Biography:

Prof. Dr. Adel El-Beltagy is currently Chair of the International Dryland Development Commission (IDDC), Professor, Arid Land Agricultural Graduate Studies & Research Institute (ALARI), Ain Shams University, Egypt. Board member of the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Member of of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS). Chair of the Executive Committee/Member of the Advisory Board of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Board member of the Regional Action for Climate Change (RACC), Science and Technology in Society forum (STS), Kyoto, Japan.

He has served as Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, President of the Governing Board of the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM), Member of the Board of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

Prof. El-Beltagy has also served as Board Member of the Supreme Council of Science & Technology (2008-2011), Chairman of the Agricultural Research & Development Council (ARDC), Egypt (2007-2011), Vice Chair/Member of the board of the Global Crop Diversity Trust (GCDT) (2007-2011), Member of the CGIAR change steering team (2007-2008), Council member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) (2006- 2011), Chair of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) (2006-2010), Member of the FAO High-Level Committee addressing the implementation of the UN millennium development goals (MDGs) (2006-2011), Member of the European Action on Global Life Sciences (EAGLES), Member of the CDC ICWG - Climate Change (2004-2006), Board Member of the UN Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Board (2004-2005), Chairman of the CDC Integrated Natural Resource Management Committee (INRM) (2003-2005), Chairman of the Center Directors Committee (CDC) for the International agricultural research centers of the CGIAR (2002-2003), Chair of the Global Consortium to Re-build Agriculture in Afghanistan(2002-2006), Chairman of CDC Task-Force for Central West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) (1999-2006), Chairman of the CGIAR consortium for Sustainable Agricultural Development in Central Asia and the Caucasus (CAC) (1996-2006), Director General of the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA)(1995-2006), Member of the CGIAR Genetic Resources Policy Committee (1994-1999), Chairman of the Scientific/Technical Council of the International Sahara and Sahel Observatory (SSO) (1993-2002), Director/Board Chairman of Agricultural Research Center of Egypt (1991-1995), Chairman of Executive Board, Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD) (1989-1994) and the First Under-Secretary of the State for Land Reclamation of Egypt (1986-1991).

Awards: ? 2015, The Golden Medal of the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) in recognition of enhancing the Agriculture Development in the Mediterranean

?2014, Commander of the Order of Agricultural Merit, in recognition to his efforts in the International Agriculture Development, particularly in the Mediterranean countries

?2011, Certificate of recognition from the board of the Global Crop Diversity Trust

?2010, Certificate of recognition from The Association of Agriculture Research Institutions in Near East & North Africa AARINENA

?2009, The Sultan Qaboos 'First Class' Order for Culture, Sciences and Arts for his contribution to the development of agriculture in the dry areas

?2009, "2008 State Recognition Prize in Sciences", Egypt

?2006, Degree of Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Khartoum, Sudan

?2006, Golden Medal Award for achievements in agriculture, Republic of Armenia

?2006, The Academic Status Award for contribution to the development of international cooperation in Agriculture from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan

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