PHOTO
Dubai – The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) and the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) agreed today to work together to develop a suite of innovative tools for bolstering the resilience of the UAE’s food system.
Under a cooperative agreement signed by Dr. Tarifa Alzaabi, Acting Director General of ICBA, and Professor Mohamed Salem, President of UOWD, the two institutions will carry out a joint project aimed at providing policymakers with a holistic analytical framework for monitoring and assessing a wide range of factors impacting on food security at the national, regional and global levels.
Harnessing the power of big data, the project will produce, among other things, a platform for evidence-based policymaking and a system for assessing vulnerabilities and responding to risks to food security.
As part of the project titled “Resilient agrifood dynamism through evidence-based policies” (READY), ICBA and UOWD will also formulate policies and actions to help make the country’s food system more resilient to supply shocks and disruptions. Moreover, the project will design a dedicated knowledge portal and a database, as well as create a set of scenarios and models.
Dr. Tarifa Alzaabi, Acting Director General of ICBA, said: “Over the past 20 years, we have worked with decision-makers and other stakeholders in different countries to develop strategies and solutions for sustainable agricultural development and food production. We have also created various tools for supporting decision-making processes. Building on our past experience and success, we are very happy to partner with UOWD to do our part through this new project to help strengthen the resilience and sustainability of the food system in the UAE. The outcomes of the READY project’s tools will not only serve as a basis to develop a set of national policies and integrated actions but hopefully will support in developing capabilities and strengthening the capacities of youth in future research. We hope its outputs will serve as valuable components of the nation’s initiatives on food security and self-sufficiency.”
Professor Mohamed Salem, President, UOWD, said: “As an innovative and forward-thinking higher education provider in the UAE, UOWD is proud to partner with ICBA on the READY project, a future-focused initiative that aims to strengthen food security in the country. As an arid country that traditionally relied on imports to meet its food requirements, food security and diversifying food sources are crucial priorities for the UAE with the country seeking to address its myriad challenges in this space at scale. Through leveraging the resources of our research department, UOWD is pleased to facilitate data and analyses to enable decision making, policy development, and strategic planning processes. In doing so, our collaboration with ICBA will empower the concerned government departments to enhance local agricultural practices and ensure the sector’s robustness under all circumstances.”
The project will also develop an early warning system which will help policymakers anticipate potential challenges and take proactive measures. More importantly, it will offer a roadmap for transitioning the UAE’s food system to a more energy-efficient, sustainable, and resilient model. Ultimately, it will contribute to broader efforts on food security and self-sufficiency in the country and benefit society as a whole.
The project is coordinated by Dr. Ioannis Manikas, Associate Professor at UOWD and the READY project’s principal investigator, and Dr. Khalil Ammar, Program Leader on Sustainable Natural Resources Management at ICBA.
The project’s outputs are aligned with the goals of the National Food Security Strategy 2051. The strategy envisions that the UAE will become a world-leading hub of innovation-driven food security and reach the top spot in the Global Food Security Index, compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit, in 2051.
-Ends-
About ICBA
The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) is a unique applied agricultural research center in the world with a focus on marginal areas where an estimated 1.7 billion people live. It identifies, tests and introduces resource-efficient, climate-smart crops and technologies that are best suited to different regions affected by salinity, water scarcity and drought. Through its work, ICBA helps to improve food security and livelihoods for some of the poorest rural communities around the world.
About University of Wollongong in Dubai
University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) is the first international university in the UAE and the premier Australian university in the region. Established in 1993 by the University of Wollongong Australia, UOWD is accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the UAE Ministry of Education and the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) and is licensed by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).
UOWD is the highest ranked Australian university in the UAE – its curriculum and teaching practices reflect those of UOW Australia, which ranks among the top 1% of universities worldwide. Offering over 40 higher education programmes across 10 industry sectors, the university has over 3,500 students from 108 nationalities and a global community of 152,000 alumni.
As part of its continued pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, industry engagement and student experience, UOWD inaugurated its new purpose-built 200,000-square-foot campus at Dubai Knowledge Park in 2020. Featuring cutting-edge technologies, modern architecture, and a mix of traditional and innovative learning spaces, the campus provides an enriched experience to meet the demands of today’s student population, while supporting the teaching staff and community research projects.
Press enquiries:
ICBA
Mr. Showkat Nabi Rather, ICBA, Dubai, UAE: s.rather@biosaline.org.ae
UOWD
Imaan Jooma, APCO Worldwide, ijooma@apcoworldwide.com
© Press Release 2021
Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release.
The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.
