Association of International Research and Development Centers for Agriculture (AIRCA)

ICBA is a founding member of the Association of International Research and Development Centers for Agriculture (AIRCA). Established in March 2012, AIRCA is a nine-strong  alliance focused on increasing global food security by supporting smallholder agriculture within healthy, sustainable and climate-smart landscapes.

In addition to ICBA, the following international organizations are members of AIRCA:  

  • CAB International (CABI)
  • Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE)
  • World Vegetable Center (AVRDC)
  • International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
  • African Insect Science for Food and Health (ICIPE)
  • International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)
  • International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR)
  • Crops for the Future (CFF).

AIRCA works intensively to develop an integrated, holistic program addressing the multi-faceted aspects of flooding, drought, salinity, soil infertility, pests and diseases and their impact on human diets, health and prosperity. This is possible through building on the existing strengths of the nine members’ proven track records of successful research outcomes at the landscape and international levels to contribute more effectively to the elimination of global poverty and malnutrition.

The alliance model will provide a louder collective voice and enable the network to engage more strongly with other regional and international networks and policymakers.

ICBA brings to the network its core expertise in the management of marginal land and water and associated irrigated production systems to arrest or reverse environmental degradation. In addition to extensive first-hand knowledge and experience of the farming systems of the Middle East, North Africa, Gulf states and West and Central Asia, ICBA has expertise in irrigation system management, soil salinity mapping, improved crop management practices under marginal conditions, and the selection of appropriate salinity-tolerant species and varieties of food, forage, landscape plants for saline areas.

ICBA’s knowledge and experience aligns with the combined expertise of other centers to cover a wide spectrum of the research for development continuum, including integrated pest management, agroforestry, drought-tolerant crops, agro-biodiversity, natural resource management and the conservation and use of underutilized species.