Our Research Themes
ICARDA is an international organization that has undertaken research-for-development for over four decades to provide innovative, science-based agricultural solutions that improve the livelihood resilience of rural dryland communities. Our non-profit solutions based on field-proven science are widely adopted across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. We improve the lives of millions of smallholder dryland farmers.
Four decades of innovative, science-driven solutions.
Regional and country offices across the dry areas
Strategic partnerships that deliver for rural communities
Our Experts
Aly Abousabaa
Aly Abousabaa leads ICARDA’s mission to support sustainable agriculture in drylands across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. With over 35 years in strategic leadership, he has driven impactful projects in sustainable development, resource management, and agricultural innovation, benefiting millions.
"Committed to advancing resilience in dryland agriculture and supporting communities through science and innovation."
Augusto Becerra
"Innovative research and partnerships drive resilient, climate-smart agriculture, securing food and nutrition for communities in dry areas."
Michael Baum
Dr. Michael Baum is director of ICARDA’s Biodiversity and Crop Improvement Program, which comprises 30 scientists and 67 technical staff whose work ranges from crop breeding and cereal and legume pathology to virology and pollinators.
Charles Kleinermann
Research Team Leader Charles Kleinermann is the Research Team Leader - Capacity Development at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), based in Rabat, Morocco. He has 15+ years of capacity development and management experience.
Zakaria Kehel
Dr. Zakaria Kehel is a genetic resources scientist and senior biometrician who leads gene bank accession mining and implementation of ICARDA’s Focused Identification of the Germplasm Strategy. He also conducts biometrics research, statistical genetics, and breeding data management.
Enrico Bonaiuti
Enrico Bonaiuti is the Research Team Leader of the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Team at ICARDA. He coordinates and leads large multi-country teams, ensuring timely deliverables and effective implementation across operations and service units.
Zewdie Bishaw
Dr. Zewdie Bishaw is a Seed Systems Specialist and agronomist with over 35 years of experience research for development in developing countries. He serves as Head of ICARDA’s Seed Unit, focusing on integrated and sustainable seed system development.
CWANA (Central and West Asia and North Africa)
Pakistan
ICARDA collaborates with the Government of Pakistan on improving crops
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Palestine
ICARDA scientists have been working closely alongside the Palestinian NARC
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Central Asia and the Caucasus
ICARDA Central Asia Country Office
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Ethiopia
ICARDA Ethiopia Country Office
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Morocco
ICARDA Morocco Country Office
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Afghanistan
ICARDA Afghanistan Country Office
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Egypt
ICARDA Egypt Office
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Jordan
ICARDA Jordan Country Office
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Lebanon
ICARDA Lebanon Country Office
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Tunisia
ICARDA Tunisia Country Office
Read moreOur Publications
See all
Genome-Wide Analysis for Yield-Related Agronomic and Biochemical Traits of Chinese and Bangladeshi Grass Pea Genotypes Using SSR Markers
Water footprints of irrigated crops in the Chirakchi Watershed, Uzbekistan
ICARDA International Nurseries
ICARDA has the global mandate for barley, lentils, and faba bean, as well as a regional mandate for chickpea, durum, and bread wheat improvement within CGIAR. ICARDA’s crop improvement programs develop nurseries for a wide range of agricultural systems and distribute them worldwide upon request. All nurseries are developed, prepared and dispatched from the ICARDA’s Headquarters in Lebanon, except winter barley and wheat from ICARDA, Turkey