Ministry of National Food Security & Research has decided to deepen scientific collaboration with Italy in olive research and cultivation.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Ministry held in Islamabad today with Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain.
The meeting decided to initiate an MoU between National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology and the University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy.
The MoU is aimed at enabling access to internationally recognized olive varieties, joint research initiatives, and specialized training of Pakistani scientists and technicians.
The Ministry announced that Phase-III of the Promotion of Olive Cultivation on Commercial Scale in Pakistan will be formulated soon.
During the meeting, it was highlighted that Pakistan has made remarkable progress in converting marginal and uncultivated lands into productive olive orchards, contributing to climate resilience, livelihood diversification, and import substitution.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister emphasized expanding olive plantations across suitable agro-climatic zones and strengthening the entire olive value chain to ensure long-term economic and environmental benefits.
