Biography:

Professor El-Beltagy is currently Chair of the International Drylands Development Commission (IDDC), Professor at Arid Land Agricultural Graduate Studies and Research Institute, Ain Shams University in Egypt; Board member of the World Academy of Science, former Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, former President of the Governing Board of the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM), Member of the Advisory Board of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Prof. El-Beltagy has also served as Vice-Chair/Member of the Board, Global Crop Diversity Trust (GCDT) (2007�2011), Member of the FAO High-Level Committee addressing the implementation of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (2006�2011), and the UN Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Board (2004/2005), Director General, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). He received numerous honors and awards including: 2015: Golden Medal of CIHEAM; 2014: Commander of the Order of Agricultural Merit, (France) 2009, The Sultan Qaboos 'First Class' Order for Culture, Sciences and Arts 2005, Al-Istiklal Medal by His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of Jordan, 1993, Fellow of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, UK. 1982 Golden Pen of the International Society for Horticultural Science. The 2008 State Recognition Prize in Science, Egypt. www.adelelbeltagy.org

Abstract:

Presentation Title: "The Impact of Climate Change on Food Production and Water Availability in the Dry Areas in the Arab World" Abstract: Planet Earth is facing global challenges of ever-increasing population, currently 7.2 billion; and by 2050, it is projected to exceed 10 billion, far beyond the carrying capacity of its natural resources. The Arab World will reach nearly 430 million by 2050. The second threat is the climate change which will impact the livelihood of human beings on this planet, such as anticipated 50% reduction of agriculture production, mass environmental out-migration of population in high risk areas of the dry regions. Water poverty is a general feature of several countries in the Arab World by 2025. Methods and new tools to increase water use efficiency is required. Global assessment of the impact of climate change fails to reveal the actual changes occurring at regional and local levels and how they affect the production system and livelihoods of the people there. A prerequisite for developing the coping strategies is sufficient knowledge to understand the system that is characterized by great spatial and temporal variations. Thus, there is a need for more precise local assessment. Models and methodologies will have to be developed that can help in better understanding the impact under different ecological conditions so that targeted adaptation strategies could be developed. In order to strengthen coping and adaptive capacity in the Arab World, the following major points are required: � Provide continued and enhanced international support for adaptation to developing countries in order to build resilience and decrease vulnerability to climate change impact. � Enhance human capacity to deal with innovation and advanced knowledge related to modeling, such is modeling methods of building up assessments of different eco-system based on different scenarios of temperature increase.