ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will initiate a memorandum of understanding with Italy to deepen scientific cooperation on olive research and cultivation as it seeks to expand climate-resilient agriculture, diversify rural livelihoods and reduce reliance on imported edible oil, state media reported on Thursday.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research in Islamabad, chaired by Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, according to Radio Pakistan. The proposed MoU will be signed between Pakistan’s National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology and Italy’s University of Bari Aldo Moro, one of Europe’s leading centers for olive research.
Pakistan has increasingly turned to olive cultivation in recent years as climate change, water stress and rising food import bills force a rethink of traditional cropping patterns. The country imports most of its edible oil requirements, while olives, a drought-resistant, long-term crop, are viewed by policymakers as suitable for arid and semi-arid regions where conventional agriculture is becoming less viable.
“The MoU is aimed at enabling access to internationally recognized olive varieties, joint research initiatives, and specialized training of Pakistani scientists and technicians,” Radio Pakistan reported.
