Director General’s speech
The Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Land was established in 1968 in Damascus, a specialized Arab organization, working within the framework of the League of Arab States with the aim of uniting national efforts to develop agricultural scientific research in the arid and semi-arid regions and exchanging information and experiences in a way that can benefit from the scientific progress. Transfer, development, and settlement of modern agricultural technologies in order to increase agricultural production in these areas.
The Arab Center is offered its growing experience through applied research and studies in the fields of plant varities development, drought-resistant animal species, integrated water resources management, conservation of the environment, biodiversity and desertification combat, natural resource assessment and development in the Arab drylands, and the development of human power expertise and knowledge in these areas.
ACSAD has a strong research infrastructure, consisting of a distinguished team of experts, researchers, and technicians working on an ambitious strategy, which is being implemented on 13 integrated research stations in the country of Headquarters, as well as several research stations in many Arab countries, and many specialized laboratories (Transplant embryos, artificial insemination, biotechnology, soil analysis, and other technologies) contain sophisticated technical equipment and machinery, as well as many fields of proven testing and development projects that are spread throughout the Arab countries.
ACSAD has managed to establishment a strong network of joint research work relationships with Arab and international agriculture research and extension institutions and has worked hard to strengthen them through constant communication, conferences, seminars, workshops, training courses, and specialized scientific meetings.
This network extends to integrated coordination with other Arab joint action organizations, and with Arab and international financial institutions.
We will strive to strengthen ACSAD with distinguished expetise, expand field-based research programs on scientific developments and modern technologies, enable national institutions to implement widely the tasks of agricultural and social development, optimize the use of natural resources in different Arab environments, and address the challenges and constraints that hinder development, especially environmental degradation and biodiversity. The potential effects of climate change and water scarcity on the negative effects on food production, especially in light of the Arab food gap and the increasing price of food, in addition to relying on a range of advanced methodologies and means to implement programs and activities of interest to the majority of Arab countries, which contribute to increasing production. Improving its quality in the areas of agricultural natural resource development, development and management, improving the efficiency of plant genetic resources and animal breeds, and linking research, study, and field application results at a wide level, especially in Arid and semi-arid environments.
The new site of the ACSAD organization aims to reach the widest part of those interested in Arab agricultural development issues, and as a mediator to know ACSAD through which it has the potential, expertise, and projects available to Arab researchers, experts, and others to develop the Arab agricultural sector and serve the goals of sustainable Arab agricultural development.
God grants success
Dr. Naser Eddin Al Obaid
Director General – ACSAD
