The Independent Science for Development Council (ISDC), the external science advisory body for CGIAR, met in Dubai, UAE in November 2024 to finalize the review of CGIAR Portfolio 2025-30. This meeting concluded the ISDC-moderated review engaging 39 external Subject Matter Experts who assessed the 13 proposals throughout October.
Did you know that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is in the top six most water stressed countries in the world? The region is vulnerable to climate change with drought, rising sea levels, and extreme heat being key factors. These challenges, unless tackled, will likely decrease the amount of arable land and increase the need to import more food.
The lack of moisture and poor-quality soils, which have low fertility and poor water holding capacity impact on the types of crops that can be grown. These challenges need an integrated approach to crop production to increase yields but conserve the soil, water use, and environment.
.png)
Exploiting crop diversity is critical component of any such approach. By identifying and deploying useful traits in seed banks of wild relatives and landraces of staple crops, there are opportunities to expand the types and diversity of crops grown in the region.
During the meeting, ISDC had the opportunity to visit the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA). ICBA was established in 1996 as a not-for-profit agricultural research center whose mission is “To work in partnership to deliver agricultural and water scarcity solutions in marginal environments.”
During the visit, led by the Chief Scientist Dr. Augusto Becerra and the team leader Dr. Sridhar Gummadi, ISDC discussed the work of ICBA on climate adaptation and mitigation. ICBA studies underutilized abiotic and biotic stress-tolerant crops for use as food, feed, and biofuel, to support crop production in farming systems where water is scarce and/or salty. The Center hosts a diverse germplasm collection of stress-tolerant and underutilized crop species and support Community seed banks for farmers.
.png)
ISDC saw first-hand the long-term palm experiment that started 23 years ago where the resilience of 18 date palm tree varieties to salinity and insect pests is being investigated. ISDC also had the chance to see field experiments with lines of salt tolerant Salicornia (sea asparagus).
Notably, the Center is evaluating cowpea lines that can grow in summer daytime temperatures of 53°C and provide groundcover to protect land from soil erosion. The team is also evaluating Quinoa germplasm. Quinoa originated in the cool Andean highlands and the plants are also capable of adaptation to hot drylands. d
.png)
ISDC also visited the Emirates Soil Museum hosted at ICBA which opened in December 2016 and contains information and maps of soils in the region. They were introduced to the two predominant orders (called Aridisols and Entisols) and the colors and properties of the 74 soil series found in UAE. The museum displays and information provide a valuable resource for educators and researchers.
It was a fascinating visit and heartening to see the work going on to deliver solutions to adapt to water stress and a warming climate.
