RIYADH: Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli will attend the Sixth International Date Palm Conference and Exhibition, titled “World of Dates,” in Riyadh.
The event, organized by the National Center for Palms and Dates at King Saud University from Nov. 25 to Dec. 4, will feature local and international experts, specialists and exhibitors.
This year, the conference is held in scientific partnership with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology under the theme “Investment and Innovation to Explore New Horizons for the Palm and Date Sector.”
The event aims to highlight the sector’s crucial role in sustainability and food security through panel discussions and scientific sessions, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
Sessions will explore sector innovations, showcase pioneering research and initiatives nominated for the National Center for Palms and Dates Award, and promote circular economy principles in date cultivation and processing.
The conference will address challenges related to palm pests and diseases, and promote smart farming technologies and post-harvest automation to improve production efficiency and quality.
It will be open to visitors free of charge from 4–11 p.m., featuring zones and events including pavilions representing different regions of the Kingdom and highlighting each region’s unique identity and date varieties.
An independent exhibitors’ area will allow companies, entrepreneurs and farmers to showcase processed date products, alongside a live-cooking and tasting area supervised by local and international chefs.
The event will also include a restaurant and cafe area offering local and international dishes featuring Saudi dates, a handicrafts area showcasing heritage linked to palms and dates, and the Palm Heritage Museum, which traces the development of palm cultivation and the date industry.
In 2024, the Kingdom ranked first in global date exports, with export values of SR1.695 billion ($452 million) and production exceeding 1.9 million tonnes. Saudi date products reached 133 countries worldwide and gained significant traction in global markets.
