Damascus, March 3 (SANA) – The rehabilitation of the gene bank operated by the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in Aleppo marks a major step in strengthening Syria’s agricultural recovery, food security, and long-term biodiversity preservation.
The facility, located in Tel Hadya in rural Aleppo, suffered extensive destruction, looting, and equipment loss during the years preceding liberation, rendering laboratories and research infrastructure inoperable and disrupting scientific activities.
According to Zakaria Kihel, head of ICARDA’s Genetic Resources and Research Team, the original full collection of samples stored at the site was lost. However, the organization preserved its genetic assets by safeguarding backup seed collections abroad.
Seeds preserved through global partnerships
ICARDA had transferred duplicate collections from Syria to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway, as well as to other international gene banks, in line with global conservation standards. These backups were later regenerated and stored in newly established facilities in Lebanon and Morocco in 2014, with additional safety duplicates returned to Svalbard to ensure long-term preservation.
Kahil said that the vast majority of strategic crop collections—including wheat, barley, lentils, chickpeas, and forage legumes—were successfully preserved. Fewer than 2,000 samples were reported lost.
The organization also safeguarded its primary herbarium collection of forage plants and animal feed species by relocating it to Lebanon, ensuring continuity of breeding and research programs.
Reviving the national gene bank
Ahmed Hamdak, ICARDA’s assistant national coordinator in Syria, said the organization is working closely with Syria’s National Gene Bank, operated by the General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research under the Ministry of Agriculture.
The cooperation includes preserving and characterizing genetic resources, capacity-building programs, and the exchange of plant material for breeding and research purposes.
Hamdak stressed that revitalizing the national gene bank is essential to expanding the collection of endangered local genetic resources, modernizing genetic and physiological characterization systems, and supporting the development of improved seed varieties adapted to Syrian environmental conditions.
He added that preserving indigenous crop varieties strengthens climate resilience, reduces reliance on foreign genetic sources, and ensures sustainable agricultural production in fragile ecosystems.
Strengthening agricultural resilience
Osama al-Abdullah, Director-General of the General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research, described the revival of ICARDA’s operations as a promising development for Syria’s agricultural sector.
He said the renewed activities will contribute to improving local crop varieties, enhancing seed preservation systems, and strengthening researchers’ capacity to protect biodiversity.
Approximately 4,500 plant genetic samples are currently stored under ICARDA’s long-term “Black Box” secure deposit system. Globally, ICARDA’s gene bank contains around 150,000 seed samples collected from more than 90 countries across West and Central Asia and North Africa, with its first collection mission dating back to 1977.
In cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, ICARDA has also launched a broader program to revive Syria’s agricultural sector, including rebuilding research facilities, upgrading laboratory infrastructure, and providing scientific advisory services to restore productivity and promote sustainable development.
