ICARDA and the Syrian Ministry of Agriculture Convene High-Level Consultation to Advance the Rehabilitation of Syria’s Agriculture Sector

Setting a Collaborative Vision for Agricultural Recovery

The workshop opened with remarks by Mr. John Lindon, ICARDA’s Head of Partnerships and Resource Mobilization, who welcomed participants and outlined the objectives of the consultation.

In his address, Mr. Aly Abousabaa emphasized the organization’s deep roots in Syria and its commitment to rebuilding agricultural capacity through research, innovation, and partnerships:

“ICARDA’s longstanding partnership with Syria is rooted in decades of collaboration and shared progress in agricultural research and development. Our facilities in Tel Hadya once served as a cornerstone of innovation in dryland agriculture in the region, and we are determined to restore them to their full potential. The rehabilitation plan presented today encompasses the entire Syrian agricultural sector and reflects ICARDA’s commitment to bringing its 50 years of global expertise to support national recovery efforts. But no single institution can achieve this alone; rebuilding Syria’s agriculture requires collective action, coordination, and shared ownership. We therefore invite all development partners and donors to identify areas within this framework that align with their priorities and contribute where their expertise can make an immediate and lasting difference.”

H.E. Dr. Amjad Badr highlighted the importance of rebuilding ICARDA’s presence in the country:

“ICARDA has a long and distinguished history in Syria and has made invaluable contributions to the country’s agricultural advancement. We deeply value its presence and recognize the importance of revitalizing its operations on Syrian soil. The Ministry of Agriculture stands ready to extend all necessary facilitation to ensure ICARDA’s return to its former stature, confident that its deep knowledge of Syria’s agricultural realities will greatly support our national rehabilitation efforts. Our collective success depends on close collaboration between national institutions, ICARDA, and our international partners, working hand in hand to rebuild Syria’s agricultural sector.”

Charting the Path Forward

The workshop featured a detailed presentation by Dr. Michael Baum, ICARDA’s Research Team Leader, who introduced the structure and scope of the Program for the Rehabilitation of Syria’s Agriculture Sector. The presentation outlined the program’s key components:

• Vulnerability Mapping of Agriculture and Agrarian Livelihoods

• Re-establishing Cereals and Legumes Seed Systems

• Restarting Syria’s Scientific Capacity in Plant Breeding

• Revitalizing Small Ruminant Production

• Infrastructure Rehabilitation

• Efficient Resource Management and Climate Adaptation

• Capacity Development and Technical Support

• Markets and Value Chains

• Governance and Policy Framework

• Rehabilitation of the Tel Hadya Research and Innovation Hub

A moderated high-level panel discussion followed, bringing together key national and international partners to exchange perspectives on Syria’s agricultural recovery and explore opportunities for collaboration under the rehabilitation framework.

The panelists underscored the importance of aligning ongoing initiatives under a unified national framework and reaffirmed that sustainable rehabilitation requires long-term commitment, evidence-based planning, and institutional collaboration. The discussion emphasized that practical recovery efforts must build on existing national capacities, leverage global expertise, and center on farmers’ needs as the foundation of agricultural resilience.

A Q&A session followed the high-level panel discussion, allowing participants to engage directly with the panelists, share insights, and raise key considerations for the way forward.

ICARDA’s Delegation (in-person and virtual)

• Mr. Aly Abousabaa, Director General
• Dr. Michael Baum, Research Team Leader - Breeding and Scaling Improved Varieties of Dryland Cereals and Pulses
• Dr. Muhi El-Dine Hilali, Country Coordinator – Syria and Food and Feed Processing Scientist
• Dr. Majd Jamal, Head of Government Liaison
• Mr. John Lindon, Head of Partnerships and Resource Mobilization

ICARDA’s History in Syria

ICARDA’s main research station in Tel Hadya, near Aleppo, once covered 948 hectares and served as a cornerstone of agricultural research in the region. At its peak, the station employed nearly 1,000 staff and consultants, including international scientists, national researchers, and technical and administrative teams. Established in 1984, the Tel Hadya genebank housed approximately 141,000 plant accessions, one of the largest and most valuable collections of dryland crop diversity in the world. When conflict broke out in 2011, ICARDA acted swiftly to safeguard these invaluable genetic resources by duplicating them at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault and at ICARDA’s genebanks in Lebanon and Morocco. This decisive action ensured that Syria’s agricultural heritage would remain protected for future generations. After losing access to Tel Hadya, ICARDA transitioned to a decentralized model, temporarily relocating its headquarters to Beirut, Lebanon, in 2012 and re-establishing its research operations across Morocco, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, India, and other dryland countries. Despite the conflict and the destruction of its facilities, ICARDA maintained partial operations in Syria, a testament to the dedication of its teams and the strength of its partnerships with national institutions. This transformation enabled ICARDA to extend its scientific reach across diverse dryland ecosystems, continuing to deliver research-driven, innovative, and collaborative solutions tailored to the unique challenges across the drylands of Central and West Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East.