H.E. Dr. Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, UAE Minister of Environment and Water, upholds ICBA's tradition by appointing a new Board of Directors for the Center that come with a wealth of regional and international experience. The new Board of Directors includes leaders from international NGOs, government organizations, donors' institutes, and research organizations. This reinforces ICBA's new vision to be the global center of excellence for innovative agriculture in saline and marginal environments.
The new Chair of the ICBA Board is Prof. Abdulrahman Sultan Al Sharhan, a former Dean of the Faculty of Science at the UAE University and a current member of the Higher Committee for the Zayed International Prize for the Environment. Prof. Al Sharhan brings great experience in strategic management of research institutions.
Joining Prof. Al Sharhan on the Board is Mr. Saif Mohammed Al Shara (Assistant Undersecretary for Agricultural and Livestock Affairs - UAE Ministry of Environment and Water). Mr. Al Shara oversees the agricultural portfolio within the Ministry and represents the UAE at the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) level for agricultural files.
The new Board will also include Dr. Jaber Eidha Al Jaberi (Deputy Secretary-General - Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi) - a very influential person within the UAE, the Arab World and internationally when it comes to the matters of the environment.
Mr. Mohammed Jamal Al-Saati (Director of Country Programs Department - Islamic Development Bank) has been on the Board of Directors of ICBA for three years now and has played an instrumental role, along with the previous board members, in developing the ICBA strategy 2013-2023. Mr. Al-Saati represents the IDB and its commitment to the center's objectives and mission.
Mr. Adel Abdulla Alhosani (Director of the Operations Department - Abu Dhabi Fund for Development) is another continual member of the previous Board of Directors. His financial background is very important as ICBA continues its growth path.
Another new Board member is Ms. Roula Majdalani (Director of the Sustainable Development and Productivity Division - United Nations - Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia). She is joined by Dr. Yvon Martel (Retired Chief Scientist - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) who has a long experience in agricultural science management in Canada and internationally. Dr. Martel developed partnerships with industries, universities, different levels of government and research institutions of several countries. He was the Chair of the Governing Body of the OECD Co-operative Research Program.
The new appointments are rounded off by the inclusion of Dr. Amit Roy (President and Chief Executive Officer - International Fertilizer Development Center) who has led IFDC since 1992. Under his leadership, IFDC's programs have broadened to help create sustainable agricultural productivity around the world, alleviating hunger and poverty and ensuring global food security, environmental protection and economic growth.
"These are very exciting times for ICBA; especially that the center has embarked on a new ambitious 10 year strategy that looks at expanding the scope of ICBA's mandate, building on past successes and adapting to current and future needs," said Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Director General of ICBA. "We look forward to working hand in hand with the new Board of Directors to continue the success story of ICBA in achieving our goals. On behalf of all ICBA employees and ICBA management; I would like to sincerely thank the previous board under the leadership of H.E. Fawzi Al Sultan for their tremendous contribution to ICBA."
About ICBA
The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) is a not-for-profit, international center of excellence for research and development in marginal environments. ICBA's work addresses the closely linked challenges of water, environment, income, and food security.
ICBA's applied research for development agenda aims to address the agricultural challenges in marginal environments. The research innovation areas tackled in the strategy include assessment of natural resources, climate change adaptation, crop productivity and diversification, aquaculture and bio-energy and policy analysis. ICBA is working on a number of technology developments including the use of conventional and non-conventional water (such as saline, treated wastewater, industrial water, agricultural drainage, and seawater); water and land management technologies and remote sensing and modeling for climate change adaptation. Building capacity and sharing knowledge is an important part of all ICBA does. ICBA's work reaches countries, including least developed countries, in Central Asia and the Caucasus, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), South and South East Asia, sub Saharan Africa and Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
for more information about this topic, please call:
Charbel El Khouri
Communications Coordinator
International Center for Biosaline Agriculture
Mobile: +971.55.6659097
Phone: +971.4.3361100 ext. 256
Fax: +971.4.3363159
Email: c.elkhouri@biosaline.org.ae
© Press Release 2014
