Learn about ICBA's initiatives and experiences in sustainable agricultural productivity
Head of State: Science is the main way to deal with humanity's challenges
Mohamed bin Zayed during his visit to the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) in Dubai.
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The President's visit to ICBA came as part of his field tours in the various emirates of the country.
From the source
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His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, visited the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) in the Emirate of Dubai, which specializes in agricultural research aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and its sustainability in saline and marginal environments, as part of his field tours in various emirates of the country.
At the beginning of his tour - coinciding with World Environment Day - His Highness planted the "Ghaf" tree, which is distinguished by its great ability to withstand difficult climatic and environmental conditions and withstand them, and acquires a special symbolism in the history, heritage and identity of the UAE.
Upon his arrival at the center, His Highness was received by Maryam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Al Muhairi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Managing Director of the Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi, President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) Razan Al Mubarak, and Acting Director General Dr. Tarifa Al Zaabi. And a number of center officials.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan stressed that ICBA embodies the UAE's leading role in working to achieve sustainable development at the regional and global levels by investing knowledge, innovation and scientific research to find solutions to the challenges facing biosaline agriculture and soil problems, and innovating modern methods in the field of use. Optimizing water in the agricultural field, and developing agricultural strains capable of adapting to difficult environmental and climatic conditions.
His Highness said that the UAE gives food security a major priority in its development plans, and hence its interest in agriculture and the use of the latest scientific and technological methods to advance it and increase its productivity, pointing out that what the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture is doing confirms the UAE's belief that science is the main way to deal with challenges. facing humanity in various fields, especially agriculture and water.
His Highness's tour included the outdoor area, which includes a variety of trees that were planted and tested, especially plants that tolerate water salinity, as well as the Desert Life Sciences Laboratory, the Gene Bank and the Emirates Soil Museum.
His Highness listened to an explanation from the center in charge of its most important achievements, departments, national, regional and international partnerships and fields of work, in addition to its future research plans, especially with regard to research on sustainable management of natural resources, irrigation efficiency, remote sensing, climate-adapted crops and genome research for more crops. health and others.
His Highness praised the efforts of the center's workers, and the important role it plays in one of the most important areas related to development in the UAE and the world, which is the field of agriculture and water.
At the conclusion of his tour, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed his best wishes to the center's workers and those in charge of it, and urged them to continue working to supplement national plans in the field of agriculture, food security and water with more important ideas and innovations.
His Highness was accompanied during the tour by His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, and Lieutenant-General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Maryam bint Mohammed Al Muhairi said that the visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, to the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, confirms the extent of care, attention and support given by our wise leadership to the research, development and innovation system, and what this system represents as a strategic pillar to achieve the goals of our country in terms of For a better future for present and future generations.
She indicated that the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment is keen, in cooperation with ICBA and strategic partners in the public and private sectors, to enhance research, development and innovation capabilities to stimulate the pace of climate action, and to explore new solutions that support enhancing food security.
She commended the efforts made by ICBA's work team to support and enhance continuous and effective research and development.
Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak said, “In the context of climate change, there is an urgent need to invest in research, more than ever, in order to develop innovative, low-cost, repeatable, low-energy food production systems that have the ability to adapt to degraded soil.
She stressed that ICBA will continue to develop agricultural technologies that contribute to achieving food security.
Dr. Tarifa Al-Zaabi expressed her thanks for the visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to the center.
"We are pleased to welcome His Highness the Head of State to ICBA," she said, referring to the leadership's support for the center for more than two decades.
She added that the center provided the best practices of saline cultures, which were developed by its experts, and presented to more than 30,000 farmers.
For their part, the employees of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture expressed their happiness with the visit of His Highness the President of the State, stressing that the visit constitutes a strong moral impetus for more work and giving during the coming period.
It is noteworthy that ICBA, which was established in 1999, has succeeded in consolidating its position over the years as a global center of excellence and a partner in research for development in various regions.
ICBA focuses on developing solutions specifically designed for marginal environments, and works with partners in more than 50 countries, enabling it to draw on a wide variety of expertise to achieve greater impact on the ground.
The center has implemented its development research and programs in more than 40 countries in Central Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, Southern Caucasus, and Sub-Saharan Africa, and has contributed to the development and introduction of 24 technologies and crops to about 30 countries, whether through the development of improved genotypes for quinoa and salicornia, or the development of Drought Monitoring Solutions.
Under the Plant Genetic Resources Programme, ICBA has distributed nearly 9,000 seed samples to scientists, farmers and other stakeholders in 57 countries.
• Mohammed bin Zayed planted the Ghaf tree, which is characterized by its great ability to withstand difficult climatic and environmental conditions.
• "Climate Change" is keen on strengthening research and development capabilities, to explore new solutions that support enhancing food security.
Mohammed bin Zayed:
• "The UAE gives food security a major priority within its development plans, and hence its interest in agriculture and the use of the latest scientific and technological methods to advance it and increase its productivity."
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