What National Agricultural Research Center - NARC المركز الوطني للبحوث الزراعية does

The National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) is Jordan's primary government agricultural research institution, operating under the administrative supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture. Founded in 1985 as a standalone entity (with roots in a 1958 Scientific Research Department), NARC is headquartered in Al-Baqa'a, Balqa, and operates a network of 10+ specialized research stations across Jordan's governorates. Its mandate spans plant genetics, biodiversity conservation, livestock improvement, food technology, water management, and agricultural technology transfer. Core programs include the National Seed Bank (holding 5,000+ seed accessions and 4,400+ herbarium specimens at 4°C and -18°C storage), the Awassi Sheep Genetic Improvement Program (using EBV/BLUP selection with 37 mitochondrial gene markers and 146 SNPs), and the Mehras Olive Project (an ancient Ajloun cultivar with 30% oil content and 70% oleic acid).

NARC delivers outputs through applied agricultural research (23 active projects in 2025-26 covering almonds, wheat, mushrooms, citrus, dates, and olives), extension services to smallholder farmers (1,071 trained across four governorates), seed multiplication (~70 tons of wheat in 2026), artificial insemination services (2,000 procedures and 10,000 pregnancy checks), oil and soil laboratory testing (4,819 oil samples processed since April 2025), and the Agricultural Innovation Incubator launched in Irbid in April 2026. The center produces scientific publications including the Manara Al-Tamayuz journal, technical guides for 20+ crops, and an interactive 2026 Agricultural Calendar.

As a government entity, NARC is funded through Ministry of Agriculture budgetary allocations, international donor grants (EU, AFD, FAO, IAEA, World Bank, Climate Change Fund), and provincial governorate council allocations. Traced 2025-2026 grant inflows exceed 1.9M JOD across multiple programs. The organization has no commercial revenue model; instead, it provides public-good research outputs, training, and extension services. GTM is primarily direct-engagement with farming communities via station networks, cooperative society partnerships, and government-linked programs, supplemented by annual events such as the National Olive Festival (25th edition).

Name

National Agricultural Research Center - NARC المركز الوطني للبحوث الزراعية

Legal name

المركز الوطني للبحوث الزراعية (National Center for Agricultural Research)

Website

https://narc.gov.jo

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) is Jordan's government agricultural research institution under the Ministry of Agriculture, conducting applied research in plant genetics, seed conservation, livestock improvement, and water management. It operates 10+ research stations serving smallholder farmers, agricultural cooperatives, and government bodies across Jordan's governorates.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Research Services

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Breeding Program Design & Genetic Consulting (Mating Plans, EPD/Index Selection) (AFACAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Genomic Testing & Genetic Evaluation Services (AFAEAJAC)

Keywords

• Agricultural research services
• Seed bank conservation
• Livestock genetic improvement
• Plant biotechnology research
• Agricultural extension training

Headquarters

HQ city

Al-Baqa'a

HQ country

Jordan

HQ region

Middle East

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government-funded Research: NARC is a government institution primarily funded through the Jordanian Ministry of Agriculture budget. It conducts applied agricultural research commissioned by the government and funded through national and international grants.
2. International Project Funding: NARC receives significant funding from international donors including the European Union (EU), French Development Agency (AFD), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and World Bank for specific research projects and development programs.
3. Seed and Planting Material Sales: The center produces and sells improved seeds (wheat, barley) and planting materials (including Mehras olive seedlings) to farmers through its network of research stations.
4. Laboratory and Testing Services: NARC provides fee-based laboratory services including oil testing (4,819 samples since April 2025), soil analysis, and plant tissue culture services through its specialized laboratories.
5. Training and Capacity Building Services: The center offers agricultural training programs for students, recent graduates, and farmers, including services under the customer journey programs for laboratory solutions, visitor reception, student training, and marketing studies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NARC is Jordan's national agricultural research center conducting applied research in plant genetics, biodiversity conservation, seed banking, livestock improvement, water management, and food technology. It operates a network of research stations delivering improved seed varieties, genetic materials, laboratory testing, artificial insemination services, and farmer capacity-building programs to support Jordan's agricultural sector.

Product overview

The National Center for Agricultural Research (NARC) operates as Jordan's primary agricultural research institution, offering a portfolio of specialized products and services. The core offerings include the National Seed Bank for genetic resource preservation, the Agricultural Innovation Incubator for startup development, the Awassi Sheep genetic improvement program, and the Mehras Olive conservation project. Supporting infrastructure includes smart applications for water harvesting and livestock management, interactive agricultural maps, and comprehensive research services spanning seed multiplication, soil testing, and veterinary diagnostics delivered through regional research stations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Manara Al-Tamyoz Scientific Magazine (المجلة العلمية منارة التميز): NARC's peer-reviewed scientific journal published periodically, featuring agricultural research articles.
• National Seed Bank (بنك البذور الوطني)
• Awassi Sheep Project (أغنام العواسي)
• Al-Mihras Olive Project (مشروع زيتون المهراس)
• Agricultural Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubator (حاضنة الابتكار وريادة الأعمال الزراعية)

Products and services

• National Seed Bank (بنك البذور الوطني) A national genetic resource preservation facility conserving over 5,000 seed entries and 4,400 herbarium specimens including local landraces, wild crop relatives, medicinal plants, and forage species, serving researchers, breeders, and scientific institutions.
• Agricultural Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubator (حاضنة الابتكار وريادة الأعمال الزراعية) An agribusiness incubator supporting agricultural entrepreneurs and startups developing projects in agricultural waste conversion, smart livestock management, organic production, and farmer-to-market platforms.
• Awassi Sheep Genetic Improvement Program (مشروع أغنام العواسي) A livestock genetic improvement program for the indigenous Awassi sheep breed, including artificial insemination services, genomic analysis using 37 mitochondrial genes and 146 SNP markers, and EBV-based selective breeding.
• Mehras Olive Conservation Project (مشروع زيتون المهراس) A conservation and development project for the ancient Mehras olive cultivar in Ajloun, featuring 30% oil content and 70% oleic acid, covering 750 trees across 150 dunums.
• Agricultural Research and Laboratory Services Comprehensive agricultural research services including seed multiplication, oil testing (4,819 samples processed), soil and water analysis, veterinary diagnostics, tissue culture, and farmer capacity building delivered through regional research stations.
• National Seed Multiplication Project A seed multiplication program producing improved wheat and barley seed varieties, achieving yields of approximately 400 kg per dunum at Maro station for distribution to farmers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,000+ seed accessions and 4,400+ herbarium specimens preserved
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Sultanate of Oman (via Embassy in Jordan)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025NARC Director General met with the Omani Ambassador to explore research partnerships in food security, agricultural innovation, water management, artificial insemination, genetic resources, date palm research, red palm weevil control, beekeeping, saffron, and fish farming.
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2025NARC and FAO signed an agreement to enhance the conservation and genetic improvement of local almond varieties in Jordan, supporting climate-smart agricultural practices in southern governorates under the umbrella of the National Seed Bank.
• International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNARC and ICARDA co-organized a regional workshop on nuclear techniques in genetic improvement and plant genetic resources conservation, developing a virtual center for agricultural water management aligned with Jordan's Economic Modernization Vision.
• Jordanian Date Palm Producers and Exporters AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for date palm research, red palm weevil control, and date palm waste utilization. Joint research agreements and technology transfer programs.
• Arab Center for Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner for arid zone agricultural research, exchanging expertise on water management and desert agriculture.
• Hussein bin Talal UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for student training, joint research, and technology transfer in agricultural sciences.
• Jordanian Agricultural CooperativesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNARC works with agricultural cooperative societies to distribute improved seeds, conduct training, and implement agricultural development projects across Jordan's governorates.
• Union of Jordanian Agricultural Chamber / Jordanian Farmers UnionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaboration with farmer union networks to reach smallholder farmers with extension services and improved technologies.
• Jordanian Society of Animal ProductionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Awassi sheep genetic improvement program and livestock research.
• Jordanian Engineers Association - Agricultural Engineers SyndicateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgreement to train and qualify 20 recently graduated agricultural engineers for a 3-month period.
• Hussein bin Talal UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration for student training, joint research projects, and agricultural technology transfer.
• ACTED (International NGO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner in the agricultural innovation incubator project funded by AFD, supporting community development in agriculture.
• Eco Consult (Private Company)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPrivate sector implementing partner in the AFD-funded agricultural development projects.
• ACF / Action Against HungerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational NGO implementing partner in agricultural development projects in Jordan.
• Terre des HommesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational NGO implementing partner in the economic development project supporting agricultural communities.
• Royal Society for the Conservation of NatureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner in the economic development project, contributing to biodiversity protection and sustainable agriculture.
• Al-Mashreq Schools / Al-Shobak Agricultural SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with agricultural schools for applied research and student training in agricultural sciences.
• Prince Hussein bin Talal for Youth (Sabela Al-Hassan)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth empowerment organization that honored NARC's Director General, recognizing contributions to agricultural development.
• National Center for Agricultural Research and Sustainable Development (Saudi Arabia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Mohammed Ayyad from the Saudi center attended the Maro wheat harvest event, representing scientific exchange between Jordan and Saudi Arabia in sustainable agriculture.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): FAO is a UN agency that funds and coordinates agricultural research worldwide. It is a strategic partner and adjacent player rather than a competitor: NARC collaborates with FAO on almond genetic improvement and seed bank initiatives, but FAO operates at a global scale well beyond NARC's national scope.
• Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA): AARINENA is the regional association of national agricultural research institutions across the MENA region. NARC's Director General currently serves as Vice President, making AARINENA a peer-network organization that represents the same institutional category as NARC at a regional level.

Regional players

• National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) - Morocco: INRA Morocco is Morocco's national agricultural research institution with a mandate covering crop improvement, livestock, and food technology. It is comparable to NARC in country-level scope and Mediterranean/dry-area focus but operates in a different national market.
• Egypt's Agricultural Research Center (ARC): ARC is Egypt's national agricultural research body under the Ministry of Agriculture, conducting crop research, seed production, and extension services. It is comparable to NARC in function and mandate but operates at a much larger scale and serves a different national market.
• National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) - Pakistan: NARC Pakistan is the country's premier agricultural research institution under PARC, with a similar mandate covering crop improvement, livestock, and biotechnology. It is comparable by institutional function and naming convention but operates in a different geography and at a larger scale.
• National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) - Uganda: NARO is a national agricultural research system of comparable mandate (crop, livestock, fisheries, forestry research) but operating in a different geography (sub-Saharan Africa). It is comparable as a parallel national agricultural research institution structure rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Arab Center for Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD): ACSAD is a pan-Arab research organization headquartered in Damascus that works on water management, desert agriculture, and crop/livestock improvements in arid zones. It is a direct peer to NARC, with overlapping mandates in dry-area research and active partnership agreements.
• International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA): ICBA is a non-profit agricultural research center based in the UAE focused on salinity-tolerant crops and water-scarce agriculture. It is a direct peer to NARC, with overlapping themes in treated wastewater use, climate adaptation, and dry-area crop research.
• International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA): ICARDA is a CGIAR center focused on agricultural research in non-tropical dry areas. It is a direct peer to NARC: both conduct crop improvement, genetic resource conservation, and capacity building in the same agro-ecological zones, and they co-organized regional workshops on genetic improvement.

Broad incumbents

• CGIAR: CGIAR is the global consortium of agricultural research centers that includes ICARDA. It is a broader incumbent in agricultural research for development: NARC interfaces with CGIAR through ICARDA but is not a member, and CGIAR operates at a scale far beyond a single national center.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NARCJordan
• Facebookfacebook.com/NARC.GOV.JO
• Instagraminstagram.com/explore/locations/1716584415286336/national-agricultural-research-center
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-agriculutral-research-center-narc-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%B2-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B7%D9%86%D9%8A-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B2%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%A9

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Agricultural Research Center - NARC المركز الوطني للبحوث الزراعية