Jeddah, KSA, 24.06.2014 - The IDB and the UAE Government have signed an agreement aimed at continuous support for the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA). The two entities are convinced of the importance of water in economic and social development in general and the agricultural sector, in particular.

ICBA’s work addresses the closely linked challenges of water, environment, income, and food security. The Center’s applied research for development aims to address the agricultural challenges in marginal environments including assessment of natural resources, climate change adaptation, crop productivity and diversification, aquaculture and bio-energy and policy analysis. Building capacity and sharing knowledge is an important part of all that ICBA does. ICBA’s work reaches countries, including
least developed countries, in Central Asia and the Caucasus, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), South and South East Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

The original agreement between the Government of the UAE and the IDB establishing ICBA was signed in 1996 and was aimed at facilitating the transfer and use of biosaline agriculture technology in the area of cultivation and production of crops, fodder, trees, and plants that are salt tolerant. The renewal of this agreement in 2014 reflects the commitment of the two organizations to ICBA’s achievements over the past 15 years and its new mission to work in partnership to deliver agricultural and
water scarcity solutions in marginal environments.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, said that “By signing this agreement today, we are renewing our support and commitment to ICBA and to our contribution to poverty reduction in the world via agriculture in marginal environments”. A feeling that was shared by H.E. Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali, President of IDB, who stressed on the importance of ICBA, “which was created for the main purpose of helping all of humanity in solving a major
problem—water salinity”.

ICBA’s Director General, Dr. Ismahane Elouafi describes the renewal of the agreement as a significant milestone for the Center. “The continuous support of the IDB and the UAE Government for the work of ICBA is fundamental in ensuring that we can deliver on our mission. We highly value our partnership with IDB and the Government of the UAE through the Ministry of Water and Environment and the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi.”
“Through our joint work with the IDB and the UAE Government ICBA can make a tangible contribution to efforts to increase food and nutritional security, to a more resilient environment and income, and to improve water security,” concluded Dr. Elouafi.
The agreement was signed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 24th of June 2014 and will be in effect for 5 years.