Damascus - The National Commission for Biotechnology is a leading scientific research establishment in Syria dedicated to issues related to vegetation and livestock and how to preserve them and guarantee the safety of the environment and food.
The Commission works in coordination with relevant authorities in the fields of biotech research, training human resources in this field, applying green technology, studying the real-world applications of biotech and preserving biodiversity, in addition to cooperating with local, Arab and international universities.
In an interview with SANA, Director of the Commission Mohammad Fawwaz al-Azmeh said that the Commissions' research covers diverse fields such as benefiting from agricultural waste to create biofuel and organic fertilizers, genetic improvement of crops, inspecting food, and cultivation of medicinal plants out of season.
Al-Azmeh said that the Commission includes of 25 staff members with master's degrees, around 40 engineers in various fields, and 5 members with PhDs in science, chemistry and biotech.
In terms of international cooperation, the Commission is working on 8 scientific research projects with Iran, in addition to cooperation with Turkey, France and Egypt.
Regarding local coordination, the Director said there will be a special network referred to as the National Network for Biotechnologies which will coordinate among the various research centers and universities in Syria.
He pointed out that the Commission worked to establish a master's degree in biotechnology at Damascus University as part of the EU-supported TEMPUS program for developing higher education, adding that this ongoing project has led to the graduation of 19 students so far.
The Commission also trains students from various Syrian and Arab universities who carry out parts of the research or entire research projects.
Agricultural engineer Dima al-Haj Turki said that she is currently working on making crops that provide sugar more adaptable to local climate, mainly through the use of sweet white corn, in addition to the possibility of making biofuel from this crop.
Engineer Saria Marzouk's research is dedicated to the partial documentation of livestock in Syria and Turkey in order to study the breeds in both countries and similarities between them for purposes of ownership at genetic banks, genetic improvement through breeding, and preserving endangered breeds.
Another project, carried out by agricultural engineer Rima al-Besharat in cooperation with the TU Berlin (Berlin Institute of Technology), involves isolating breeds of probiotics which are beneficial microorganisms in order to prove that mother's milk, which contains probiotics, strengthens the immunity of the child and its digestive system.
Researcher Khuloud al-Samman is working on a project to produce biogas from various plant-based and animal-based agricultural waste such as cotton wood, chicken droppings and cow manure.
In 2009, 12 of the Commission's research projects were published in scientific journals, while 8 of its engineers received master's degrees from Damascus University, Aleppo University, and TU Berlin, in addition to receiving several awards such as the UNESCO's award for best young female researcher.
The National Commission for Biotechnology was established in 2002 as a scientific research commission affiliated with the Ministry of Higher Education with the aim of bridging the technological gap in the field of biotech, expediting its localization in Syria and coordinating among relevant parties in this field.
The temporary headquarters of the Commission is located in the Faculty of Agriculture at Damascus University. Its main research, training and production center will soon be established in the Sabboura area.
By H. Sabbagh
© SANA (Syria Arab News Agency) 2010
