CAC-Rust Project Spotlighted at the International Plant Protection Congress in Athens
Athens –The XX International Plant Protection Congress was held in Athens from 1–5 July 2024. The event was organized by the Hellenic Society of Phytiatry, the International Association for the Plant Protection Sciences (IAPPS) and the Agricultural University of Athens.
A key session entitled “Prevention and Sustainable Management of Transboundary Plant Pests” featured significant contributions from experts and officials. FAO Agricultural Officer Fazıl Düşünceli presented projects under the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programmes, with a particular focus on “Strengthening regional collaboration and national capacities for the management of wheat rust diseases and resistance breeding in Central Asia and the Caucasus (CAC-Rust)”.
Suat Kaymak, Head of the Plant Health Department at the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Türkiye, and Ayşe Uysal Morca, Plant Protection Expert outlined Türkiye’s research activities on addressing transboundary plant pest and disease challenges. Their presentations underscored the importance of coordinated efforts to tackle these issues effectively.
The session also highlighted the importance of regional and international collaboration in managing plant pests and diseases, showcasing successful strategies and ongoing research efforts.
About the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programmes
The objectives of the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programmes are to provide support to ensure food security, rural poverty reduction and sustainable forest management; combat desertification; and preserve ecosystems in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and other countries of mutual interest.
Established in 2007, the first phase of the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programme on Food and Agriculture (FTPP) has benefited from trust fund contributions totalling USD 10 million, financed by the Government of Türkiye and represented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. During the first phase of the programme, 28 projects were implemented in 16 countries between 2009 and 2015.
In 2014, Türkiye and FAO commenced the second phase of the FTPP along with the first phase of the FAO-Türkiye Forestry Partnership Programme (FTFP) with additional funding of USD 20 million, bringing Türkiye’s total contribution to USD 30 million.
LINKS:
- CAC-Rust Project Brochure
- CAC-Rust project workshop discusses recent approaches in breeding rust-resistant wheat