Files
Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Gene Bank has preserved more than 11.36 million seeds representing approximately 75 percent of the country’s wild plant varieties since its establishment in 2012, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of national biodiversity conservation efforts and a key contributor to food security and environmental sustainability, officials announced during World Biodiversity Day 2026 celebrations.
The Ministry of Municipality, represented by the Biotechnology and Gene Bank Section of the Agricultural Research Department, celebrated World Biodiversity Day 2026 under the theme “Local Action, Global Impact,” reaffirming Qatar’s commitment to protecting biodiversity and conserving genetic resources as a cornerstone of ecosystem sustainability, food security, and sustainable development.
The ministry organised a scientific event highlighting the country’s achievements in biodiversity conservation and genetic resource preservation. The event was inaugurated by Hamad Sakat Al Shammari, Director of the Agricultural Research Department, who praised the accomplishments of the Qatar Gene Bank and emphasised that national efforts to preserve genetic resources embody this year’s global theme by creating worldwide impact through local initiatives.
Al Shammari underscored the importance of safeguarding biodiversity to support environmental resilience and strengthen food security, noting that Qatar has made significant progress in documenting and conserving its native plant genetic resources.
The event featured two scientific presentations. The first, delivered by Aisha Dasmal Al Kuwari, Head of the Biotechnology and Gene Bank Section, explored Qatar’s role in preserving plant genetic resources and the measures being implemented to protect the country’s botanical heritage. The second presentation, delivered by genetic resources expert Dr. El Sayed El Azzazi, highlighted the role of the Qatar Gene Bank in conserving biodiversity and supporting scientific research related to genetic resource management.
The Gene Bank has also documented 1,404 genetic accessions and conducted more than 1,200 field expeditions across various regions of the country and its protected areas to collect and study genetic resources. In addition, 894 Qatari genetic resource accessions have been registered in internationally recognised databases, enhancing global access to information on Qatar’s biodiversity.
Among its other accomplishments, the Gene Bank has compiled 3,500 standard herbarium specimens and provided specialised capacity-building programmes, training 100 local participants through 20 international and regional courses totaling 600 training hours. The ministry further noted that Qatar’s genetic resources have been officially registered within the global system of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), reflecting the country’s growing contribution to international efforts aimed at conserving biodiversity and safeguarding genetic resources for future generations.
