Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and CGIAR Research Program on Wheat, Awla is a regional leadership and research development program led by the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA).
Arab women scientists set sights on transforming R&D in regional agriculture and food security
25 July 2019
A select group of promising Arab women scientists from across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have become the first fellows of the one-of-a-kind Arab Women Leaders in Agriculture (Awla) program.
ICBA and JCU signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to the effect at the centre’s head office in Dubai, UAE, on 9 July 2019 in the presence of senior officials from the UAE Office of Food Security.
ICBA and James Cook University partner to step up food security R&D in dryland areas
18 July 2019
The International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) and James Cook University (JCU), a public university in North Queensland, Australia, have agreed to collaborate on research and development to enhance food production and agriculture in dryland areas.
The effect of reclamation efforts is clearly seen in Suez, Egypt (a reclaimed salt-affected land plot is shown on the right, and a non-reclaimed salt-affected land plot on the left; both plots share the same soil properties).
A barley field in Suez.
“The research team analyzed our soils, then provided us with quinoa, barley, and wheat seeds. They then conducted several training events. The seeds produced high yields, which was unprecedented on our farms,” says Nady, a local farmer from Suez.
Egyptian farmers pin high hopes on biosaline agriculture
10 July 2019
“Agriculture is our wisest pursuit,” wrote Thomas Jefferson to George Washington in 1787. 300 years later, Jefferson’s words seem more relevant than ever.
