Paper Title
SUSTAINABILITY AND FOOD SECURITY: PRESERVING SEEDS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Abstract
Climate change, development, and geopolitical conflicts adversely impact the environment and the preservation of heirloom plant species, vital for sustainability and food security. This qualitative research investigates the preservation of a unique variety of Middle East seeds, particularly in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. The focus is on two distinct countries in the region as examples and their efforts in building and developing their seed banks. The in-depth interviewsand visuals focus on those who are the driving force of this movementat the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), Emirates Genebank for Biodiversity, Sharjah Seed Bank and Herbarium, Jordanian Gene Bank, and Jordan's Green Caravan, and United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Although individual efforts to preserve unique seeds traditionally exist among farmers, an institutional effort supported by governments and international organizations is recent in the UAE and Jordan. The Arab world is rich in ecological and agricultural biodiversity and is home to some of the world's oldest crops: wheat, barley, lentils, grapes, figs, and olives, to name a few (Harris, 2006) (Ladizinsky,1975). Climate change, political conflicts, and biodiversity loss are immanent threats to the environment and these agricultural treasures. . The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Jordan are two distinct topographies and ecosystems, key countries behind the regional movement behind seed preservation and collection currently in the Middle East. While both countries share challenges related to dry climate and limited water resources, they have unique characteristics regarding their agricultural traditions, crop diversity, and approaches to seed conservation. The UAE has focused on saline agriculture and global collaborations, while Jordan emphasizes the preservation of local and drought-resistant crops. Tracing the migration of seeds from one country to another is worthy of study. Keywords - Seeds, Enviornment, Soil, Water, Climate, Arab World, Middle East, UAE, Jordan