Iran and Egypt have a golden opportunity for collaboration in Agricultural Biotechnology and to assist the countries in the region.
Iran Biotechnology Information Center- Dr. Osama Momtaz , professor and the Director General of Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute of Egypt (AGERI) who is participating in the 6th Conference of the Parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity Serving as the …
Iran Biotechnology Information Center– Dr. Osama Momtaz , professor and the Director General of Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute of Egypt (AGERI) who is participating in the 6th Conference of the Parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity Serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety at Hyderabad India said this in a meeting with Dr. Behzad Ghareyazie the founder of Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII) and president of the Biosafety Society of Iran who is also attending in the same meeting. Dr. Momtaz continued that after the victory of the Islamic revolution in Egypt, at the current Administration led by his Excellency, the President Mohammed Morsi we need to work hand in hand with our Iranian colleagues and brothers for the improvement of the livelihood of people in the region, food security and environmental issues of mutual interest based on the improved scientific collaborations. Dr. Momtaz invited Dr. Ghareyazie who is currently serving as the Executive Director of the Iran Biotechnology Information Center (IRBIC) and other Iranian scientists to attend the first International Genetic Engineering Congress to be held in Cairo late in coming November this year. This invitation was welcomed. The two members of the Public Research and Regulation Initiative (PRRI) emphasized on the similarities of the two countries in terms of historical achievements and contributions to science and technology and their current leading role in the Islamic world in this regard. Dr. Ghareyazie admired Egypt for her determination in materialization of the promises made by researchers in AGERI on the commercialization of the Biotech crops.
Egypt is one of the four Islamic countries (in addition to Pakistan, Burkina Faso and Iran) who has commercialized genetically modified crop plants and is currently producing more than thousands hectares (In 2011, Egypt planted 2800 hectares Bt yellow maize) of insect resistant maize that does not require the application of harmful insecticide during its cultivation. Iran in other hand is the first Islamic country that commercialized insect resistant rice that was commercialized in the year 2004 coinciding the international year of rice.
Dr. Momtaz commented on the activities of IRBIC saying that: "I am fascinated by the activities of IRBIC and the quality of its news. I frequently use IRBICs website as reference".