In Memory of Dr. Mahmoud El Solh

Former Director General of ICARDA and Champion of Dryland Agriculture

ICARDA is deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of Dr. Mahmoud El Solh on Sunday, 16 November 2025, a distinguished scientist, former Director General, and one of the most influential figures in ICARDA’s history. For decades, Dr. El Solh’s leadership, generosity, and unwavering dedication shaped not only ICARDA’s work but also the lives and careers of countless colleagues around the world.

Dr. El Solh’s journey with dryland agriculture began more than forty years ago, when he joined the Ford Foundation’s Arid Land Agricultural Development Program, ICARDA’s predecessor, in the early 1970s. He later became an integral part of ICARDA itself, serving in roles that reflected his scientific depth and instinct for collaboration. He began as a Lentil Breeder in 1978, before serving as Regional Food Legume Senior Scientist for North Africa in 1986, Regional Coordinator for the Nile Valley and Red Sea Program in 1990, Director of International Cooperation in 1997, and as Assistant Director General for International Cooperation in 1999. His long and distinguished service culminated in 2006, when he became Director General and guided ICARDA through one of the most pivotal periods in its history until October 2016.

His steady leadership, strategic clarity, and deep dedication to ICARDA’s mission enabled the organization to navigate challenges while expanding its global partnerships and scientific impact. His commitment to protecting ICARDA’s genetic resources during a period of uncertainty remains a defining part of his legacy.

Dr. El Solh contributed to the development and release of hundreds of improved crop varieties that continue to benefit smallholder farmers across the Middle East, Africa, Central and South Asia, and beyond. His passion for building strong national research systems shaped his approach to mentorship, capacity development, and institutional strengthening; many researchers in the region credit their careers and confidence to his support and encouragement.

He also made significant contributions on the international stage, serving from 2002 to 2006 as Director of FAO’s Plant Production and Protection Division. In more recent years, he was appointed to the High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) of the Committee on World Food Security, a body jointly supported by the FAO, IFAD, and WFP, which is highly regarded globally.

With more than 120 scientific publications and a long list of prestigious awards, including the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, the Gregor Mendel Innovation Prize, and multiple lifetime achievement recognitions, his contributions were celebrated across continents.

What colleagues will remember most, however, goes beyond titles or accolades. They will remember his kindness and open-door demeanor, the calm steadiness he carried with him, and his ability to spot potential in others long before they themselves did. They will remember his conviction that science must serve communities, especially those living through the most challenging realities.

ICARDA community extends its heartfelt condolences to Dr. El Solh’s family and to all who had the privilege of working with or learning from him. His influence endures in the institutions he shaped, the people he mentored, and the fields where farmers today cultivate varieties developed under his guidance.

We honor his life, his leadership, and the hope for a better future that guided everything he did.