Environment

Her Highness Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President and CEO of the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA), visited the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) to explore its innovative research and initiatives addressing critical challenges in agriculture and environmental sustainability.

Dr. Tarifa Al Zaabi, Director General of ICBA, warmly welcomed Her Highness and outlined the center’s strategic contributions to global food security, emphasizing its role in biosaline agriculture and fostering impactful partnerships.

Empowering Communities through Research and Collaboration
Her Highness highlighted the significance of capacity development and knowledge transfer, especially for women and local communities, as crucial tools to combat climate change and bolster adaptation efforts. She stated:
"To confront the challenges posed by climate change, we must ensure communities—especially women and local leaders—are equipped with the knowledge and resources needed to adapt and thrive. Scientific research plays a critical role in designing scalable solutions that mitigate climate risks and enhance resilience, building a foundation for sustainable progress."

Dr. Al Zaabi commended Her Highness’s vision, adding:
"Her Highness’s visit underscores the importance of collaboration in tackling climate resilience and sustainable agriculture challenges. ICBA remains committed to innovative research, strategic partnerships, and initiatives that align with the UAE’s sustainability vision and global frameworks, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals and COP initiatives."

Innovative Solutions and Key Highlights
During the visit, ICBA’s experts presented projects focusing on sustainable agricultural practices, climate resilience, and environmental conservation. Key topics included:

• Carbon credit and sequestration.
• Biochar production and composting using local resources.
• Empowering women and youth in sustainable agriculture to build resilient communities and nurture future environmental leaders.

The discussions also spotlighted ICBA’s preparations for COP29 and COP16, following its impactful contributions at COP28.

Guided Tour of ICBA Facilities
Her Highness toured ICBA’s flagship facilities, including the Date Palm Fields, Forage Fields, Gene Bank, and Emirates Soil Museum. She gained insights into ICBA’s efforts to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability in arid and saline environments.

ICBA reaffirmed its commitment to developing research-driven solutions that strengthen community resilience, promote sustainable agriculture, and contribute to a sustainable and resilient future for the UAE and beyond.

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