ICARDA Annual Report 1987

In 1987, ICARDA experienced significant leadership and organizational changes. Dr. Mohamed A. Nour, Director General since 1981, left to join the UN Development Programme, and Dr. Aart van Schoonhoven joined as Deputy Director General for Research in September. The Financial Controller also departed, and the new buildings at Tel Hadya were occupied, providing modern facilities, including a biotechnology lab to accelerate crop breeding. ICARDA continued to focus on applied research while supporting national institutions across West Asia and North Africa, particularly through seed-production projects and strategic cooperation.

The year emphasized building networks, both informal among scientists and formal through agreements with 13 regional countries and several universities, facilitating research collaboration, graduate training, and joint projects in high-elevation agriculture. ICARDA also participated in the second general conference of AARINENA to strengthen regional agricultural research cooperation.

The Acting Director General, G. Jan Koopman, expressed gratitude to the staff, the Syrian government, CGIAR colleagues, and donors for their support. In November, Dr. Nasrat Fadda was appointed as the next Director General, with his responsibilities set to begin in March 1988.