Research into the use of urea in poultry feed, enhancing the fish biodiversity of Qatar and cross breeding of lamb varieties are part of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed yesterday between Qatar Fertiliser Company (Qafco) and University of Liege, Belgium.
The MoU was signed on the occasion of the visit of a high level business delegation from Belgium, led by Jean-Claude Marcourt, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economy, SMEs, Foreign Trade and New Technologies of the Walloon Government and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Higher Education of the French Community Government.
Khalifa A al-Sowaidi, CEO, Qafco, received the delegation at the company’s Al Banush Club, Mesaieed, accompanied by key officials.
The MoU is meant to further the research initiatives with University of Liege.
The research is related to the use of urea as an essential component of healthy poultry feed to prevent the use of antibiotics in agriculture and livestock. Depending on the results, Qafco and University of Liege will co-operate in developing a pilot plant for producing the healthy feed and pro-biotic.
The MoU will also look at enhancing the fish biodiversity of Qatar using local hatcheries to deliver stocks either for indoor or outdoor (sea) purposes, which will contribute to maintain the stock biomass of many Qatari species.The MoU also intends to focus on co-operation in research on cross breeding lamb varieties to enhance Arab or local species for meat purposes.
It will include a study on genetic stability and recurrence for local production and farming.
Marcourt (second left) looks on, as al-Sowaidi exchanges documents with an official of the University of Liege yesterday.
