Dr. Gayle Volk, a Senior Researcher at the United States Department of Agriculture's National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation, is currently in Egypt to collaborate with local scientists and researchers. The focus of her visit is to work with the National Gene Bank of Egypt to identify best practices for preserving plant species native to the country. This effort aims to ensure these species remain accessible to breeders and researchers, enhancing the quality and market value of local crops.
The Foreign Agricultural Service office of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo has facilitated Dr. Volk’s visit as part of an ongoing five-year collaborative program on plant species preservation, supported by the U.S.-Egypt Science and Technology Joint Fund.
"Egypt is home to many ancient plant species that are at risk of being lost as growers switch to modern varieties," Dr. Volk stated. "Together with the Gene Bank of Egypt, we are working to preserve these ancient species as part of Egypt’s rich agricultural heritage. By doing so, we are preserving their potential to help breed new plants with greater disease resistance and higher crop yields that can help produce more food."
The U.S.-Egypt Science and Technology Joint Fund aims to foster collaboration between American and Egyptian scientists to tackle development challenges and stimulate economic growth, focusing on applied research and technology commercialization. This initiative provides grants for impactful scientific research in areas such as public health, food security, energy, and water security. Over the past two decades, it has supported over 500 collaborative projects involving more than 10,000 Egyptian and U.S. scientists.