ICBA, BGI partner to set up advanced genomics center in UAE

Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Dubai, UAE, 7 May 2019 – To accelerate agricultural research and development in the world’s marginal environments, the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) and the BGI Group, the world's largest genomics research institution, have agreed to establish a dedicated, cutting-edge genomics center in the UAE.

Named the Desert Life Sciences Center, the new facility will conduct in-depth studies of the genome structure of stress-tolerant crops like quinoa, Amaranthus, Salicornia, and others.

The cooperative agreement to this effect was signed by Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Director General of ICBA, and Dr. Ren Wang, Senior Vice President of BGI Group, during the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, China, on 25 April 2019.

Value chains for super crops key to fighting poverty, hunger in IsDB member countries

Saturday, April 6, 2019

Marrakesh, Morocco, 6 April 2019 – Creating value chains for resilient, underutilized crops like quinoa, sorghum and Salicornia should form the cornerstone of food security and poverty reduction strategies in the face of climate change and other threats to agricultural production and rural livelihoods in member countries of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

This was the consensus of leaders, policymakers, scientists and experts attending a high-level event on sustainable agricultural value chains on the sidelines of IsDB’s 44^th Annual Meeting held from 3 to 6 April. More than 100 delegates from around 30 countries looked at how climate-smart crops can help to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 and 2 on no poverty and zero hunger.

FAO, ICBA ink agreements to save plant genetic resources, boost food security in world’s marginal areas

Sunday, March 10, 2019

Abu Dhabi/Dubai, UAE, 10 March 2019 – The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Dr. José Graziano da Silva, and Director General of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, signed two landmark agreements today, expanding existing cooperation between the two institutions on plant genetic resources, biosaline agriculture and climate change adaptation in the world’s marginal environments.

Arab Women Leaders in Agriculture (Awla) fellowship program opens call for applications

Thursday, March 7, 2019

Dubai, UAE, March 7, 2019 – On the eve of International Women's Day, the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and CGIAR Research Program on Wheat launched a call for applications for the first edition of the Arab Women Leaders in Agriculture (Awla) fellowship program for women researchers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

ICBA hosts big agri-tech showcase for UAE farmers, agri-businesses

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Dubai, UAE, February 20, 2019 – More than 100 leading farmers, agri-businesses, senior officials and representatives of different government entities from across the UAE today visited a major one-of-a-kind showcase of tailor-made agri-solutions at the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) in Dubai.

ICBA to host open day for UAE farmers, agri-businesses

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Dubai, UAE, February 14, 2019 – To mark 20 years of service to and collaboration with farmers and other agricultural stakeholders in the UAE, the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) will host a big open day for UAE farmers and agri-businesses at its headquarters in Dubai on 20 February 2019.

Drones Synergies Conference examines future-shaping technology solutions

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Dubai, UAE, 22 November 2018: Drones Synergies 2018, a global conference and capacity building workshops, today concluded at the Zayed University in Dubai. The aim of the two-day event was to see application of latest drone technologies in different fields, particularly in precision agriculture, food security, environmental and natural resource management.

Zayed University Hosts Drone Synergies Global Conference

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Dubai, 15 November 2018 ― Zayed University, Dubai hosts the first edition of Drone Synergies global conference, which highlights the role of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in education, technology, smart agriculture, food security, environmental and natural resource management.

ICBA, IFAD team up to boost food security in developing countries

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Dubai, 13 November 2018 ― The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a specialized agency of the United Nations, joined forces today to work towards agricultural development and food security in developing countries, contributing to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

ICBA, Uzbekistan’s Innovation Ministry partner to set up international Aral Sea innovation center

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Samarkand, Uzbekistan│Dubai, UAE,  October 16, 2018 – The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) and the Ministry of Innovative Development of Uzbekistan signed today a memorandum of understanding to establish an international innovation center for the Aral Sea Basin under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The center will be based in Nukus at the experimental station of the State Committee on Forestry in Karakalpakstan (an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan).