ICBA and partners share five years of water management success in Euphrates-Tigris river basin

Thursday, June 28, 2018

Amman, Jordan, June 28, 2018 – Over 45 participants, representing various government, national and international organizations, came together in Jordan today to share key achievements of the five-year project titled Collaborative Programme Euphrates and Tigris (CPET).

UAE Minister of State for Future Food Security approves ICBA’s new board of directors

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Dubai, UAE, June 27, 2018 – In line with a resolution issued by Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of State for Future Food Security, a new Board of Directors has been appointed at the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) with immediate effect.

ICBA scientists manage to increase fish biomass by 300% using reject brine

Thursday, June 7, 2018

Dubai, UAE, June 7, 2018 – Through an improved, cost-effective inland modular farming approach in desert environments, scientists at the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) have achieved one of the highest fish biomass densities of Tilapia fish (30 kg per cubic meter) compared to previous growing seasons (10 kg per cubic meter), using reject brine (waste water) from desalination units.

ICBA, Pakistan’s regional investment body team up to boost agriculture in northwest

Monday, May 28, 2018

Dubai, UAE, May 28, 2018 – The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Board of Investment and Trade (KP-BOIT), Pakistan, have joined forces to improve the agricultural sector in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and work together to strengthen cooperation in areas of common interest.

The cooperation was recently formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Director General of ICBA, and Mr. Nazir Ahmad Awan, CEO/Secretary of KP-BOIT, in Dubai.

In a first, ICBA scientists start growing halophytic vegetables in UAE

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Dubai, UAE, May 17, 2018 – 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.

It is the first time that halophytic vegetables are being grown in the UAE conditions, both in the open field conditions and a simple net-house structure, without using fresh water.

ICBA achieves progress in breaking Salicornia yield ceiling

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Dubai, UAE, May 10, 2018: 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.

Working closely with local partners in the UAE, the scientists have recently recorded a bumper seed yield of 3 tonnes per hectare (t/ha) using seawater passing through an aquaculture system. This is the first time Salicornia has produced such high yield under UAE conditions.

UAE farmers warm to quinoa

Sunday, May 6, 2018

Dubai, UAE, May 6, 2018 – 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.

Going beyond the limits: future food security is about exploring non-traditional crops and breakthrough technologies

Monday, April 9, 2018

Dubai, UAE, April 9, 2018 – 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.

ICBA, Dubai Carbon team up for sustainability projects

Sunday, April 8, 2018

Dubai, UAE, April 8, 2018 – 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.

Are Net-Houses the Future of Horticulture in the UAE?

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Dubai, UAE, April 5, 2018 – 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.