The presentation by the joint FAO/IAEA division contains capacity development activities conducted by the unit for genomic technologies, for animal genetic improvement and livestock biodiversity, for mutation plant breeding, food traceability and authenticity. http://tiny.cc/FAO-COAG-GS ©FAO http://www.fao.org

1. Capacity building on sequencing approaches
to improve food and agriculture using nuclear
and related technologies
Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and
Agriculture, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria

2. Joint FAO/IAEA Program on Food
and Agriculture

3. Nuclear and Genomic Technologies in Food
and Agriculture
Genomics
Livestock Biodiversity
Conservation
Animal selection for
improved productivity
Animal and Crop Health
Molecular Diagnostics
Food and Animal
Traceability
Mutation
Breeding for Crop
Improvement
Authentic and
Safe Food
Plant Genetic
Resources
Animal Health
Vaccine Development

4. Genomic Selection for Dairy Cattle
Improvement
Sequencing
Livestock
Genomes
Discovery of Genome-wide
DNA Markers
Advantages
 Helps to estimate breeding value of bull on
day of birth (unlike 6-8 years in traditional
progeny testing)
 Doubles the rate of genetic gain per year
 Relatively cheaper and economical
Genomic Selection
in Cattle
Development of DNA Chip

5. Genome Sequencing for Mutation Breeding and
Crop Improvement
Mutagenesis Phenotyping
Molecular markers for
rapid breeding
Varietal release
Gamma induced CNV in banana
discovered by whole genome
sequencing (WGS) in Seibersdorf
• Optimization of mutation induction
in crops
• Mutant marker development &
breeding for rapid improvement of
farmer-preferred varieties and
landraces

6. Sequencing Technologies for Food Traceability,
Authenticity and Safety
 DNA Barcoding helps to trace the origin of
food
 WGS can greatly improve the efficiency in
detecting food fraud (Authentic food)
WHOLE GENOME SEQUENCING
 WGS offers the advantage of non-
targeted screening of food samples
for microbial contamination
 WGS has the potential to be integrated
into foodborne disease surveillance
(Safe food)

7. Genome Sequencing : Gaps and Challenges
in Developing Countries
 Developing countries are yet to capitalize on the advantages of
genomic technologies
 High cost of establishing and maintaining sequencing/ genotyping
facility; Low quality of outsourcing services
 Lack of low cost genomic tools (e.g. low cost universal genome-wide
array for livestock) appropriate for local production systems
 Lack of skilled personnel and limited access to tools for bioinformatics
analysis of genomic data
 Lack of database tools for storage and management of high
throughput genomic data
 Limited access to internet

8. Capacity Building on Genomic Technologies: Role
of FAO/IAEA Laboratories
 Assist Member States (MSs) in setting up genetic/
genomic laboratories (under IAEA-TC , PUI initiatives, FAO-AGA
programs)
 Support MS laboratories with equipment for
implementation of DNA based technologies
 Human Resource Development
Individual Fellowship Trainings
Group Training Courses
Field Support Missions, onsite demonstration and
training

9. Capacity building: Animal Genetic Improvement
and Livestock BiodiversityA trainee working on whole genome
typing of Bangladeshi local cattle
(2016)
Hands on laboratory practice
during a training course (2014)
Onsite training on Genome
Characterization in Burkina Faso
(2016)
Trainees from West Asia working
on bioinformatics data analysis
(2014)
 Hands on laboratory practice for genome analysis in
livestock to characterize biodiversity and genetic
disease resistance (24 countries are currently supported)
 Training on high throughput analysis of DNA samples
for large-scale sequencing and genotyping for breed
improvement
 Hands on training on bioinformatics analysis of
genomic data using open source software

10. Capacity building: Mutation plant breeding, Food
Traceability, AuthenticityFirst workshop on application of
WGS technology in gamma and
x-ray irradiated rice (2015)
A trainee from Malaysia
working on DNA Barcoding of
EBN samples
An intern working
on Ugandan fish
speciation and
traceability (2016)

11. Genomic Technologies in Developing Countries
The Way Forward
 Need to fill the widening gap in implementation of genomic
technologies between industrialized and developing countries
 Development and implementation of local production system specific
genomic tools for improvement of crop and livestock productivity
 Building capacity to generate good quality genome sequence data
 Developing human resources with improved skills on management and
bioinformatics analysis of high throughput sequence data
 Support from national governments through increased investments in
genomic and agriculture biotechnologies

12. Thank You