The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) hosts, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture in Lebanon a regional workshop, the launching of the implementation phase of the Technical and Regional cooperation project entitled \" optimizing the use of plant genetic resources of food and agriculture to adapt to climate changes\". \"The project aims at supporting the national authorities in their efforts to set national strategies to the plant genetic resources and improve their capacity to adequately characterize and promote the use of germplasm as well as to maintain it to mitigate the expected negative effects of climate change; and thereby contribute to the achievement of sustainable food security in the countries of the region, \" a statement by FAO said. The workshop, on 19 & 18 August 2013, will be opened at Rotana Arjaan hotel, Raouche, under the patronage of caretaker Minister of Agriculture Husein Hajj Hasan. A number of plant genetic resources experts and representatives from Egypt, Iran, Jordan and Lebanon will take part in the workshop.