ICARDA launches international coalition to protect date palms

In a bold step towards global pest control and sustainable agriculture, UAE, Gates Foundation and ICARDA have officially launched the International Consortium for Red Palm Weevil Control, a science-led partnership bringing together world-leading institutions, researchers, and policymakers to combat one of the most destructive pests affecting palm cultivation worldwide.

The Consortium was launched during the 17th Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation by H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Chairman of the Award’s Board of Trustees.  Co-funded by the UAE and the Gates Foundation, the initiative is led by ICARDA, as the regional CGIAR Center, in partnership with the Khalifa Award’s General Secretariat, sister CGIAR Centers, and a global network of national and international collaborators.

″The Consortium represents an ambitious partnership driven by advancing science and bringing together leading research institutions, governments, and global experts, to confront one of the most devastating threats to palm cultivation,″ stated H.E. Sheikh Nahayan.

The Consortium builds on the momentum of the strategic UAE-Gates Foundation partnership announced at COP28, which earmarked $200 million to support agricultural innovation in low- and middle-income countries, to support the implementation of the historic UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems. 

″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,″ said Mr. Khalfan Al Matrooshi on behalf of H.E. Mariam Al-Meheiri, Chair of the International Affairs Office (IAO) at the Presidential Court, UAE

A Multi-Institutional Effort Rooted in Innovation

The Consortium brings together key players, including the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), UAE University, the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), and ICARDA.

Mr. Aly Abousabaa, ICARDA’s Director General and CGIAR’s Regional Director for CWANA emphasized the Consortium’s potential to deliver transformative impact:

″The Red Palm Weevil is not just a pest — it’s a growing global challenge that demands a coordinated scientific response. Through this Consortium, we combine the best CGIAR science, regional knowledge, and local partnerships to deliver real-world solutions. ICARDA is proud to serve as a scientific and implementation lead in this effort, working closely with the UAE and our international partners to protect livelihoods, preserve ecosystems, and ensure the resilience of one of the world’s most iconic crops.″

The Consortium’s five scientific workstreams, each led by a specialized institution, will use the UAE as a testing ground for innovations that can be scaled and transferred to affected countries:

• Bio-based Innovations (icipe, Kenya): Developing nature-based pest control methods using pheromones, fungi, and classical biocontrol agents.

• Biotechnological Innovations (IITA, Kenya): Applying tools like genome editing, RNA interference, and microbiome disruption.

• Digital Innovations & AI (ICRISAT, India): Creating predictive tools, IoT sensors, and AI platforms for early pest detection.

• Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) (ICBA, UAE): Promoting scalable field-level practices for prevention and control.

• Policy, Institutions & Global Access (ICARDA, UAE Regional Hub): Ensuring innovations are embedded in policy frameworks and accessible across borders.

Leveraging Science to Drive Global Solutions

This Consortium cements ICARDA’s position at the forefront of global efforts to combat agricultural pests and diseases, reflecting our commitment to CGIAR’s science-driven partnerships that deliver real-world impact across dryland farming systems.

″By mobilizing global expertise through CGIAR, local knowledge through ICARDA, and with the UAE as a testbed and a living laboratory, this program ensures that cutting-edge research translates into practical solutions for rural communities across the region,″ said Zahira El Marzouki, Head of Middle East Relations at the Gates Foundation. ″As a woman from the region, I cannot say how much inspiration I find in the three incredible women leaders who have been the architects of this partnership, H.E. Mariam Al-Meheiri at the UAE Presidential Court, Dr. Ismahane Elouafi at CGIAR, and Dr. Tarifa Al-Zaabi at ICBA.″

Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid, Secretary General of the Khalifa Award, echoed this commitment: 

″The UAE’s support to this Consortium, in collaboration with the esteemed Gates Foundation, UAE national institutions, and a leading research network such as the CGIAR system, highlights our shared commitment to a pioneering role in protecting date palm biodiversity and promoting sustainable agriculture, not only within the UAE’s borders but across the globe.″

As the scientific lead of the policy, institutions, and global access workstream, ICARDA will play a critical role in guiding governments and national bodies on translating scientific breakthroughs into policy, regulation, and action, ensuring that innovation reaches the communities that need it most.