ICBA at COP28
Overview
The UAE will host COP28 at Expo City Dubai from 30 November to 12 December 2023. ICBA (International Center for Biosaline Agriculture) drafted a comprehensive plan of initiatives tailored to National and International priorities, aligning with COP28. ICBA designed its initiatives to contribute to six themes/focus which are world climate action, Nature, land use and oceans, food and water systems, youth, education, and skills, and finally finance and gender equality. All proposed initiatives aim to foster partnership and collaboration at national and international levels, mobilize resources for climate action and sustainable agricultural development, and raise awareness about sustainable development challenges, especially about food security and nutrition, climate action, youth, and women.
Special COP28 Report
From 30 November to 12 December 2023, thousands of delegates from around the world convened in Dubai, the UAE, for COP28. The conference served as a unique opportunity to mobilize global efforts towards climate action and sustainability. ICBA was proud to have participated in the conference and contributed to its program through a wide range of activities and engagements over two weeks and in the lead-up to it. A dedicated in-house team was formed to implement ICBA’s program for COP28. The center showcased its research and development efforts in different regions, formed new partnerships, and kicked off new initiatives. The main highlights were the launch of the Women Alliance for Climate Action in Agriculture; the unveiling of a new book “Agricultural Practices in the UAE: Heritage and Science”; the opening of the Millet Demo Farm at ICBA; the organization of the Local Conference of Youth in the UAE 2023 (LCOY UAE 2023); and the showcase of ICBA’s scientific innovations at the UAE Pavilion.
This report presents an overview of these highlights and other activities and engagements that were part of ICBA’s comprehensive program for COP28.
Side Events
Panel discussion with IAEA on Climate Smart Agriculture Solutions to Combat Salinity and Climate Change
Date: 3 December 2023
Time: 11:00
Location: Atoms4Climate Pavilion
The event will raise awareness on how climate change impacts soils and crop production. In addition, the role of climate-smart agriculture solutions will be discussed, as well as the importance of collaborative approaches to scale them up.
After the panel discussion, the IAEA will sign practical arrangements with ICBA and AAWL.
Plenary Session: "An African ticket to climate resilient food security: IsDB’s Regional Cassava Value Chain Program"
Date: 3 December 2023
Time: 11:30- 13:00
Location: MDB Pavilion, Blue Zone
The Side Event aims to assess the effects of climate change on cassava production in Africa and evaluate the potential role of cassava in climate change adaptation. Discussions will focus on success factors, challenges faced, problem resolution, and strategies for scaling up cassava varieties resilient to future climatic changes. The event seeks to explore cassava production as a viable adaptation strategy for Africa, providing alternative options for adaptation as other major food staples confront challenges due to climate change.
Official Launch of the Women Alliance for Climate Action in Agriculture (WACAA)
World Soil Day - Living Soil Workshop
Date: 5 December 2023
Time: 10:00
Location: Expo City, Green Zone
The living soils workshop is a pedagogical tool that aims to disseminate a common language on the functioning of soils and the issues related to their preservation. Through 30 cards and in 2 hours (only 1 hour at COP28), this collaborative tool allows one to acquire fundamental knowledge on soils - the life they contain and the cycles in which they are key -, to understand the impacts of agricultural practices and to open a fertile discussion on the actions to be taken to engage society towards a more sustainable management of soils.
Regional Water Scarcity Initiative (WSI programme) Launch Event
Date: 5 December 2023
Time: 18:00
Location: Food and Agriculture Pavilion, Blue Zone
The objective of the event is to officially launch the WSI program, a multi-partner initiative involving FAO and five partner organizations: ESCWA, ICARDA, ICBA, IWMI and UNICEF. The program aligned with the “Partnership Pledge” signed by 17 organizations in 2013, seeks to enhance coordination and collaboration for water and food security in the region.
Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for Resilient Food Systems in the UAE
Date: 6 December 2023
Time: 12:00- 13:30
Location: Humanitarian Hub/ Women’s Pavilion, Green Zone
In collaboration with ENWWF, this event will highlight the importance of Nature-based solutions (NBS) in the context of food systems and community development and aim to strengthen multi-stakeholder dialogue on agroecology, foregrounding its links with nature and climate.
Millet Demo Farm Day at ICBA: Opening Ceremony
Date: 7 December 2023
Time: 9:30 – 10:30
Location: ICBA
In an effort to bring about a positive impact in the lives and livelihoods of resource-poor farmers in marginal areas, ICBA and SELCO Foundation have entered into a partnership to transfer solutions and learnings from India to the Middle East and North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa regions. With a focus on improving food security and nutrition, enhancing water security and environmental sustainability, and safeguarding livelihoods in marginal environments, the partnership aims to:
- Promote decentralized post-harvest agriculture and millet value chain approaches.
- Create cross-learning platforms and networks for millet practitioners.
- Develop globally relevant training and capacity development content with network partners in India, Africa, and the Middle East.
Climate Fresk Workshop
Date: 8 December
Time: 08:00
Location: Expo City, Green Zone
The Climate Fresk workshop is a playful and collaborative scientific workshop aiming at understanding what Climate Change is. Using scientific content and data from the IPCC report, the workshop helps raise awareness about climate change and encourages participants to take constructive action to address the issue.
Millet Demo Farm Day at ICBA: Site Visit
Date: 8 December 2023
Time: 9:30 – 12:00
Location: ICBA
In an effort to bring about a positive impact in the lives and livelihoods of resource-poor farmers in marginal areas, ICBA and SELCO Foundation have entered into a partnership to transfer solutions and learnings from India to the Middle East and North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa regions. With a focus on improving food security and nutrition, enhancing water security and environmental sustainability, and safeguarding livelihoods in marginal environments, the partnership aims to:
- Promote decentralized post-harvest agriculture and millet value chain approaches.
- Create cross-learning platforms and networks for millet practitioners.
- Develop globally relevant training and capacity development content with network partners in India, Africa, and the Middle East.
Knowledge Share: Biosaline Agriculture
Date: 8 December 2023
Time: 18:00 – 19:00
Location: Expo City, Green Zone
Unveiling of the RISE video in collaboration with Schneider Electric
Date: 9 December 2023
Time: 12:50- 13:05
Location: UAE Pavilion, Green Zone
In a cinematic production featuring the Director General of ICBA, the narrative unfolds to illuminate the challenges confronting farmers striving to cultivate crops in regions characterized by extreme weather conditions, including drought, floods, high temperatures, and other environmental stressors. The film shed light on how ICBA, in collaboration with diverse partners and stakeholders, consistently endeavors to develop alternative solutions to address formidable obstacles such as crop failures, reduced yields, and economic losses experienced by farmers.
ICBA’s Research Twinning Program: Advancing Biosaline Agriculture Studies and Knowledge Exchange Studies and Knowledge Exchange
Event Modality: Book Launch and a Panel Discussion
Timing and Date: Saturday, 9 December, 4:30- 5:30 pm
Speakers: ICBA, IsDB, Other Speakers (TBC)
Location: IsDB Pavilion
Efficient management of water, food and agricultural resources
Date: 10 December 2023
Time: 11:00
Location: Moroccan Pavilion
ICBA in collaboration with the Environmental Center for Arab Towns will present a work paper on water management.
Official Launch of the Book “Agricultural Practices in the UAE: Heritage & Science”
Date: 10 December 2023
Time: 13:15 - 13:55
Location: Actionists Hub, UAE Pavilion, Green Zone
Livestreaming: UAEatCOP
This event aims to officially launch the book, which provides an overview of some of the best farming traditions in the UAE and the science behind their relevance. It will serve as a repository for traditional knowledge in agriculture and a reference to effective farming strategies under local conditions. Its purpose is to promote sustainable farming approaches that have existed for generations, combine tradition and science, and encourage knowledge dissemination.
WEF Nexus: Unlocking wastewater potential for sustainable food systems
Date: 10 December 2023
Time: 13:30- 14:30
Location: Iraq Pavilion, Blue Zone
Water scarcity in Iraq is a major challenge, there is an increasing need to strengthen water management policies and practices and modernize water management and agricultural infrastructures and technologies. Institutional capacity response must be bolstered in order to unlock effluents for restricted and unrestricted agricultural practices while also adopting bioremediation for energy for food security. ICBA is partnering with WFP Iraq in a panel discussion on nature-based solutions and unlocking wastewater potential for sustainable food systems.
Demo Day of the Green Group Accelerator
Date: 10 December 2023
Time: 16:30- 18:00
Location: Knowledge Hub, Green Zone
The final demo day will provide a unique opportunity for investors, industry stakeholders, ecosystem partners, and sustainability advocates to witness cutting-edge innovations and engage with the six promising and international agri-food edition of the green group climate adaptation accelerator. This program, organized by the Green Group, aimed to contribute to the advancement of the global sustainability mission through the empowerment of the next generation of agri-food entrepreneurs and innovators. During the Final Demo Day event, all participating startups will pitch their innovative and sustainable solutions, and later on, one program winner will be announced.
Promoting the Declaration of 2028 as “Year of Saline Agriculture”
Date: 10 December 2023
Time: 18:00
Location: Food Systems Pavilion
ICBA is partnering with the Netherlands, FAO, Cabo Verde, and ICARDA to promote the declaration of 2028 as year of saline agriculture. This event is scheduled to showcase the transformative power of Saline agriculture towards developing more climate resilient and sustainable farming systems and to promote the declaration of Year 2028 as the ‘Year of Saline Agriculture’. This endorsement must come through UN member countries and the corresponding high-level officials. The session is divided in two parts: a panel discussion and a movie.
Food Forever Experience: Savouring Diversity in our Food
Date: 10 December 2023
Time: 18:30- 20:30
Location: Food & Agriculture Pavilion, Blue Zone
ICBA is collaborating with Crop Trust, Kew, CGIAR, Chef’s Manifesto, and UNFCCC in the Food Forever Experience which will serve as an educational platform to dive into the significance of preserving and leveraging the global diversity of edible plants, encompassing nutritional, environmental, and cultural dimensions. In collaboration with esteemed organizations such as Crop Trust, KEW, CGIAR, Resilience Frontiers, and The Chef’s Manifesto, attendees will gain insights from the Minister of International Development of Norway. Her discourse will underscore the pivotal role of conserving and utilizing diverse crops in shaping the future of food security and fostering resilient, climate-adapted food systems.
Events in the lead-up to COP28
LCOY Session/ ICBA Youth Council
Date: 25-26 October 2023
Location: ICBA and Zayed University
The Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) is an event under the umbrella of YOUNGO, the Official Youth Constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The primary goals of the conference were to provide a platform for youth to network and discuss climate-related issues, while also nurturing youth leadership.
It served as the domestic iteration of the International Conference of Youth (COY), a precursor to COP. LCOY plays a crucial role in equipping young individuals with the necessary skills to actively participate in COP and other United Nations initiatives pertaining to climate change, environmental conservation, and sustainable development. The youth's collective statement is meticulously crafted and contributes substantively to the overall outcomes of COY.
ICBA was the official host of LCOY UAE 2023. The conference succeeded in putting 200 young people at the heart of climate action in collaboration with Zayed University in Dubai. With more than 15 sessions and 2 interactive workshops on Climate Fresk and Biodiversity Collage, youth in the UAE discussed critical climate issues with key experts across various sector. The main outcome of the conference is the UAE Youth Statement which contributed to the RCOY, COY and COP28.
Link to statement and conference: https://www.biosaline.org/events/conferences/lcoy-uae-2023-putting-youth-heart-climate-action
28 Global Leaders Advocate on Sustainable Agriculture
ICBA has conducted a social media campaign leading up to COP28, highlighting 28 global leaders advocating for sustainable agriculture, innovations, climate resilience, Nature-based solutions (NbS), and biosaline innovations. The campaign aims to showcase these leaders on ICBA's social media platforms, emphasizing their contributions to climate change mitigation and adaptation in agriculture. The initiative recognizes professionals in policymaking, agripreneurship, and science, with proposed social media partners. The impact focuses on themes such as scientific research, water management, plant health, sustainable agriculture in challenging environments, food security, and climate finance. Selected leaders will receive invitation letters along with a sample design of the social media frame.
ESG Nexus with Agriculture under Climate Change
In collaboration with Rothamsted Institute in the UK, ICBA conducted a workshop with more than 60 participants from all around the world to discuss the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Nexus in Agriculture.
The goal was to form partnerships and address the nexus between ESG and agriculture under climate change. This effort aims to develop a common framework guiding funding, research and collaboration for climate change research in agriculture with integrated ESG factors.
Our Delegation
Dr. Tarifa Alzaabi
Dr. Charbel Tarraf
Dr. Augusto Becerra Lopez-Lavalle
Dr. R. K. Singh
Dr. Khalil Ammar
Dr. Ahmed H. El-Naggar
Mrs. Amal A. Magzoub
Mr. Rashyd Zaaboul
Dr. Dionysia Angeliki Lyra
Ms. Nour El Jundi
