Mahmoud Solh

Who is Mahmoud Solh?

Mahmoud Solh is a Lebanese agricultural economist and genetic scientist who is currently Director General of the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, ICARDA based in Beirut, Lebanon. He has been associated with international agricultural research and development in the dry areas since 1972 when he became a staff member of the Arid Land Agricultural Development Program in the Near East, the predecessor of ICARDA, as well as being a "Honorable Professor" of the university.

Solh holds a PhD in Genetics from the University of California, Davis, USA, and has published a number of scientific publication and is experienced in fund raising. He has gained a knowledge of the national agricultural research and development systems in the Central and West Asia and North Africa region and beyond. Throughout his career his activities have focused on contributing to food security, alleviating poverty, and developing sustainable agricultural systems; planning, implementation, and evaluation of agricultural research for development; capacity building and human resource development in national agricultural systems; and promoting north-south and south-south cooperation.