Syria

Overall, agricultural research staff and expenditures in Syria increased in 2003 compared to the 1998 level. Nonetheless, research intensity levels in Syria are still lower than in other countries in West Asia and North Africa. In 2002, the organization of agricultural research in Syria was consolidated with the merger of nine preexisting agricultural research entities under MAAR to form GCSAR, which is largely funded by the national government but receives limited funding for research projects from bilateral and multilateral donors.