ICARDA receives ACSAD shield in recognition of its contribution to regional agricultural science

ICARDA Director General Mr Aly Abousabaa recently met with His Excellency Dr. Nasr El Din Obeid, Director General of the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands of the Arab League (ACSAD) to discuss future collaboration between the two organizations to enhance agricultural scientific research in the Arab region.

During the meeting, Dr. Nasr showcased the results of ongoing ACSAD projects in Arab countries to enhance plant and animal production and contribute to achieving food security under intensifying climate change impacts.

Mr. Abousabaa emphasized the importance of strengthening the strategic relationships between the two organizations. In addition, he presented the dynamic reformulation of One CGIAR and its expected impact on agricultural scientific research in the Central and Western Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region.

In response, Dr. Nasr presented the shield of ACSAD to Mr. Abousabaa in recognition of ICARDA’s role in the important development agricultural scientific research in the region. Mr. Abousabaa highly valued receiving this shield and affirmed that the two organizations will continue to collaborate to improve the efficiency of practical research, and work towards reducing the food gap, and improving food systems in the Middle East, the Nile Valley, and North Africa.

The meeting was also attended by Dr. Aiham Al-Homsi, the head of Economics and Planning at ACSAD and Dr. Aladdin Hamwieh, Regional Coordinator for Nile Valley and Red Sea Program at ICARDA.