From Dubai to the Aral Sea: how Abu Dhabi’s agricultural expertise is transforming Uzbekistan’s degraded lands

The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture has concluded a pioneering knowledge exchange programme that bridges scientific training in the Emirates with practical field application in Central Asia, equipping local specialists to revive farming in regions ravaged by salinity and water scarcity.

The journey from laboratory to landscape has long fascinated those who work in agricultural innovation, and nowhere is this more evident than in the work now unfolding across the Aral Sea region. The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, headquartered in Dubai, has just concluded a knowledge exchange programme that represents a new model for translating scientific expertise into sustainable livelihoods for farming communities in some of the world’s most challenging environments.

The programme, funded by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and delivered with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, was designed in two complementary phases. The first took specialists from Uzbekistan to Dubai in late September, where ten participants spent three days at ICBA’s headquarters learning the principles, design and operation of integrated aqua-agriculture systems. The training moved beyond theory into practical application, introducing participants to the scientific and technical fundamentals they would need to adapt these systems to their own communities.

Six weeks later, sixteen participants gathered in Nukus for the second phase, engaging in laboratory sessions and field work that brought the knowledge to life. Here, in the shadow of the environmental challenges that have shaped this region, they worked with integrated systems that combine aquaculture, crop production and spirulina cultivation. Training covered not merely the technical operation of these systems but also the granular details of spirulina cultivation, harvesting and drying, with emphasis on what actually works within local conditions and available resources.

Dr. Tarifa Alzaabi, Director General of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, observed that the programme was designed with a specific purpose: to ensure that knowledge translates into practical ability. “We want the expertise to contribute to the development of viable agricultural enterprises that support smallholder farmers’ livelihoods in areas affected by salinity, water scarcity and land degradation,” she said.

This work sits within a larger initiative funded by ADFD, the Development of Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems in Degraded Areas of Karakalpakstan, which aims to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers through more sustainable and diversified agricultural production. As we reported in our coverage of ICBA’s accelerator graduation of 207 farmers and agro-entrepreneurs in Nukus, the approach combines technical training with business skills development, helping farmers and agro-entrepreneurs translate agricultural solutions into viable enterprises.

The knowledge exchange programme reflects a broader commitment to connecting scientific research with capacity development and practical application, working in collaboration with national institutions and development partners across the region.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

For the Emirates and Abu Dhabi specifically, this work represents the tangible impact of the nation’s development assistance and agricultural expertise on a global scale. The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, by investing in capacity building and sustainable agriculture in Central Asia, extends the leadership’s commitment to addressing global food security and environmental restoration beyond the region’s borders. It demonstrates how Abu Dhabi’s scientific institutions and development resources can help restore viability to agricultural systems in some of the world’s most environmentally stressed regions.

The programme also underscores Abu Dhabi’s role as a knowledge hub for agricultural innovation in challenging climates. The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, based in Dubai, has built deep expertise in growing food and creating livelihoods in arid and saline environments, knowledge that is uniquely valuable to regions like Karakalpakstan. By connecting this expertise directly with local specialists through structured training and field application, the Emirates is helping build sustainable solutions to global challenges of water scarcity, land degradation and food production.

Source: WAM