Yacine Oualid inspects the National Gene Bank project in Algiers: Consolidating food sovereignty

The stakes of this ministerial visit are high. Once operational, the National Gene Bank will be a key strategic tool preserving the country's plant and animal genetic heritage, as the challenges of climate change and food sovereignty become increasingly acute. Thus, Algeria intends to establish a structure that meets international standards and contributes to the protection of biodiversity and the development of new agricultural varieties adapted to local conditions. After touring all the departments of the facility, the minister “called for compliance with international standards specific to gene banks,” according to the ministry's press release. Yacine Oualid “also insisted on the need to accelerate the rectification of certain shortcomings that had been identified, to activate this strategic scientific facility in the field of national food security.”

The visit allowed the minister to see first-hand the work being carried out in the various research laboratories at this scientific station. In particular, he visited the biotechnology and plant improvement laboratory, where in vitro cultivation techniques for date palms are developed, and molecular biology is used to accelerate the development of new cereal varieties, such as wheat, barley and triticale. The Minister also visited the animal production laboratory, which specialises in the development of animal genetic resources, the preservation of animal biodiversity and honey quality control. The inspection continued at the food technology laboratory, whose work focuses on olive oil quality, food safety using nuclear techniques and the extraction of bioactive molecules. Finally, the minister visited the bioclimatology and agricultural irrigation laboratory, where he was shown several smart irrigation techniques. This tour was an opportunity to assess "the important research work carried out by researchers in the field, despite the severe lack of material and human resources," the press release emphasises. In light of this, "the minister requested that all shortcomings be identified with a view to addressing them and strengthening the institute's capacities, which will contribute to the development of agricultural research so that it can meet the current challenges of food security."

The authorities' stated ambition is clear: to make this gene bank a key lever in the national food security strategy, at a time when Algeria's agriculture sector needs to be modernised and its genetic resources developed. The effective commissioning of this infrastructure, contingent on resolving the shortcomings identified during this visit, promises to be a decisive step for the future of agricultural research in the country.