Abu Dhabi, December 8, 2025
The Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA) participated in the Annual Steering Committee Meeting of the Global Forum on Agricultural Innovation and Research (GFAiR), held in Abu Dhabi in a hybrid format. The gathering brought together leaders of regional agricultural research fora and global partners to review progress and shape priorities for the upcoming year.
The GFAiR Steering Committee is the forum’s highest governing body, responsible for guiding strategic direction, endorsing annual work plans and budgets, and ensuring coordinated action among regional research networks. As the representative body of the Near East and North Africa region, AARINENA plays a central role in highlighting regional needs and strengthening collaboration at the global level.
AARINENA was represented by Dr. Rida Shibli, the Executive Secretary, who contributed to discussions on the evolving role of the Global NARS Consortium (GNC). Dr. Shibli emphasized the Consortium’s importance in enhancing capacity building, expanding opportunities for youth engagement, and promoting women’s empowerment within national agricultural research systems. He underscored the need for stronger partnerships and investment to ensure that research institutions are equipped to respond to emerging challenges in food security, climate change, and sustainable development.
The meeting also addressed updates on GFAiR’s institutional progress, ongoing Collective Actions across regions, performance highlights from 2025, and financial planning for the coming year. Members exchanged insights on shared challenges and opportunities to accelerate innovation and strengthen global research collaboration.
AARINENA’s active engagement reaffirms its commitment to advancing agricultural research, empowering future generations, and ensuring that the priorities of the Near East and North Africa region are strongly represented within global research frameworks.