A high level delegation from UK consisting of Dr. Andrew Smith(CEO –FERA science Limited /Director Science Division and Doctor Julian Smith along with members of DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) called on Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research Sahibzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan in Islamabad today. The matters relating to future engagements with MNFSR and all its attached departments were discussed. FERA (Federal Emergency Relief Administration) is a national and international center of excellence for interdisciplinary investigation and problem solving across plant and bee health, crop protection, sustainable agriculture, food and feed quality and chemical safety in the environment, with a scientific heritage that stretches back over 100 years. DEFRA is UK Government’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, responsible for environment protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities in the United Kingdom of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland. A letter of intentions (LOI) was signed between Ministry of National Food Security and FERA Science Ltd in which it was agreed to extend future corporations in the following areas: • Phytosanitary and quarantine function, notably contingency response to new or emerging pests, extending to invasive management and plant pest inspection and diagnosis capabilities; • Development of best practices in production in compliance with trade standards. • Seed certification and certification of vegetative propagated crops (e.g. potato) and nursery raised planting material. • Veterinary authenticity testing. • Pesticide and Mycotoxin residue testing • Food Safety, testing and development of laboratory quality control procedures for purposes of accreditation. • Any other area of mutual interest. Both parties further agreed to enter into an Agreement/Memorandum of Understanding to materialize cooperation in the above areas for which FERA Sciences Limited will share a draft within next four weeks. The agreement will be signed after completion of the internal formalities of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on a date the parties would agree thereafter. Federal Minister Mehboob Sultan said that the present government is spending huge sum for agriculture uplift with many mega projects to be launched in the next five years. The incumbent government declared agriculture emergency under multi-faceted initiative across the country. The Minister added that in a move to uplift agriculture sector and secure hunger free Pakistan we are up for more progressive research and technological advancements in agro sector and we are looking forward for exploring mutual areas of interest and we are pleased to materialize the areas identified in LOI. Federal Secretary Dr. Hashim Popalzai and other senior officials of the Ministry were also present in the meeting. ******* ?
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