16 February 2016, The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) along with FAO and USAID have organized the panel seminar “Empowering MENA drought management through data innovation” during the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA) 2016 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
The objectives of the seminar were to discuss the needs of agribusinesses and small holders in managing the impacts of droughts in MENA region; to detail the possibilities offered by new data sources for tackling the complexities of drought management; and to examine the role of donors and international organizations in helping communities mitigate the impacts of drought.
Drought is a worldwide threat to food and water security and is a constant presence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Recent droughts reveal the gaps and limitations in drought management in the region and emphasize the urgent need to support the governments and people in these countries in developing efforts to manage the impacts of these extreme events. This need is further heightened by any analysis of future climate conditions in the region.
The seminar panelists included Dr. John Wilson (USAID), Dr. Pasquale Steduto (FAO), and Dr. Rachael McDonnell (ICBA) and was moderated by Ms. Setta Tutundjian (ICBA).
