Ismahane Elouafi heads up the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), a world-class research facility that aims to help poor farmers in places where water is scarce. The agency’s work is therefore particularly important in many parts of the Arab world, and is attempting to develop new technologies that will allow saltwater to be used to irrigate agriculture. Prior to her appointment as head of the ICBA, Dr Elouafi held a number of roles in the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.