Seed policy and programmes in the Near East and North Africa FAO Plant Production and Protection paper Series, Vol. 159

This publication presents the proceedings of a meeting organized and implemented by the Agricultural Research Institute in Nicosia, Cyprus in close collaboration with the Seed and Plant Genetic Resources Service of FAO. In line with the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the World Food Summit Plan of Action, the meeting recognized that one of the major challenges facing most countries in the Near East and North Africa is the need to invest significant resources in strengthening their capacity to increase the availability of good quality seeds of a wider range of plant varieties. This will contribute to the maximization of both agrobiodiversity and productivity, in order to achieve national food security while reducing environmental degradation and the depletion of natural resources. An Arabic version of the Report of the meeting is included.