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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #195524
Title: FINAL REPORT: INTEGRATING PLANT BIODIVERSITY SCIENCE IN NEPAL

Author
item Desjardins, Anne

Submitted to: Government Publication/Report
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/7/2006
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: As a Science Fellow at U. S. Embassy Kathmandu, I assisted the government of Nepal in assessing and developing Nepal's scientific ability to conduct genetic and biochemical characterization of its diversity of medicinal, agricultural, and agroforestry plant genetic resources. The concept of combining plant biodiversity and conservation with DNA-characterization is an important approach for plant documentation and building a foundation for bioprospecting and for assets and benefit sharing. In Nepal, I assessed institutional capabilities for plant biotechnology and worked with Nepali scientists to design a plant biotechnology laboratory and to develop a scientific research program in plant biodiversity and biotechnology. The long-term goal of the program is to develop a Nepal-U.S. cooperative project to assist Nepal in biodiversity conservation and in equitable and sustainable economic growth, and to discover new drugs and other useful agents to improve human health.

Technical Abstract: As a Science Fellow at U. S. Embassy Kathmandu, I assisted the government of Nepal in assessing and developing Nepal's scientific ability to conduct genetic and biochemical characterization of its diversity of medicinal, agricultural, and agroforestry plant genetic resources. The concept of combining plant biodiversity and conservation with DNA-characterization is an important approach for plant documentation and building a foundation for bioprospecting and for assets and benefit sharing. In Nepal, I assessed institutional capabilities for plant biotechnology and worked with Nepali scientists to design a plant biotechnology laboratory and to develop a scientific research program in plant biodiversity and biotechnology. The long-term goal of the program is to develop a Nepal-U.S. cooperative project to assist Nepal in biodiversity conservation and in equitable and sustainable economic growth, and to discover new drugs and other useful agents to improve human health.