Dr Elouafi visits the Ministry of Environment and Water

HE Dr. Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water congratulated Dr Ismahane Elouafi on her recent appointment as the ICBA Director General when he met with her on 15 September 2012. Accompanied by Dr Ahmad Al Sharif, the Deputy Director General of ICBA, Dr Elouafi met with the Minister to discuss the strong level of cooperation in collaborative ventures between the Ministry and ICBA. Dr Elouafi acknowledged the importance of benefiting from the Ministry initiatives and outlined ICBA’s future plans. 

His Excellency used the opportunity to stress the Ministry’s ongoing support for ICBA and its research and development programs. With sustainable development hindered by the scarcity of natural resources, marginal quality water and soil in arid and semi-arid environments such as the United Arab Emirates, His Excellency emphasized the importance of ICBA achievements in research and capacity building and ICBA’s role in furthering agricultural productivity through the development and adoption of new technology. 

At the meeting, which was also attended by Dr Mariam Al Shenassi, Assistant Undersecretary for Technical Affairs, and Engineer Saif Al Shara, Assistant Undersecretary for Agricultural and Livestock Affairs, His Excellency briefed Dr Elouafi about the Ministry’s strategic plan and its core drivers, the UAE strategy for green development, and the past and current research. In conclusion, His Excellency recommended that Dr Elouafi continue to take advantage of scientific trends and collaborate with the Ministry in order to secure higher funding for research and scientific expertise to develop and adapt technologies capable of meeting future challenges in the development of agricultural productivity.