ICBA signs 2 project agreements with UAE Ministry of Environment and Water

In another collaborative endeavor, the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) and the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) signed an agreement on the 7^th August to work together for two years on two research projects: 1) irrigation planning and management, and (2) the safe disposal of brine from the reverse osmosis desalination plants of farms in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In project 1, data on soils, crops and irrigation practices in five agro-climatic zones throughout the country will be collected to ensure current accurate information. Crop water use data will be modeled. Reclaimed wastewater and groundwater will be considered for forage and fruit trees; and wastewater use guidelines will be developed to protect the health of water, soil and people. The anticipated outcomes of this study will help to increase overall water productivity and more efficient use of limited water resources for selected food and forage crops in the UAE with guidelines being developed to protect the health of water, soil and people.

In project 2, the current brine disposal practices employed in reverse osmosis (RO) plants in agriculture will be assessed in order to avoid groundwater contamination and other environmental hazards. Modeling will be used to evaluate the brine induced salt movement through the soil profile. As well the economics of using RO in the agriculture production system will be analyzed. The project study will provide useful information for managing RO plants in the UAE agriculture industry.