ICBA, BGI partner to set up advanced genomics center in UAE

Dubai, UAE, 7 May 2019 – To accelerate agricultural research and development in the world’s marginal environments, the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) and the BGI Group, the world's largest genomics research institution, have agreed to establish a dedicated, cutting-edge genomics center in the UAE.

Named the Desert Life Sciences Center, the new facility will conduct in-depth studies of the genome structure of stress-tolerant crops like quinoa, Amaranthus, Salicornia, and others.

The cooperative agreement to this effect was signed by Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Director General of ICBA, and Dr. Ren Wang, Senior Vice President of BGI Group, during the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, China, on 25 April 2019.