In situ conservation; WG2: Ex situ conservation; WG3: Sustainable use; and
WG4: Seeds system. Discussions within thematic working groups lasted around two hours on
the common features, issues, constraints, potentials, and needs before coming up with a set of
activities that were presented by the leaders of the groups as shown in the table below.
Working Groups Proposed Activities
WG1: In situ conservation 1- Develop an international program for producing knowledge base
for the in situ conservation
2- Educating policy making in order to prevent over harvesting of
species in situ conservation
3- Exchange of experiences among countries for policy regulations
concerning in situ conservation and sharing case studies
4- Enhancing domestication of widely used plant species to reduce
pressure on natural habitat
5- Collaboration on producing and exchanging planting materials
between regional countries while meeting standards

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6- Promoting best practices with regards to in situ conservation
through exchange of information and harmonization of policies and
regulations of access to in situ conditions
7- To enhance linkages between in situ and ex-situ conservation
8- Collaborating on transboundary PGRFA among neighboring
countries on conservation as well as regulation of access
9- Putting in place policies for enhancing participation of farmers in
on farm conservation through creating incentives and providing
market opportunities for their products of conserved PGRFA
10- Promoting on farm management of fruit trees Genetic
Resources through raising awareness and training for PGRFA
workers and farmers through regional workshops
WG2:Ex situ conservation 1- Improve storage conditions, viability and regeneration of PGRFA
2- Characterize and evaluate PGRFA stored in the gene banks to
biotic and abiotic stresses
3- Implement gene bank standards in the region
4- Improve the germplasm exchange and seeds delivery at national
and regional levels
WG3: Sustainable use 1- Assess and prioritize the major challenges that face crop
production in each country in the context of climate change
adaptation and mitigation
2- Characterization and evaluation to important traits of tolerance
to drought, heat, salinity, pests and diseases
3- Integration of the efforts between national gene bank and
breeders for pre-breeding through interdisciplinary approach
4- Broadening the genetic base in the crops accessions
5- Strengthen pre-breeding activities that involve crops wild
relatives
6- Enhance the use of molecular tools in plant breeding
7- Encourage participatory plant breeding approaches involving
farming communities
8- Promote the use of under-utilized crops
9- Develop policies to secure breeder’s rights to encourage
innovation
WG4: Seeds system 1- Exchange of information about regulations, national breeding
program and germplasm
2- Exchange of experiences in seed production systems among
countries in collaboration with international organization
3- Establish regional varieties trials aiming at identifying varieties
suitable to certain common climates in countries which could be the
basis of collaboration on seed multiplication
4- Establish farmer-based seed production in countries that lack a
formal seed system

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5. Conclusions and Recommendations
5.1. General Conclusions
It has been encouraging to note that all the participating countries emphasized on the
importance of the draft national strategies and highlighted the needs for clearly defined
mechanisms to monitoring the implementation of these strategies in the respective countries.
It has also been concluded that work plans associated to clearly defined indicators should be
developed later on to ensure the implementation of national strategies. In this respect the
National PGRFA committee has to play a key role to implement the strategy and obtain
concrete results to demonstrate the value of genetic resources, although such committee
already exists in some countries without being operational. Therefore, it is important that the
national strategies should be endorsed by the national authorities to ensure their efficient
implementation so that the national PGRFA strategies could be aligned with the priority areas
of the second global plan of action.
It has also been realized that there aren’t much studies of the genetic resources
characterization in the four countries. Hence, there is a need to define the genes that have
adaptation to drought, salinity, diseases and pest resistance to be used in further national and
regional breeding programmes. It has been called upon enhancing the technical capacities in
the region and have an analytical comparison of these national strategies; It was recommended
harmonizing the draft national strategies with the regional strategy on PGRFA that has been
recently developed by AARINENA and the necessity to undertake regional strategic actions on
PGRFA exchange and characterization. In this respect the Regional Thematic Knowledge
network can play a vital role for sharing of agricultural information and knowledge exchange
both at national and regional level for building capacities and developing collaborative actions.
It has also been stressed that the monitoring and reporting are extremely important in the
implementation of GPA2 in the countries by the National Focal Points through a normalized
reporting format that limits the work load for countries, and allows a robust data set collection
and acknowledges other existing data sources. It should also lead to sharing information on
national, regional and global levels on the status of PGRFA. The real gaps and needs for
capacity building were identified and highlighted.
Finally participants asked for holding national stakeholders workshops on GPA2 one in each of
the project countries to familiarize stakeholders with indicators, questions and field description,
and to ensure the implementation of GPA2 and to initiate the reporting progress in order to
update the National Information Sharing Mechanism.
5.2. Specific Recommendations
The specific recommendations as generated by the general discussions and conclusions are
provided below in the form of main actions that should be implemented during 2014-2015 :
 National teams will revise the National Strategy developed in each country according
to the “Draft Guidelines for Developing a National Strategy for PGRFA” produced by
the Intergovernmental Working Group on PGRFA (CGRFA/WG-PGR-7/14/Inf.1).

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 National teams will fulfill the remaining project activities according to countries work
plans.
 National Monitoring Officers of GPA2 will continue filling up the excel sheets relevant
to the 18 priority areas of the Second Global Plan of Action.
 National teams in each country will prepare for a National Stakeholders Workshop on
Monitoring and Reporting on the Implementation of the second GPA to be held on 3-
4 November in Jordan; 5-6 November in Egypt; 10-11 November in Lebanon; 4-5
December in Iran.
 National teams in each country will prepare for a National Stakeholders Workshop on
National PGR Knowledge Network for appropriate implementation, ownership and
partnership.
 The four working groups constituted during the workshop [WG1: In situ
conservation; WG2: Ex situ conservation; WG3: Sustainable use; WG4: Seeds system]
are committed to further continue as networking groups in discussing and exchanging
knowledge and information on PGRFA, and fostering partnerships with
regional/international organizations. They are also committed in building project
concept notes to the proposals recommended below, for further collaborative
priority actions on PGRFA conservation and management in the Near East Region:
 In situ conservation of major food crops originated from the Near East Region as a
step towards the development of an international program on in situ conservation.
 Implementation of gene bank standards in the Near East Region.
 Evaluation of traits of interest for the Near East Region through germplasm exchange
and field trials of screened PGRFA.
 Improve farmers’ adaptive capacities to climate change in the Near East Region
through an appropriate seed system.

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Optimizing the Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
for Adaptation to Climate Change
(TCP/SNO/3401)
Annex 1
Regional Workshop
“Exchange of Information on National PGRFA Strategies and
Development of Regional Collaborative Activities”
22-23 September 2014
Rotana Tamar Hotel, Beirut
Program Schedule
September 22, 2014
08:30 - 09:00 Registration
Opening Session
09:00 - 09:05 Welcome Statement by MsMona Siblini, NationalProject Coordinator
09:05 - 09:10 Statement of Dr Dost Muhammad, LTO – RNE
09:10 - 09:20 Statement of FAO Representative in Lebanon
09:20 - 09:30 Statement of H.E. Minister of Agriculture of Lebanon
09:30 - 10:00 Coffee Break
Session II
National Strategies developed for PGRFA management in the Near East Region
Chair Dr Hanaiya Itribi; Co-chair Dr Chikelu Mba
10:00 - 10:30
National PGR Strategy for Jordan
Dr Maha Syouf, National Consultant
10:30 - 11:00
National PGR Strategy for Egypt
Dr Samy Sabry, National Consultant
11:00 - 11:30
National PGR Strategy for Iran
Dr Javad Mozafari, National Consultant
11:30 - 12:00
National PGR Strategy for Lebanon
Dr Lamis Chalak, Regional Project Coordinator
12:00 - 13:00 Discussion of the National Strategies
13:00 - 14:00 Lunch

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Session III
Monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the Second Global Plan of Action for PGRFA in the Near
East Region
Chair Dr Stefano Diulgheroff; Co-chair Dr Sobhiya Saifan
14:00-14:30
Monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the Second Global Plan of Action
for PGRFA, Dr Stefano Diulgheroff, FAO HQs Rome
14:30 -14:45
Monitoring the Second Global Plan of Action for PGRFA and Data Collection in Jordan,
Dr. Nasab Rawashdeh / Dr Sobhiya Saifan
14:45 -15:00
Monitoring the Second Global Plan of Action for PGRFA and Data Collection in Iran, Dr.
Javad Mozafari
15:00 -15:15
Monitoring the Second Global Plan of Action for PGRFA and Data Collection in Egypt,
Dr. Abeer El Halwagi
15:15 -15:30
Monitoring the Second Global Plan of Action for PGRFA and Data Collection in Lebanon,
Mr Ali Chehade
15:30 -16:00 Coffee Break
16:00 -17:30 Discussion
September 23, 2014
Session IV
Developing Regional Collaborative Activities on PGRFA
Chair Dr Javad Mozafari ; Co-chair Lamis Chalak
09:00 - 09:15
Elements for developing PGRFA regional collaborative activities
Chikelu Mba, FAO HQs
09:15 - 09:30
A Dynamic Regional PGR Knowledge Platform for the Near East Region. Dr Magdi
Latif, FAO Cairo
09:30 - 10:00 Coffee Break
10:00 -12:00
WG1: In situ conservation, Led by Dr Javad Mozafari
WG2 : Ex situ conservation, Led by Dr Sabah Saifan
WG3: Sustainable use, Led by Dr Hanaiya Itribi
WG4: Seed System, Led by Ms Mona Siblini
12:00 - 13:00 Presentation of the Working Groups Outcomes
13:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 16:00 Open Discussion on the Proposed Regional Activities
16:00 - 16:30 Coffee Break
Closing Session
Chair Dr Lamis Chalak ; Co-chair Ms Mona Siblini

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Annex 2
TCP/SNO/3401
“Exchange of Information on National PGRFA Strategies and the Development of Regional
Collaborative Activities”
Regional Workshop, 22-23 September 2014
Beirut - Lebanon
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
EGYPT
Dr. Hanaiya El Itriby
President of National Gene Bank
National Coordinator, TCP/SNO/3401
Tel: +202-0100573357 ; Fax: +202-35693241
E.mail: Elitriby.hanaiya@gmail.com
Dr. Abeer Elhalwagi
Senior Researcher at National Gene Bank and Genetic Resources
National Monitoring Officer of GPA2, TCP/SNO/3401
Tel: +202-01004503095 ; Fax: +202-35693241
E.mail: abeerelhalwagi@gmail.com
Dr. Sami Sabry
Emiritus Professor
Agriculture Research Center (ARC)
National Consultant, TCP/SNO/3401
Tel: +202-01064341621
E. mail: samisabry@yahoo.com
IRAN
Dr. Niaz Ali Sepahvand
Acting DG of Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII)
National Coordinator, TCP/SNO/3401
Tel: +989123630637
E. mail: niazsepahvand@gmail.com
Dr. Javad Mozafari Hashjin
Professor, Director of National Plant Gene Bank of Iran
Seed and Plant Improvement Institute
National Consultant and National Monitoring Officer of GPA2, TCP/SNO/3401
Tel: +989123763457
E. mail: jmozafar@yahoo.com

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JORDAN
Dr. Sobhia Saifan
Head Plant Genetic Resources Unit
National Center of Agriculture Research and Extension (NCARE)
National Coordinator of Millennium Seed Bank Project in Jordan
National Coordinator, TCP/SNO/3401
Tel: +962795048991
E-mail: saifan.sabah@gmail.com
Ms. Nasab Alrawashdeh
National Center of Agriculture Research and Extension (NCARE)
National Monitoring Officer of GPA2, TCP/SNO/3401
Tel: +962777176439
E-mail: nsasb@ncare.gov.jo
Dr. Maha Al Syouf
Director of biodiversity genetic resources and medicinal herbal plant directorate
National Center of Agriculture Research and Extension (NCARE)
National Consultant, TCP/SNO/3401
Tel: +962779257706
E-mail: syoufimaha@yahoo.com
LEBANON - Members of the PGRFA Committee in Lebanon
Dr. Lamis Chalak
Professor
Head of Plant Production Department
Faculty of Agronomy, the Lebanese University
Chair of National Committee on PGRFA
Regional Coordinator, TCP/SNO/3401
Tel: +9613211855
E-mail: lamis.chalak@gmail.com
Ms. Mona Siblini
Head of Horticulture & Filed crops Service
National Coordinator, TCP/SNO/3401
Tel: +961 1822400 ; Fax: +961 1822400
E.mail: msiblini@agriculture.gov.lb
Mr. Ali Chehade
Research Assistant
Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute
National Monitoring Officer of GPA2, TCP/SNO/3401
Tel: +961 3625047 ; Fax: +961 8900077
E.mail: alichehade@hotmail.com
Ms. Joelle Breidy
Seed Bank Manager
Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute
National Consultant, TCP/SNO/3401
Tel: +961 8900047 ; Fax: +961 8900077
E.mail: jbreidy@lari.gov.lb

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Dr Rola Amil
Researcher in Wheat Diseases
Plant Breeding Department
Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute
Tel : +96170056079
E-mail: ramil@lari.gov.lb
Dr. Samih El Hajj
Professor
Faculty of Agronomy, the Lebanese University
Tel: +96170609746
E-mail: samihelhajj@hotmail.com
Dr. Khaled Makkouk
Research Program, Advisor for Agriculture and Environment
National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS)
Telephone: 01-840260 ext. 414
Tel: 09613942081 ; Fax: 01-822639
E-mail: khaled.makkouk@cnrs.edu.lb
Ms. Marie Louise Hayek
FAOR-Lebanon
Tel: 09613885776
E-mail: MarieLouise.Hayek@fao.org
Dr. Faten Raad
Chair of the National Committee for Cereals
Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute
Tel: + 9613738432
E-mail: faten_raad@yahoo.com
Dr. Mariana Yazbeck
ICARDA - Lebanon
Tel: +96176705780
E-mail: m.yazbek@cgiar.org
Mr. Charles Zarzour
Head of the Export Import Service
Ministry of Agriculture
Tel: +963 666676
E-mail: czarzour@agriculture.gov.lb
Ms. Lara Samaha
Head of Department of Ecosystems
Ministry of Environment
Tel: +9613717127
E-mail : l.samaha@moe.gov.lb
Mr. Nizar Hani
Department of Ecosystems
Ministry of Environment
Tel: 09613513845
E-mail: nizar@shoufcedar.org

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LEBANON - LARI
Ms. Hiba Dokmak
Biologist
Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI)
Tel: +961 71595780 ; Fax: +961 8900077
E. mail: hibadokmak@gmail.com
Mr. Ahmad El Bitar
Research Assistant Biotechnology Department
Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI)
Tel: +961 20325 ; Fax: +961 9618900077
E.mail: ahmadbittar@hotmail.com, abitar@lari.gov.lb
Mr. Mohammad Zein El Deen
IT, Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI)
Tel: +961 3625047
E.mail: nd_zda@lari.gov.leb
LEBANON - Ministry of Agriculture
Ms. Fatmeh Baydoun
Head of the Horticulture Department
Tel: +9613705608
E.mail: fbaydoun@agriculture.gov.lb
Mr. Mouin Fawaz
Head of the Nursery Department
Tel:+9613938310
E.mail: mfawaz@agriculture.gov.lb
FAO - RNE
Mr. Magdi Latif
Knowledge and Information Management Officer (TSS)
KIM, TCP/SNO/3401
FAO RNE Cairo
Mob: +202- 01001772187 ; Tel. +202 3331 6000 Ext. 2907 ; Fax: +202 3749 5981
Email: magdi.latif@fao.org
Mr. Muhammad Dost
Regional Plant Production Officer
LTO, TCP/SNO/3401
Mob: +202-0101782408; +202- 01017601213 ; Tel: +20233316000 Ext. 2806 ; Fax: +20237495981
Email: dost.muhammad@fao.org

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FAO-HQs Rome
Dr. Chikelu Mba
AGP Technical Support (TSS)
LTU, TCP/SNO/3401
Plant Production and Protection Division
FAO HQs, Rome
Tel. + 39 0657055344
Email: chikelu.mba@fao.org
Dr. Stefano Diulgheroff
Secretary
Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Plant Genetic Resources
Plant Production and Protection Division
FAO HQs, Rome
Tel. +39 06 570 55544
Email: stefano.diulgheroff@fao.org