First International Forum on Biosaline Agriculture Laayoune, Convention Center, Hôtel Paradore, May 3-4 2019

RATIONALE: Increased demands on fresh water supplies in arid regions threaten the future sustained availability of fresh water for irrigation and crop production. Currently the quantity of water in these regions are very limited and most of the time are saline. Current climate change predictions indicate that many Desert regions presently irrigated will face increasing temperatures and decreasing rainfall, further aggravating the water scarcity in these regions. The need to increase food production in Desert regions can only be achieved by increased productivity of irrigated lands and/or increased acreage under irrigation. Alternative water supplies as well as more efficient use of existing water supplies are essential in avoiding a food crisis in regions such as the Middle East, North , and to sustain the food production. However, numerous constraints face brackish water use, such as the increase in soil salinity, yield reductions and high cost of agricultural inputs. On the other hand, brackish water could be looked at as an opportunity for irrigation, whether directly, or it could be desalinated or mixed with treated wastewater. BACKGROUND: Following the successful introduction of a new crop by the international Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) in Dubai, (UAE) in Foum El Oued perimeter Laayoune. ICBA has been evaluating the growth and productivity of several field crops proven to have salt-tolerance potential, with the objective of studying their adaptation and yield potential to introduce them to the farmers in marginal and salt affected areas. The candidate crops identified in this study are barley, sesbania, Blue Panicum and quinoa were cultivated and introduced in Foum Eloued perimeter in Laayoune region (South of ). These crops have proven their potential to produce economic yields under saline conditions. Higher yields could be expected though development of improved agronomic practices. The Forum will address issues critical to salinity management and maintaining or enhancing food production, while considering economic and social aspects. This is the first of international Forum suggested to take place in accordance with the Arab Water Security Strategy, and within the framework of FAO Regional Water Scarcity Initiative, as well as the ICBA/ Phosboucraa cooperation on “Sustainable Management of Brackish Water Agriculture Use in Desert areas

STRUCTURE: Some of the features that distinguish this 2 days Forum include: • Interdisciplinary focus ; • Interactions between research, practice, and policy; • Wide international participation ; • Increased representation from developing and developed countries. The Forum will maintain a balanced program to include policy and various scientific disciplines, such as, soil chemistry, plant sciences, irrigation science, agronomy, technology applied at the plant field level, and economics. TOPICS: • Sustainable soil management under irrigation with saline waters • Mapping and monitoring salinity at regional and field scales • Best practices for brackish water use in Agriculture • Development of Alternative crops with improved salt tolerance • Conjunctive use of surface water, ground water and desalinated water

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Donald Suarez, USDA ARS Salinity Laboratory, Riverside, California, USA Jorge Batlle-Sales, University of Valencia, Ismahane El Ouafi, Director General of the ICBA, Dubai; UAE Dr. Bas Bruning . Salt Farm, Nederland Mohamed Hachicha, INGREF, , Abdulrasoul M. Alomran, King Saud University, , Saudi Arabia Al Rusan Munir, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan Ragab, Ragab; Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Hydrological Processes Jauad El Kharraz, MEDRC Water Research, , Sultanate Oman Mr. Steve Green. Lesley Kennedy, Wellington, New Zealand. Dr. Shahid Shabbir Soil scientist, and Ex Senior Scientist ICBA, Dubai

TENTATIVE PROGRAMME Mayil 03 2019

08:300 - 09:30 Registration

Opening session Welcome addresses Mr. Berkate Abdeslam Wali and Governor of the region of Laâyoune 09:30 – 10:30

Dr. Sadiki Mohamed, Secretary General, Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests. Mr. Al Habti Hicham Secretary General OCP Group & Vice President of the University Mohamed VI Polytechnic, Morocco

Mme Zoubeir Hajbouha, President of Phosboucraa Foundation

Dr. Elouafi Ismahane, Director General of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, United Arab Emirates Mr. Raklaoui Jabrane , Directeur de l’Agence pour le promotion et le développement économique et sociale des provinces du Sud, Laâyoune

Dr. Hafidi Brahim, Director of the National Agency for Development of Oasis

Pr. Hammani Ali, Directeur de l’Institut Agronomique et Véterinaire Hassan II Dr. Bekkaoui Faouzi Director of National Institute of Agronomical research, Rabat, Morocco

10:30 – 11: 00 Pause-café

11:20 – 11: 50

Saline agriculture as a means of adapting to climate change Elouafi Ismahane, Director General of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, United Arab Emirates 11 :50 – 12 :20

New Strategies for Increasing Crop Yields on Saline Soil

Donald Suarez, USDA ARS Salinity Laboratory, Riverside, California, USA 12 :20 – 12 :50 Saline Agriculture, a practical solution for a global problem Dr. Bas Bruning . Salt Farm, Nederland General Discussions

12 50 – 13 : 30

13: 30 – 14 : 30 Lunch Time

14 :30 – 14:50 Engineering salinity and water stress tolerance in crop Plant: Getting closer to the Field Jorge Batlle-Sales, University of Valencia, Spain

14 :50 – 15:320 Innovation and practical experience of using saline water at farm level

Mohamed Hachicha, INGREF, Tunis, Tunisia

15:20 – 15 :40 The impact of salinity on palm tree water use, irrigation demand and crop yield.

Mr. Steve Green. Lesley Kennedy, Wellington, New Zealand

15: 40 – 16: 00 Quinoa at high temperatures and saline environments. Current knowledge and

insights from wild vs domesticated quinoa temperature response comparisons

Daniel Bertero. Faculty of Agronomy, Univ. of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Discussion 16 :00 - 16 : 20

16:20 – 16: 45 Cofee Break

16:45 – 18: 00 Panel Discussion on Innovative strategies for food security and sustainable agriculture in the desert and saline areas Panel members Elouafi Ismahane, Director General of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, United Arab Emirates Dr. Donald Suarez, USDA ARS Salinity Laboratory, Riverside, California, USA Mr. Steve Green. Lesley Kennedy, Wellington, New Zealand Amri Ahmed Regional Director of ICARDA General Discussion

20:00 Galla Diner

May 4 2019

Soil and nutrient management under saline conditions 09:30 - 09:50 Munir J. Rusan, Prof. Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition, Jordan University of Science

and Technology (JUST),

09 :50 – 10 :20 Irrigation management under salinity conditions Dr. Abdulrasoul M. Alomran, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia

The use of Salt-Model for yield prediction of some crops 10 :20 – 10h 30 Ragab, Ragab; Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, UK

Small-scale desalinization (Technology and cost) 10 :30 – 10 :50 Jauad El Kharraz, MEDRC Water Research, Muscat, Sultanate Oman

Improvement of Forage Production System on Salt- Affected Farms in Foum El 10 :50 – 11h :10 Oued –Laayoune perimeter, Laayoune Redouane Choukr-Allah IAV Hassan II Agadir & Aziz Hirich ICBA 11 :10 – 11 :30 11 :30 – 12 :00 Discussions Coffee Break

12 :00 – 13 :00 General Discussion and Closing

Lunch

13 : 00 – 13 :30 FIELD VISIT 13 :30 – 14 : 30

15 :00 – 16 : 30