ICARDA News

International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas

P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria
Phone: (963-21) 2213433, 2213477, 2225112, 2225012
Fax: (963-21) 2213490, 2225105;
E-mail: ICARDA@CGIAR.ORG
Website: www.icarda.org
15 January 2009
Media contact: icarda-media@cgiar.org
 
China-ICARDA-ICRISAT: plans for a new Center of Excellence for Dryland Agriculture
Partnerships with China, for global benefit. Front row, left to right: Dr Mahmoud Solh; Dr Huajun Tang; and Dr William Dar.
The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science (CAAS), ICARDA and ICRISAT are joining hands to establish a new research center. The CAAS-ICARDA-ICRISAT Centre of Excellence for Dryland Agriculture (CEDA) will be located in Beijing, at CAAS's Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture. A memorandum of understanding between the partners was signed on 2 December in Maputo, Mozambique, during AGM-08, by Dr Huajun Tang, Vice President of CAAS; Dr Mahmoud Solh, ICARDA Director General; and Dr William Dar, Director General of ICRISAT.

Previous collaboration between the three institutions has generated significant impacts. The partnership will now be formalized and expanded through the Centre of Excellence, which will serve multiple functions:
- a platform for research-for-development, focusing on food security, poverty alleviation and environmental protection in arid and semi-arid areas
- a training center to disseminate knowledge on agricultural technologies
- a catalyst for new R&D partnerships to strengthen dryland agriculture in Asia and the Pacific Region.

Research projects are envisaged in several areas, including dryland ecosystems, biodiversity, integrated technology packages, and data collection and analysis to inform policy makers.

CEDA will be led by a Director and Deputy Directors appointed by CAAS. A Steering Committee, containing representatives of all three partners, will provide oversight and strategic guidance.
 

About ICARDA: Established in 1977, ICARDA (www.icarda.org) is one of the 15 international research centers supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ICARDA serves the entire developing world for the improvement of barley, lentil, and faba bean; and dry-area developing countries for the on-farm management of water, improvement of nutrition and productivity of small ruminants (sheep and goats), and rehabilitation and management of rangelands. In the Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region, ICARDA is responsible for the improvement of durum and bread wheats, chickpea, pasture and forage legumes and farming systems; and for the protection and enhancement of the natural resource base of water, land, and biodiversity.

The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) (www.cgiar.org) is a strategic alliance of countries, international and regional organizations, and private foundations supporting15 international research centers that mobilizes cutting-edge science to promote sustainable development by reducing hunger and poverty, improving human nutrition and health, and protecting the environment.

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