In line with the directives of H.E. Mr. Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, and under the patronage of Prof. Dr. Adel Abdelazim, President of the Agricultural Research Center, the National Gene Bank received Dr. Liu Chuny, President of the National Forestry Academy of China, along with the accompanying Chinese and Egyptian delegations.
The Arab Republic of Egypt, in cooperation with the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) and under the organization of the National Gene Bank at the Agricultural Research Center, hosted the Near East Regional Preparatory Meeting from 4 to 5 November 2025, in preparation for the Eleventh Meeting of the Governing Body of the ITPGRFA.
As part of the ongoing extension and training activities conducted by the National Gene Bank under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Nevine Abdel Fattah Hassan – Director of the National Gene Bank, Prof. Dr. Soliman Abdel-Maaboud Arab – Deputy Director for Extension and Training, and Dr. Hossam Abdel-Maksoud Sayed – Deputy Director for Research Affairs, the Bank received on Monday, September 3, 2025, a group of 15 students from the Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, and on Wednesday, September 5, 2025, a group of 40 students from the Faculty of Agriculture (Girls), Al-Azhar University.
In alignment with the directives of H.E. Mr. Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, and under the patronage of Prof. Dr. Adel Abdel Azim, President of the Agricultural Research Center, the National Gene Bank of Egypt (NGB) welcomed a delegation from Wageningen University in the Netherlands. The visit aimed to strengthen international cooperation in the field of plant breeding and explore opportunities for future collaboration.
(NGB) welcomed students from the Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University—specifically from the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture—for an educational visit to learn about the bank’s diverse activities and its vital role in preserving plant and genetic resources, as well as maintaining the high quality of cultivated plant varieties in Egypt.
As part of the directives of Mr. Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, to restructure the Animal Breed Registration and Improvement Committee, Dr. Adel Abdel Azim, President of the Agricultural Research Center (ARC), chaired the committee’s second meeting to discuss key topics related to the development and enhancement of Egypt’s animal genetic resources.
The meeting was attended by:
Dr. Sherine Assem, Deputy President of ARC
Dr. Mona Mehrez, Former Deputy Minister of Agriculture
Dr. Tarek Soliman, Head of the Animal and Poultry Wealth Development Sector
Dr. Mohamed El-Shafie, Director of the Animal Production Research Institute and Committee Rapporteur
Directors of the Animal Wealth Institutes, the Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute, the National Gene Bank, and the Regional Center for Food and Feed
Several prominent experts, including:
Prof. Dr. Maher Hasab El-Naby
Prof. Dr. Adel Abu El-Naga
Prof. Dr. Abdel Rashid Ghanem, Director of the National Milk Collection Centers Project
Dr. Adel Abdel Azim, President of the Agricultural Research Center (ARC) and Chair of the Animal Breed Registration Committee, held the committee’s first preparatory meeting. The meeting was attended by several distinguished experts and leaders, including:
Dr. Maher El-Maghraby, Vice President of ARC for Production
Dr. Mona Mehrez, Former Deputy Minister of Agriculture for Animal Wealth
Dr. Tarek Soliman, Head of the Animal Wealth Sector
Dr. Mohamed El-Shafie, Director of the Animal Production Research Institute and Committee Rapporteur
Dr. Mohamed Saad, Director of the Veterinary Serum and Vaccine Research Institute
Dr. Mostafa Fadel, Director of Animal Reproduction Research
Dr. Gehan Hosny, Director of the Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute
Dr. Nevine Abdel Fattah, Director of the National Gene Bank
Dr. Mohamed El-Sherbiny, Director of the Regional Center for Food and Feed
Dr. Farid Istino, Professor of Poultry Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University
Dr. Essam Omar, Chief Researcher at the Animal Production Research Institute and genetic resources expert
The hidden world of microbes and their role in sustainable farming
When people think of gene banks, they often picture seed storage, but did you know that microorganisms are just as important? At NGB’s Microbiology Lab, researchers are collecting and studying bacteria, fungi, and algae that play crucial roles in soil health, disease control, and crop productivity.
The strategy depends on the continuity of ensuring the quality of long-term seed preservation
Objective
Diagnosing plant diseases and studying the various symptoms of plants in order to differentiate between them and healthy plants to be prepared for preservation.
Isolating plant pathogens, and identifying the actual pathogen, thus facilitating the process of implementing control programs.
Enriching the microbial wealth with new isolates that have an interactive effect with the plant.
It helps to study varieties that are resistant to diseases and pests at the genetic level.
Helping to identify diseases and infections that are already present in various crops under Egyptian soil conditions. It has a role in agricultural guidance and providing recommendations on how to deal with disease problems, whether in the field, greenhouse, or laboratory, and also during various preservation methods.
The role of Lab/Dept
The primary role of the phytosanitary laboratory in gene banks is to ensure that plant samples are free and safe from diseases and pests before preserving them in the long term.
Laboratory scientific equipment
Oven
Incubator
Microwave
Seed counter
3 balances
Safety cabinet
Thermo cycle PCR
Vortex
Hot plate
Microtome
Centrifuge
Microscope
Water purification system
W3Deep freezer
autoclave
electrophoresis cell
power supply
2 germinator
3 Growth chamber
Staff
Dr. Heba Hamdi Hammad Afifi +20 100 069 1522 hebaafifi160@gmail.com
Specialized in collecting, isolating and identifying microbial genetic resources and evaluating their role, environmental impact and various applications in the fields of (agriculture, pharmacy, food). In addition to identifying the different genes specific to microorganisms. Preserving microbial genetic resources in various ways and continuously evaluating them.
Strategy
Collection and Preservation of microbial isolates
Characterization the collected microbial isolates.
Documentation and Database Management: Keeping detailed records of each strain, including its origin, characteristics, and storage conditions.
Utilization and Research Support: Partnering with academic and industry researchers to promote the use of microbial strains for various applications
Capacity Building and Training: Offering training for researchers and technicians on best practices for microbial resource management
Sustainability and Ethical Considerations: Evaluating the ecological impact of collecting and using microbial resources
Objectives
Conservation of Biodiversity: Preserve a wide range of microbial species and strains to maintain genetic diversity.
Utilization for Biotechnological Applications: Promote the use of microbial strains in industrial applications.
Support for Agriculture: Enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability by providing microbial strains that promote plant growth, improve soil health, and reduce disease severity.
Microbiology Lab roles
microbiology lab at a gene bank plays a critical part in the conservation, characterization, and application of microbial genetic resources, supporting both scientific advancement and sustainable practices.
Laboratory scientific equipment
– Laminar flow
– Fluorescent microscope – Convention PCR
Staff
Dr. Fayrouz Hassan Abd Elmeged drfayrouz_ngb@outlook.com
Dr. Akram Hassan Mohamed akramhassan8787@gmail.com
