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HE Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, announced the launch of the “International Consortium for Red Palm Weevil Control” during HE’s speech at the Award’s Winners Honoring ceremony, on Wednesday.
The Consortium, established under the a partnership between the International Affairs Office (IAO) at the Presidential Court and the Gates Foundation, is being launched in collaboration with the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), the Award’s General Secretariat, and a number of national institutions, regional and international organizations. The Consortium’s launch follows the announcement of a new partnership between the UAE and the Gates Foundation at COP28, with a total commitment of $200 million earmarked to support agricultural innovation and development in low and middle income countries. His Excellency described the Consortium as “an ambitious partnership driven by a scientific mission that unites governments, global experts, and leading research institutions to confront a growing global challenge.”
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Consortium’s founding institutions, including Khalfan AlMatrooshi from the International Affairs Office (IAO) at the Presidential Court; Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid, Secretary General of Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, Dr Aly Abousabaa, Director General of ICARDA, along with directors of national institutions and regional and international organizations.
The Consortium is funded and overseen by International Affairs Office (IAO) at the Presidential Court and the Gates Foundation, in partnership with the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, affiliated with the Erth Zayed Philanthropies – Presidential Court, the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), United Arab Emirates University, the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, and the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA).
H.E. Mariam Al Mheiri, Chair of the International Affairs Office (IAO) at the Presidential Court, stated that the “This Consortium builds on the momentum of the UAE becoming the first donor country in the MENA region to join CGIAR System Council, and on our strategic partnership with the Gates Foundation announced at COP28. Together, we are showing the world how science, collaboration, and regional leadership can deliver real impact — not just for our region, but for climate vulnerable communities around the world.
From his side, Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid, Award’s Secretary General, Erth Zayed Philanthropies – Presidential Court, affirmed that this initiative is rooted in the agricultural innovation partnership announced at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) between the United Arab Emirates and the esteemed Bill Gates Foundation. He noted that. “Together, we are working not only to protect the economic, cultural, and social value of the date palm,” he said, “but also to develop scalable, environmentally friendly solutions that can support communities in achieving sustainable development.”