Integrated agri-aquaculture systems for desert environments in the UAE

Over the past few years, the UAE has taken several actions towards achieving food security, one of the main challenges in the GCC region. Among these actions are developing strategies that regulate imports and production of food. Others are related to encouraging technologies that enhance food and nutrition security. The UAE is also considering developing nutrition-sensitive farms that integrate agriculture and aquaculture systems to decrease waste of resources and increase productivity and income of farmers.

ICBA is partnering with the Swing Fish farm that represents a unique success of integrated farming in the UAE. The farm is located in Al Wagan area near Al-Ain city. The owner, Mr. Abdulrahman Rashid Alshamsi, is an entrepreneurial farmer, very innovative and progressive, operating a farm where fish, vegetables and livestock are combined. He has desalination units on his farm and the reject brine (the by-product from desalination/wastewater source) is used for fish farming and then for halophyte cultivation through ICBA’s specific intervention.

As 2019 marks 20 years since the establishment of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) in the UAE, ICBA, through this course, will share some of its achievements and technologies developed over the years for addressing challenges to food security. The course will target experts, farmers and extension staff from over all the country. The course will focus on illustrating best agricultural practices for desert environments in the UAE.