ICBA marks World Environment Day with Millet Harvest event to promote climate-smart agriculture
The event highlighted the role of millet and other climate-smart crops in supporting food security, water conservation and sustainable farming in the UAE.
UAE – The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) marked World Environment Day with a Millet Harvest Day event, bringing together government officials, researchers, farmers and students to promote the adoption of climate-smart crops across the United Arab Emirates.
The event builds on the National Agricultural Initiative for the Adoption of Climate-Smart Crops in the UAE, which the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) and ICBA launched during the Emirati Agriculture Conference and Exhibition 2026. The initiative aims to strengthen food security by promoting crops that can grow in harsh conditions while using less water.
Speaking at the event, H.E. Dr. Mohammed Salman Al Hammadi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Food Diversity Sector at MOCCAE, said the initiative reflects the ministry’s commitment to practical agricultural solutions that support local food production and the long-term sustainability of the sector.
“The National Agricultural Initiative for the Adoption of Climate-Smart Crops in the UAE reflects the Ministry’s commitment to advancing practical solutions that enhance local food production and support the sustainability of the agricultural sector. Millets Harvest Day highlights the importance of our collaboration with ICBA, whose research, field trials and technical expertise contribute to identifying climate-smart crops suited to the UAE’s environmental conditions and supporting their adoption.”
The harvest event focused on millet, a crop known for its ability to tolerate drought, high temperatures and saline conditions. Millet also requires less water than many conventional crops and provides important nutrients, including protein, iron, zinc, fibre and magnesium.
H.E. Dr. Tarifa Alzaabi, Director General of ICBA, said the event demonstrates how research can support practical farming solutions in dry regions.
“Millets Harvest Day represents an important field milestone in ICBA’s efforts to translate the objectives of the National Agricultural Initiative for the Adoption of Climate-Smart Crops in the UAE into practical agricultural solutions.”
Participants attended presentations on climate-smart crops, reviewed ICBA’s field research and took part in a live millet harvesting activity. Farmers welcomed the opportunity to see the crop growing under local conditions and learn more about its performance in areas affected by heat, limited water supplies and salinity.
The event also featured the Resilience prototype, which includes millet-based food products such as millet milk, millet muffins and millet cookies. Visitors sampled the products and learned about their nutritional value and commercial potential.
The wider national initiative supports the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051 and focuses on reducing dependence on food imports, improving water efficiency and helping farmers adopt new production methods.
During its first phase, running from 2026 to 2027, the programme will conduct 45 field trials across UAE farms, train 45 farmers and prepare 50 agricultural extension officers through a train-the-trainer programme.
A second phase will focus on commercial growth through private sector partnerships and wider market adoption of climate-smart crops and related food products.
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