Biotech Updates

ICARDA and IDB Sign MoU on Agricultural Research and Development

May 29, 2009

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) to establish an effective strategic partnership on agricultural research, development and training in a bid to fight poverty in the dry areas across the developing world. The MoU was signed at the ICARDA headquarters in Aleppo, Syria by ICARDA Director General Mahmoud Solh and IDB President Ahmad Mohamed Ali.

IDB and ICARDA will work together to identify development priorities in dry areas, and develop and implement agricultural projects, particularly the research component in rural development projects that are a priority for Bank funding. Other key areas identified include: development of improved cereal, food legume, and forage crop varieties, technology ‘packages' to improve crop yields and the health and sustainability of farming systems, increased water use efficiency in agriculture and measures to combat land degradation and desertification.

For more information, visit http://www.icarda.org/News/258