Within the framework of the GIZ project Ecologically Oriented Regional Development in the Aral Sea Region (ECO ARAL) specialists from the International Innovation Center of the Aral Sea Region visited the Institute of Genetic Resources under the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Baku on July 2-8, 2023.

The purpose of the visit was to familiarize with the work and structure of the Institute of Genetic Resources and activities of the National Gene Bank, mutual exchange of knowledge and experience in the field of genetic resources, field gene pool, enrichment of the gene pool with wild relatives of cultivated plants, familiarization with the processes of long-term and medium-term seed storage, familiarization with the organization of the database, as well as establishment of further joint long-term cooperation between the parties.

Within the framework of the visit, meeting with the GIZ representative in Azerbaijan Republic Samir Abbasov was held with a joint visit to the Institute of Agriculture of Azerbaijan, where a meeting was also held with the Deputy Director of the Institute Garib Navruzuly. During the meeting, the prospects for further cooperation were discussed and the results of the joint project of the Institute of Agriculture and GIZ “ECO Serve” were demonstrated.

In this scientific institution, the delegation studied in detail the characteristics of local plants, familiarized with the collection of more than 100 species of cereal crops.

During the visit of the delegation to Baku, the Memorandum of Cooperation between the International Innovation Center of the Aral Sea Region and the Institute of Genetic Resources of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation in the field of collection, study, conservation and use of plant genetic resources were signed.

As a result of the visit, agreements were reached to consider the possibility of exchanging varieties included in the State registers of plant varieties allowed for use, as well as their passport data and minimum morphological description, to organize mutually beneficial exchange of other representatives of wild flora, plant materials, as well as relevant information about them, to implement joint scientific programs to collect, develop methods of study, conservation and effective use of the gene pool of plants, to ensure the freedom of use of plant genetic resources and to exchange information on the use of plant materials.