Kuwait Fund for Arab Development Signs Grant Agreement with ICARDA to Support Development and Dissemination of Genetically Improved Crop Varieties

The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development signed a grant agreement on Wednesday with the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), valued at $2.56 million, to help finance a project on the development and dissemination of genetically improved crop varieties using smart solutions. The agreement was signed by the Fund’s Acting Managing Director, Rashid Al-Bader, and ICARDA’s Director General, Dr. Nizar Hadad.

In a press statement, the Fund said the grant agreement aligns with its efforts to support food security and promote sustainable agricultural development in Arab countries. It added that the project aims to modernize and accelerate crop breeding programs by developing improved varieties capable of adapting to climate change and environmental conditions in dry and semi-arid regions of Arab countries, thereby enhancing food security, raising agricultural production efficiency, and addressing challenges linked to climate change.

The Fund clarified that the project, which will be implemented over approximately 24 months, is based on an integrated approach combining the development of improved crop varieties, capacity building in technical and research fields, and the implementation of applied trials. This approach aims to accelerate the development and dissemination of improved crop varieties and enhance their adoption in target environments.