Improving Food Security in Qatar: Assessing Alternative Cropping Systems Feasibility and Productivity in Variable Climates, Soil and Marketing Environments

The aim of the project was to contribute to improved food security in Qatar and other relevant countries through providing strategic input to the Qatar Food Security Master Plan. The project spanned three years, from November 2013 to May 2017. Participating institutions for this project were: Qatar University; Western Sydney University, Australia; Trent University, Canada; and Al Sulaiteen Agricultural and Industrial Complex, Qatar. The project aimed to directly reach beneficiaries such as: 1. Qatar policy makers (for strategic decisions on optimal cropping locations); and 2. Private companies, extension specialists and farming groups (for optimising system productivity under specific climate/landscape/soil conditions using the decision support tool components of the framework). The project adapted and utilised the AquaCrop model to simulate and predict yields for squash, cucumber and tomato in Qatar. The complete mode of action of the AquaCrop model was demonstrated to stakeholders in Qatar during workshops in Doha, where the project team met with personnel from the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, academics from Universities, farmers and other private sector stakeholders.