International Center for Biosaline Agriculture

As a joint venture between ICBA and BGI, the world’s largest genomic research institution, the Desert Life Science Laboratory (DLSL) will help to fast-track the discovery and development of food and other crops suited to marginal environments, that is agroecosystems constrained by a range of factors such as water scarcity, soil and water salinity, heat and drought, among others.

New genomic research facility to support food security efforts in the UAE and abroad

Attending the virtual workshop, H.E. Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of State for Food and Water Security, said that it represented a significant step in evaluating novel methods in a multidisciplinary approach towards enhancing food security, through adopting an approach to developing government policies based on research, development and scientific evidence.

New project to study treated sewage effluent’s potential for food, water security in UAE

Under the agreement, ICBA and UAL will collaborate on creating innovative technologies for saving water and energy in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) systems.

ICBA, Spanish university to explore water-saving innovations for controlled environment agriculture

Published in Sustainability, a journal, the study identifies research and policy priorities for marginal lands with a focus on poverty reduction, preservation of biodiversity, and restoration of marginal lands, using strategies focused on the food-poverty-environment nexus.

New study reviews status of marginal lands worldwide

The two organizations will work together to increase the efficiency of different technologies for CEA systems and improve irrigation and nutrient management in open-field systems.

ICBA, South Korean firm partner to improve controlled environment agriculture systems

Research Themes

Management of natural resources in marginal environments

increase agricultural productivity and thus improve food, nutrition and water security, and create jobs and livelihoods for communities living in these environments

Climate change modeling and adaptation

enhance livelihoods, adaptive capacities and incomes of agricultural communities most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change

Crop improvement and sustainable production

increase adaptive capacities, livelihoods and food security of smallholder farmers and rural communities

Integrated agri-aquaculture systems

help reduce environmental footprint, increase incomes of farming communities and improve their adaptive capacities to climate change

Call for testing and demonstration of agricultural inputs and technologies suitable for use in marginal environments at ICBA research station

Research Publications

2021

Direct introgression of untapped diversity into elite wheat lines

2021

Modeling deficit irrigation-based evapotranspiration optimizes wheat yield and water productivity in arid regions

2021

ISHS Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering: sustaining the future with precision horticulture and engineering

Current Projects

November 2019 - October 2024

Creation of agricultural startups for Tunisian youth

November 2019 - October 2024

Introduction of value chains for stress-resilient crops to support the development of sustainable rural communities in Kasserine, Tunisia

March 2019 - February 2023

Improving agricultural resilience to salinity and climate change through development and promotion of pro-poor technologies and management strategies (RESADE)

Corporate Publications

ICBA at 20: A Look at History

ICBA at 20: Stories of Success

One-page infographic about ICBA

ICBA Strategy: Refresh 2019-2023

Multimedia

Desert Life Science Laboratory (DLSL) at ICBA