Desert and arid regions across the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Central/South Asia are facing rising temperatures, scarce water, and salinizing soils. To address these challenges, ICARDA has developed Integrated Desert Farming Systems (IDFS) — a holistic, systems-level approach combining resilient annual and perennial crops, protected cultivation (net houses, hydroponics), livestock, fish, and value-chain support. Key innovations include water harvesting, solar-powered technologies (e.g. ultra-low-energy drip irrigation, agrivoltaics), root-zone cooling, regenerative soil management, and circular waste/nutrient recycling. IDFS also emphasizes the inclusion of women and youth, use of smart tools (drones, AI, sensors), and restoring degraded landscapes via agroforestry and managed grazing. The model improves yields, water and energy efficiency, soil health, and livelihoods, offering a scalable blueprint for sustainable agriculture under extreme aridity.