On April 25, 2025, the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) held a virtual meeting with the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) to initiate a strategic collaboration under the theme “Advancing Climate-Smart Agriculture through Science, Technology, and Innovation.”
Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Nafees Zakaria, Executive Director of COMSATS, led the meeting with Dr. Vinay Nangia, Director Research Program (ICARDA), to explore synergies between the two organizations in promoting sustainable agricultural solutions for climate-vulnerable regions. The meeting was also attended by Dr. Mehwish Durani, Head of the COMSATS Centre for Climate and Sustainability (CCCS), and Dr. Huma Balouch, Deputy Director (CCCS), COMSATS Secretariat.
Ambassador Zakaria outlined COMSATS’ mandate and its growing portfolio of initiatives in climate-smart agriculture, particularly through CCCS. He emphasized the importance of South-South cooperation in harnessing science, technology, and innovation for sustainable development. Dr. Nangia shared an overview of ICARDA’s institutional strengths, including its global research footprint and expertise in climate-resilient agriculture and water resource management.
The discussion centered on aligning institutional priorities and identifying cross-cutting areas for collaboration. Key thematic areas proposed include genetic innovation and crop improvement, precision agriculture, CRISPR-Cas9-based biotechnology, integrated pest management, land reclamation, and climate-data sharing.
The participants agreed on a set of proposed joint activities, such as technical exchanges, regional capacity-building programs, collaborative R&D projects, policy dialogues, and co-authored publications. A significant outcome of the meeting was the consensus between both organizations to formalize collaboration through a six-month action plan and oversee the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding.
This first round of dialogue marks a promising step toward a long-term partnership between COMSATS and ICARDA, focused on applying scientific and technological innovation to support sustainable agriculture and build climate resilience across the Global South.
