As 22 May marks the International Day for Biological Diversity (or World Biodiversity Day) every year, the date serves as an important reminder of biodiversity’s role in food security and environmental sustainability. Today the world faces a plethora of challenges from climate change to overpopulation to food insecurity.

Scientists at the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) have successfully started growing halophytic (salt-loving) vegetables in the UAE conditions, using reject brine from desalination units treated with fish effluents.

His Excellency Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of Saudi Arabia, and His Excellency Tareq Alabbasi, Director of General Department of Biodiversity and Combating Desertification, Saudi Arabia, paid a special visit to the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) today to explore areas for potential collaboration.

A team of scientists at the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) has made a major breakthrough in increasing yield potential of Salicornia, a multi-purpose halophyte.

The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) today received a two-member delegation from Egypt to discuss potential areas for collaboration. The main purpose of the visit was to discuss production of salt-tolerant plants, especially Salicornia (a multi-purpose salt-loving plant that can be used as food, feed and biofuel) in the country.

The number of farmers cultivating quinoa in the UAE is steadily increasing thanks to a major program led by the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) in collaboration with national partner organizations.

The Research Institute for a Sustainable Environment’s (RISE) Food for the Future is a regional food security project that is being implemented in both the UAE and Egypt. The project is implemented on several components: sustainable farming, solar chicken incubators, rooftop garden, economic empowerment for women in rural area and rehabilitation of lands.

Alternative, non-traditional crops and technologies can play an important role in contributing to future food security in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

This was one of the main points made during an open day and round-table discussions attended by H.E. Mariam Bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of State for Future Food Security, at International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, the winner of the Best Arab Research Center at the Best Arab Awards in 2017.

To further strengthen the existing partnership and collaborate more closely in sustainable agriculture and development, the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) and the Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence (DCCE) joined forces today to work together on sustainability projects. The collaboration was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Director General of ICBA, and Mr. Ivano Iannelli, Chief Executive Officer of DCCE.

A highly efficient low-cost net-house technology can help to make horticulture significantly more feasible and profitable agri-business in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), while saving water and energy, an extensive study by the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) has concluded.