ICARDA Showcases Innovation at Cairo Water Week 2025

ICARDA once again joined global water and climate leaders at Cairo Water Week 2025, hosted by Egypt’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI) in collaboration with regional and international partners.

Held from 12 to 16 October 2025 at the Triumph Luxury Hotel in Cairo, this year’s event gathered ministers, policymakers, and experts from around the world under the theme “Innovative Solutions for Climate Resilience and Water Sustainability.”

Driving Regional Collaboration

Now in its eighth edition, Cairo Water Week has become a key regional platform for advancing dialogue and action on water and climate challenges.

In a high-level meeting, ICARDA Director General Aly Abousabaa met with H.E. Dr. Hani Sewilam, Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, to showcase ICARDA’s latest advancements in Egypt,  including the use of renewable energy for irrigation, strengthening the water–energy–food nexus, advancing desalination technologies, improving irrigation efficiency, enhancing crop productivity, and promoting sustainable agriculture in desert areas through digital and information technologies.

The discussion also explored future opportunities to strengthen collaboration with the Ministry to advance climate-smart solutions that directly benefit Egyptian farmers and boost Egypt’s food and water resilience.

Reflecting ICARDA’s vital role in shaping sustainable agri-food systems across the non-tropical drylands region, DG Abousabaa also participated in the Third Joint Ministerial Meeting of Arab Ministers of Water and Agriculture. The meeting focused on strengthening regional cooperation to achieve water and food security, address shared challenges, and enhance joint action for climate resilience across the Arab world.

Throughout the week, additional strategic meetings were held with several key partners, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), and the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

Showcasing Science-Based Solutions

ICARDA hosted and participated in a series of technical sessions throughout the week, showcasing science-driven innovations that address water challenges, enhance climate adaptation, and build resilient food systems across dryland regions.

ICARDA co-convened the High-Level Plenary Session on Climate Change Vulnerability, Mitigation, and Adaptation with MWRI. ICARDA’s Director General Aly Abousabaa joined the high-level panel, while Dr. Vinay Nangia, Research Team Leader for Soil, Water, and Agronomy, moderated the discussion on water-related climate risks and inclusive, scalable adaptation solutions.

“At ICARDA, we use artificial intelligence to improve all aspects of dryland agriculture, including water management. AI helps us analyze data, predict future scenarios, and make informed decisions so farmers and policymakers can tackle accelerating climate challenges and resource scarcity, building a more resilient future for drylands.” 

— Aly Abousabaa, Director General, ICARDA   

Additionally, ICARDA hosted a technical session on “Green Transitions for Sustainable Agriculture in MENA,” featuring Dr. Heba AlHariry (FAO NENA office), Prof. Amos Winter (MIT), Profs. Serkan Ates and Chad Higgins (Oregon State University) and Dr. Ayman Ibrahim (Agricultural Engineering Research Institute of Egypt).

The session explored sustainable practices that minimize greenhouse gas emissions, reduce water pollution, limit synthetic fertilizer use, and optimize water and energy consumption, all bold steps toward a greener agriculture future

“In the MENA region, where water scarcity is a defining challenge, our goal is to make renewable-powered irrigation and desalination truly practical and accessible. By partnering with ICARDA and the private sector, we’re turning research into real solutions, from low-pressure drip systems that cut energy use, to AI tools that ensure water is used efficiently, and solar desalination that makes farming in new areas possible.”
— Prof. Amos Winter, Professor, MIT

“At FAO, through the Water Scarcity Platform, we are working to transform how water, energy, food, and ecosystems are managed under climate stress. Our aim is to scale renewable-powered irrigation systems as viable, inclusive, and sustainable solutions that strengthen food security, reduce carbon emissions, and empower communities in water-scarce regions.”

— Dr. Heba AlHariry, Land and Water Officer, FAO NENA 

Under FAO’s Regional Water Scarcity Initiative, ICARDA scientists organized the session “Water-Wise Agriculture: Bridging Research and Practice in Dryland Regions.” Discussions focused on efficient water resource management, climate-smart practices to improve water productivity, restoring degraded drylands through rainwater harvesting and vegetation management, and promoting on-farm sustainability in water, energy, and food use.

Dr. Mohie Omar, Senior Researcher in Soil Water Agronomy and ICARDA Egypt Country Coordinator, also joined the IWMI–AOAD session on “Water and Soil Salinity in Egypt: Institutional Frameworks and Market Systems for Mitigation and Adaptation.”
He emphasized the importance of efficient leaching and highlighted ICARDA’s success in Kafr El-Sheikh, where neglected saline lands were transformed into productive farms through integrated fish farming and improved water management.

Dr. Mohie further moderated the session “Consolidating Progress, Envisioning Tomorrow: NWRC’s Pathway to Sustainable Water Management,” reflecting on National Water Research Center NWRC’s five decades of contributions to scientific research and practical water management solutions.

As part of ICARDA’s efforts to build capacities and promote knowledge exchange, master’s students from Tottori University, currently conducting research in Egypt with ICARDA’s Soil, Water, and Agronomy Team, participated in Cairo Water Week,  an invaluable opportunity to engage with regional experts and explore cutting-edge research and policies shaping water management in the MENA region.

Key Takeaways     

ICARDA’s participation in Cairo Water Week 2025 highlighted its leadership in advancing climate-resilient agriculture for drylands. Through high-level engagements and technical sessions, ICARDA showcased green transition technologies such as solar-powered irrigation and agrivoltaics, and presented its growing portfolio of AI-driven tools for efficient water and nutrient management.
Through strong partnerships and science-based solutions, ICARDA delivers practical innovations that help dryland communities thrive and stay resilient amid the accelerating impacts of climate change.