Third meeting of the NEPAD/NABNet Barley initiative

Project title: " Genetic Improvement of Nutrition Quality and Drought and Salinity Tolerance of North African Barely"

17-19 February 2009, Cairo, Egypt

The meeting took place in NRC during two sessions on 17th and 19 th Feb, It was attended by Dr Mahmoud Saker, Dr Ahmad Nada and Dr Mbarek Bennaceur. The agenda followed was as proposed in the message of 30 Jan 2009 (below).

The participants analyzed deeply the progress of the group during the last year based on the individual reports and the recommendations of the previous meetings. Madam Dalila Ramla apologies for the delay in sending the report because she lost her step father during the last period and promised to disseminate her report among the partners as soon as possible (she disseminated her report on Feb 22 nd).

The participants to the meeting acknowledged some delay and some variance in the implementation of the workplan, however they agreed that a consistent progress has been achieved and they have established a strategy to make very significant improvements during the next few months. Deepening and integrating analysis of the acquired results and producing other planned important ones are two critical levels where the group is urged itself to move with pace.

The strategy included in particular the following directions. The PIs will contribute to produce a consolidated report considered necessary for exploiting the lot of information and data generated by the various teams. This view was also expressed by the group during the last meeting. However, they look to be convinced that they will now really address the issue. Dr Mahmoud will synthesize the elements to be included by each participant in the template to be prepared and used. He will produce based on the conclusions and suggestions of the PIs a coherent analysis. A deadline was agreed for March 1rst (the template was disseminated on 21 st Feb 09, with explanation of the objectives of a such report and expectations from the effort). In particular this report will address the progress by task and according to each deliverable planned. The report will bring adjustments based on the definitely achieved activities, and replace some previous commitments by actual new ones ….This report will be at the same time a milestone for the project and an annex summarizing the adjustments of the project at mid term.

The PIs agreed also to solve the pending points like exchange of MTAs, exchange of expertise, training young fellows inside the group or through collaboration with other north African or international teams. The network director urges the PIs to present their program at that level so support can be prepared and planned to meet their activities.

The PIs are aware that the task 1.2 was not fulfilled. Then, they will produce a report on the state of the art including a description of the collection established as well as the economic and social aspects of Barley in the region and the major achievements in advancing the research in that area. Dr Mahmoud will manage and follow up so the group can produce the elements needed for this report. Dr Ahmad will draw by March 15th a report by integrating all the information obtained. Dr Mahmoud based on the opinion of the colleagues will be able to propose a way for drawing the review and its publication. At this level Dr Mbarek has forwarded his power point including elements on the state of art regarding Tunisia and suggested that the group will make an effort to describe the situation in North Africa as a whole.

Based on the fact that PIs will contribute activity in the preparation of this document all the PIs will be authors. They agreed that Dr Mouldi El Faleh will be associated to the writing process and will be co author.

The issue of producing seeds inside the consortium to the needs of the various teams was raised again. Dr Mbarek committed himself to solve this issue so the teams can have their samples at a good time each year.

Cairo Feb 25 th 09

Mohamed elarbi Aouani

the opportunity: next Barley meeting ‏

Dear colleagues,

Dr Mbarek Bennaceur will be in Egypt during the period 15-20 February with the colleagues here in Cairo for follow up with Barley initiative progress. This meeting is destined to analyze how to further the project and how to valorize its acquired outcomes. It is also destined to fill the gap in the exchange between the teams and implementation of some tasks. This meeting will be the fourth opportunity (including the workshop of Ezzahra) that Barley group takes to brainstorm on its initiative during this first year, and to follow up with its progress.
The next two weeks give us the chance to demonstrate that north africa has a productive, coherent and promising team. This needs that each team leader invests his best to come up with his duties. The furtur of the group depends on the outcome of these two weeks.
From my side I am sure that a north African barley group is born and it has a great future. To cope with our expectations I suggest that the following issues will be approached during the week 15-19 Feb:
1)What are the already acquired main outputs of the initiative responding to the agreed workplan? How to reinforce and consolidate this achieved progress?
2)What are the main failures in the implementation of the workplan and identification of the appropriate solutions?
3)Which outcomes in relation with the agreed workplan we can have by June 09 and beyond? How to do to make the planned actions realized? which adjustments in the whole workplan? Which strategy for the long term initiative?

Best regards

Elarbi
  
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Mohamed Elarbi AOUANI
NEPAD/North Africa Biosciences Network
National Research Center, El Buhouth St, Dokki, Cairo, 12311 Egypt
Office phones: +20237621029, +20237621028, Fax: +20237621028
Mobile phones: +21698964589, +20164230306
http://www.nrc.sci.eg/nepad/default.html