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Genomic Study of African Small Ruminant Breeds: Livelihood sustenance through sustainable use of small ruminant genomic variation in Mali
No full textIn this study, whole genome sequencing will be undertaken to explore in more detail the diversity and structure of small ruminant breeds in Mali, and their divergence from other sheep and goat breeds found within and out of Africa. The results should be of value in designing sustainable breed improvement programmes
Stacking for success: enhancing chickpea yield with superior haplotypes
No full textChickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) plays a vital role in food systems and sustainable agriculture, but its genetic improvement has been hindered by a narrow cultivated gene pool and limited integration of modern genomic tools. This restricted diversity limits the opportunities for breeding chickpea varieties more resilient to biotic and abiotic stresses. The germplasm maintained by the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) offers a valuable reservoir of haplotype diversity that can drive genetic gain when effectively harnessed through genomics-enabled breeding strategies. In this study, we developed a haplotype catalogue with 289 diverse ICARDA chickpea accessions by combining high-density genotyping with yield phenotypic data. Linkage disequilibrium haploblocks were defined based on recombination patterns observed in the genotyping data. Each haplotype,
defined by SNP combinations within a block, was assigned a local genomic estimated breeding value (localGEBV) based on the sum of SNP effect estimates. We investigated haploblocks with high variance for haplotype effect across the genome, and targeted superior haplotypes with strong, positive effect on yield. Using AI-guided parent selection and simulation-based haplotype stacking, we investigated optimal parental combinations and crossing pathways to accumulate favourable haplotypes for yield improvement that can outperform traditionnal selection strategies while maintaining genetic diversity. This approach provides a practical support tool for ICARDA and Australian breeders to develop high performing chickpea lines. The discovery of superior haplotypes within ICARDAs' germplasm can also benefit other breeding programs by enriching their genetic base with valuable and novel diversit
D 4.2.3 TUNISIA MountainHer Policy Brief
No full textEnhancing women's participation: Toward inclusive agricultural organizations in Tunisia Strengthening governance, access to resources and markets while challenging gender norms to build inclusive rural economie
Enhancing Regenerative Agriculture for Healthier Soils and Sustainable Farming
No full textRegenerative agriculture is a key approach to maintaining soil fertility and improving the resilience of
Farming systems to climate change. Techniques such as minimal soil disturbance, cover cropping, agroforestry, and integrated organic matter management can significantly enhance soil structure, reduce erosion, and increase water retention capacity (FAO, 2023). Beyond soil quality improvements, regenerative agriculture also reduces greenhouse gas emissions and fosters biodiversity (IPCC, 2022). This technical bulletin provides practical insights and recommendations for farmers to effectively implement regenerative agricultural practices and improve their farm sustainability
Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services
No full textEcosystem services include tangible goods such as food, water, timber, and fuel, as well as less visible but equally vital functions such as climate regulation, nutrient cycling, water purification, pollination, and cultural and spiritual enrichment. Despite their critical role in sustaining life and economies, many ecosystem services are not captured by market systems, resulting in their systematic undervaluation in land-use decisions, public investments, and economic planning. The economic valuation of ecosystem services seeks to address this imbalance by assigning monetary values to the benefits that ecosystems provide. This process makes the invisible visible, enabling environmental costs and benefits to be systematically integrated into national accounting, development planning, and environmental policy. In doing so, valuation provides a basis for revisiting and fine-tuning fiscal policies, such as taxes, subsidies, quotas and incentive schemes, thus encouraging more efficient and equitable resource use. Policymakers are increasingly turning to valuation and accounting of ecosystem services for improving cost-benefit analysis and policy appraisal. Such information helps guide decisions regarding the appropriate level of investment in natural infrastructure and supports the comparison of different land-use strategies or policy proposals. In this sense, ecosystem service valuation is fundamental to determining how much investment is required to sustainably manage landscapes and secure long-term ecosystem functionality. In the context of the Multifunctional Landscapes (MFL) Program, valuation is a central tool for guiding transitions toward more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient land-use systems. Landscapes in Tunisia are inherently multifunctional and dynamic, shaped by interactions among ecological processes, land users, and institutional frameworks. Recognizing and quantifying the full spectrum of ecosystem services at the landscape scale is essential to understanding how ecological, economic, and social functions are interlinked, and how they can be managed to generate multiple co-benefits for both people and nature. Within this context, ecosystem service valuation under Area of Work 3 (AoW3) “Markets and Business Models” goes beyond technical measurement. It is a strategic and participatory process that supports evidence-based policy design, empowers stakeholders, and catalyzes long-term stewardship of landscapes
Whole-genome resequencing of the wild barley diversity collection: a resource for identifying and exploiting genetic variation for cultivated barley improvement
No full textTo exploit allelic variation in Hordeum vulgare subsp. spontaneum, the Wild Barley Diversity Collection was subjected to paired-end Illumina sequencing at ∼9 × depth and evaluated for several agronomic traits. We discovered 240.2 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) after alignment to the Morex V3 assembly and 24.4 million short (1 to 50 bp) insertions and deletions. A genome-wide association study of lemma color identified one marker-trait association (MTA) on chromosome 1H close to HvBlp, the cloned gene controlling black lemma. Four MTAs were identified for seedling stem rust resistance, including 2 novel loci on chromosomes 1H and 6H and one co-locating to the complex RMRL1-RMRL2 locus on 5H. The whole-genome sequence data described herein will facilitate the identification and utilization of new alleles for barley improvement
Leveraging ML to predict climate change impact on rice crop disease in Eastern India
No full textRice crop disease is critical in precision agriculture due to various influencing components and unstable environments. The current study uses machine learning (ML) models to predict rice crop disease in Eastern India based on biophysical factors for current and future scenarios. The nine biophysical parameters are precipitation (Pr), maximum temperature (Tmax), minimum temperature (Tmin), soil texture (ST), available water capacity (AWC), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), soil-adjusted vegetation index (SAVI), normalized difference chlorophyll index (NDCI), and normalized difference moisture index (NDMI) by Random forest (RF), Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB), Artificial Neural Net (ANN), and Support vector Machine (SVM). The multicollinearity test Boruta feature selection techniques that assessed interdependency and prioritized the factors impacting crop disease. However, climatic change scenarios were created using the most recent Climate Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) 2–4.5 and SSP5-8.5 datasets. The rice crop disease validation was accomplished using 1105 field-based farmer observation recordings. According to the current findings, Purba Bardhaman district experienced a 96.72% spread of rice brown spot disease due to weather conditions. In contrast, rice blast diseases are prevalent in the north-western region of Birbhum district, affecting 72.38% of rice plants due to high temperatures, water deficits, and low soil moisture. Rice tungro disease affects 63.45% of the rice plants in Bankura district due to nitrogen and zinc deficiencies. It was discovered that the link between NDMI and NDVI is robust and positive, with values ranging from 0.8 to 1. According to SHAP analysis, Pr, Tmin, and Tmax are the top three climatic variables impacting all types of disease cases. The study’s findings could have a substantial impact on precision crop protection and meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Comprehensive Genetic Map of Muscle Lipidome Reveals Novel Insights Into Flavor Variation in Ruminant Meat
No full textRuminant meat is an important component of human diets, valued for its unique flavor and nutritional density. Lipids play a dominant role in shaping meat flavor, yet their genetic and biochemical basis remains unexplored. Here, from the analysis of 434 sheep longissimus thoracis samples, the current study presents the first comprehensive lipid map of sheep meat, including 947 lipids. A substantial proportion of these lipids exhibit moderate-to-high heritability, with 51.6% surpassing a heritability of 0.2 and 15.8% exceeding 0.45. Metabolome-based genome-wide association analysis identifies 467 significant loci affecting 233 lipids, including 110 loci exhibiting pleiotropy. Notably, the levels of monogalactosyldiacylglycerols containing oleic (C18:1) and linoleic (C18:2) acids are specifically regulated by the expression of MBOAT1 and PAQR8 genes, respectively, while 13 triglycerides and one diglyceride are co-regulated by SH2D4A. The levels of phosphatidylethanolamine PE(20:4_20:0) are regulated by VPS53. Further examination of volatile compounds demonstrates that variations in these genetically controlled lipids significantly impact flavourant levels in cooked meat. Given the conservation of lipid profiles and genomes among ruminants, this study offers novel insights into the genetic architecture underlying meat lipid metabolism and provides a valuable resource for the targeted genetic improvement of ruminant meat flavor
Data and Statistics on the Needs of the Global Dates Markets and International Trade
No full textICARDA plays a significant role in date palm research by developing sustainable production systems using modern technology. This presentation explores ICARDA's innovative approaches tailored for the dryland ecosystems of the Arabian Peninsula. g sustainable agriculture
Abstracts book of 14th Arab Congress of Plant Protection, Algiers, Algeria, 3-7 November 2025
No full textThis resource comprises the official abstract book of the 14th Arab Congress of Plant Protection, published as a special issue of the Arab Journal of Plant Protection. It brings together peer-reviewed scientific abstracts presented by researchers from the Arab region and beyond, addressing a wide range of plant protection disciplines, including fungal, bacterial, viral, and nematode diseases; insect pests and beneficial organisms; weeds; pesticides; host–pathogen interactions; integrated pest management; phytosanitary measures; climate change impacts; and food safety. The collection reflects current research trends, applied methodologies, and regional priorities aimed at strengthening plant health systems, enhancing sustainable agricultural production, and supporting food security under diverse agro-ecological conditions. The abstract book is published in both Arabic and English versions