June 2018

For Media Enquiries

Mrs. Dima Al-Kahhale

Communication and Outreach Liaison

comms@biosaline.org.ae
+971 4 304 63 45

The nine-member board comprises renowned leaders and experts from government and non-government organizations, donor agencies, as well as international research and development organizations from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and Australia.

UAE Minister of State for Future Food Security approves ICBA’s new board of directors

27 June 2018

In line with a resolution issued by Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of State for Future Food Security, a new Board of Directors has been appointed at the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) with immediate effect.

Ghaf (Prosopis cineraria), a flowering tree, holds great promise for combating desertification and improving soil fertility in arid environments thanks to its unique qualities, long-term research by the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) suggests.
Considered the UAE’s national tree, Ghaf has multiple uses, including as a key element of agroforestry systems in arid and semi-arid regions. In agroforestry, trees are managed together with crops and livestock, which helps to increase social, economic and environmental benefits for farmers and other land users. Ghaf’s deep and broad root system means that it can grow in extremely harsh conditions and help fight desertification. What is more, its ability to fix nitrogen improves soil fertility naturally.

Scientists see untapped potential in UAE’s national tree

26 June 2018

Ghaf (Prosopis cineraria), a flowering tree, holds great promise for combating desertification and improving soil fertility in arid environments thanks to its unique qualities, long-term research by the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) suggests.

Through an improved, cost-effective inland modular farming approach in desert environments, scientists at the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) have achieved one of the highest fish biomass densities of Tilapia fish (30 kg per cubic meter) compared to previous growing seasons (10 kg per cubic meter), using reject brine (waste water) from desalination units.
According to the latest data collected from an inland modular farm experiment at ICBA’s station in Dubai, scientists found that the average weight of Tilapia fingerlings increased from 50 grams in December 2017 to 600 grams in May 2018 (five months) compared to ten months needed previously to reach the same weight. Therefore, the fish can have two growing cycles within a year, providing a great economic opportunity for local farmers and agripreneurs.
Modular farming approaches focus on exploiting reject brine for fish farming and production of halophytes (salt-loving plants) on inland farms, and seawater and aquaculture effluents for cultivation of halophytes in coastal desert areas, bringing into production degraded or barren lands with economic benefits for local communities.

ICBA scientists manage to increase fish biomass by 300% using reject brine

7 June 2018

Through an improved, cost-effective inland modular farming approach in desert environments, scientists at the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) have achieved one of the highest fish biomass densities of Tilapia fish (30 kg per cubic meter) compared to previous growing seasons (10 kg per cubic meter), using reject brine (waste water) from desalination units.