RIYADH: Dr. Binu Antony, assistant professor of date palm research at King Saud University (KSU), won the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation worth 1 million Emirati dirhams ($272,257).
Dr. Antony received the award in recognition of his research work on the red palm weevil, a global palm and date palm tree pest. “It lays eggs in the tree,” says Binu. “When the larvae come out, it feeds on the trunk. As a result, the tree will die within a year (the annual losses run to $8 million in the Kingdom).
Apart from the larvae, when adult weevils attack a tree, they emit a pheromone. “This can attract the other weevils in the area,” says Dr. Antony. “Soon, there will be a mass attack.” Through his research, Binu was able to identify a gene which is used for smelling (olfaction) located in the antennae. Dr. Antony, along with his team, came up with a method to knock it down, so that the insects cannot smell the pheromones. In this way, a mass attack is avoided.
For this five-year research, King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology-National Plan for Science and Technology (KACST-NPST) provided Dr. Antony with a grant (SR2 million) to set up a laboratory, which has become a center of excellence at the university, attracting many students from all over the world.
During his tenure at KSU, Dr. Antony acquired two major research grants worth SR4 million for the study on insect pheromones and olfaction. He has won nine fellowships, with the latest in May, being awarded by the Royal Entomological Society of London. Binu has also published more than 25 papers in scientific publications and regularly takes part in international seminars.
The Khalifa International Award For Date Palm And Agricultural Innovation was established under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, president of the UAE. Dr. Antony received the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation from Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al-Nahayan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development of the United Arab Emirates.
KSU professor wins highest award for date palm research
KSU professor wins highest award for date palm research
Arab, Islamic youth explore Saudi heritage, holy sites, progress
- Participants in Holy Sites Journey program tour Makkah, Madinah, and Jeddah, witnessing world-class pilgrim services
JEDDAH: The 11th Holy Sites Journey Program recently concluded in Jeddah, with more than 114 youth from 33 Arab and Islamic countries participating.
The 10-day program was organized by the Ministry of Sport, in cooperation with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States.
Participants traveled across Makkah, Madinah, and Jeddah, exploring sacred sites, performing Umrah, and witnessing the Kingdom’s exemplary Hajj organizational practices.
They also visited historical landmarks, experienced modern sports facilities, and observed urban development projects, gaining insights into Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage, spirituality, and progress.
At a closing event in Jeddah on Thursday, Ahmed Al-Ghamlas, assistant deputy minister of sports for youth affairs, praised the participants and emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to hosting programs that empower the next generation.
He also encouraged those taking part to serve, on returning to their home countries, as ambassadors conveying the Kingdom’s advancements in services for pilgrims.
Al-Ghamlas added: “The program aimed to strengthen cultural and youth communication between Arab and Islamic countries, highlight the Kingdom's leading role in serving Islam and Muslims, and empower youth by building their capabilities.”
Ambassador Tarig Ali Bakheet, assistant secretary-general for humanitarian, cultural, and social affairs at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, praised Saudi Arabia's efforts in organizing the program for young people from Arab and Muslim countries, noting it as a step to promote cultural dialogue among youth from Islamic nations.
Participants expressed their appreciation and gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the journey, witness the Kingdom’s transformative projects and world-class facilities, and pledged to share the knowledge, experiences, and insights they gained with peers in their home countries.
Bilal Jabiro, head of the Syrian Ministry of Youth delegation, told Arab News: “It was a great journey, and I enjoyed every minute of it. We sincerely thank Saudi Arabia for giving us this opportunity to strengthen our ties with youth from other Islamic nations and to see firsthand the great services and facilities the Kingdom offers to visitors and pilgrims.”
Youssef Issa Al-Sharifi, a member of the Supreme Council for Algerian Youth, praised the program’s objectives, saying: “Participation is an opportunity for every Arab Muslim.”
Meanwhile, Hussain Saeed from Oman told Arab News that he was happy to see the expansion of the Two Holy Mosques, adding: “It was a very informative and educational journey.”
Syrian influencer Azam Al-Khaldi said the program combined worship, knowledge, and history.
“It was an amazing journey, and I had the pleasure of showing my followers every step of the 10-day program,” he added.
