Amman, Jordan – Dec 4, 2025
AARINENA held its 16th General Conference today in Amman under the patronage of FAO, focusing on “Digital Water Solutions in Agriculture: Opportunities and Trends in the Near East and North Africa.”
The conference gathered NARS members from Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Sudan, Tunisia, and Morocco, along with partners from FAO, ICBA, ICARDA, GFAR, APAARI, private sector, and experts from AARINENA partners and member universities.
AARINENA Executive Secretary Dr. Rida Al-Shibli stressed the urgent need for stronger regional cooperation as water scarcity continues to threaten food security and farmers’ livelihoods. He highlighted rapid advances in digital tools—remote sensing, precision irrigation, smart monitoring, digital advisory services, and big data analytics—that are transforming agricultural water management.
FAO Representative Eng. Nabil Assaf emphasized that the NENA region faces one of the world’s most severe water crises and called for adopting modern, technology-driven agricultural practices to enhance water-use efficiency and climate resilience, in line with FAO’s “Four Betters.”
Speaking on behalf of AARINENA President Dr. Hamdan Al-Wahaibi, Vice President Dr. Ibrahim Al-Rawashdeh underscored the need to accelerate the deployment of digital water solutions, noting the essential role of AI, satellite analytics, and precision irrigation in improving efficiency and resilience.
The conference showcased regional experiences and emerging technologies, covering topics such as Turkey’s digital water platforms, earth observation applications, AI-enabled climate adaptation, precision irrigation, water-security innovations, and the role of smart agriculture in strengthening food and water security across the NENA region.
