H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, today opened the Khalifa Center for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (KCBGE) at the UAE University campus in Al Ain, in the presence of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Chancellor of UAE University (UAEU).
The facility, the first of its kind in the region, specialises in genetic fertilisation of plants with the aim of increasing agricultural production.
The state-of-the-art institution is named after President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, patron of the overall development and great achievements and supported by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs under the close follow up of Sheikh Mansour.
After cutting the traditional red ribbon, Sheikh Mansour took a tour of various laboratories and units and listened to a presentation on the vision, strategy and objectives of the center.
Sheikh Mansour said sound directives given by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed provided the driving force behind the current agricultural achievements within the quest to realising food security and helping the UAE to meeting its food demand by harnessing local resources and potentials amid exasperating world food deficit.
Sheikh Mansour emphasised the keenness of the President to deliver sustainable development in agriculture and plant production and support strategic integrated agricultural development planning in order to advance UAE's international position in areas of scientific research, introduction of advanced plant genetic fertilisation techniques so as to find lasting solutions to agricultural challenges through optimum use of human and economic resources.
