RIYADH: The Saudi capital has been named as the international headquarters for the world’s first camel organization.
Representatives of 96 countries gathered on Thursday in Riyadh for the inaugural constitutional assembly meeting of the newly established International Camel Organization (ICO).
Saudi Camel Club supremo Fahd bin Falah bin Hithlin has been chosen to lead the ICO as its first president for a term of five years.
During the assembled gathering, members issued the organization’s Riyadh Charter, which highlights the historic and cultural importance of camels to the international community.
The new president said the ICO aimed to maintain international rules and standards relating to camels and noted that its Saudi launch reflected the Kingdom’s key role in developing and promoting the cultural aspect of the animals around the world.
He added that the organization would be working to nurture mutual understanding and friendship between nations and peoples and establish a global family of camel-loving communities.
Mikhled bin Omar Al-Otaibi, a member of the Saudi Heritage Preservation Society, said the decision to headquarter the ICO in Saudi Arabia was recognition of the Kingdom’s efforts, led by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to care for camels and promote their heritage on an international stage.
Al-Otaibi said: “The Kingdom has always sought to preserve its cultural and natural heritage which is of great value to mankind.” He added that the first international camel charter represented a major step toward obtaining international protection for the animals.
The Riyadh historical society official also gave his approval to the choice of ICO president, a figure who he said had made great achievements in his role as chairman of the Saudi Camel Club, including the organization of the prestigious King Abdul Aziz Camel Festival.
The work of the ICO will involve underlining the role that camels, and activities associated with them, play in developing a mutual understanding and friendship that can contribute to building communities and caring for their members.
It will also promote skills training and technical advances relating to camels and the industry sector linked to them.
Saudi Arabia to head world’s first camel organization
Saudi Arabia to head world’s first camel organization
- Al-Otaibi said: “The Kingdom has always sought to preserve its cultural and natural heritage which is of great value to mankind”
Experimental farm in Al-Lith looks into future of Saudi Arabian agriculture
- Research initiative reflects strategic transformation
JEDDAH: An experimental farm in Saudi Arabia’s Al-Lith Governorate is one of the research initiatives reflecting the strategic transformation taking place in the Kingdom’s agricultural sector.
The farm uses highly efficient, sustainable production models that combine scientific research with commercial application, contributing to strengthening the country’s food security system and the sustainability of water resources.
Located in the Ghumaiqa Center on an area of about 10 hectares, the cutting-edge farm is a testing platform for modern agricultural technologies that tackle the challenge of water scarcity.
The farm includes developed open fields and modern greenhouses, supported by smart irrigation encompassing drip and sprinkler irrigation alongside surface and subsurface technologies.
All the systems operate via smart controls that enable the monitoring of water consumption and ensure improved efficiency, thereby achieving a balance between agricultural production and water conservation.
The farm also uses treated and diluted low-salinity seawater.
It aims to diversify agricultural water sources, reduce reliance on freshwater, and open new horizons for agriculture in coastal and semi-arid environments.
The project represents a promising investment opportunity in the field of smart agriculture, enabling the development of commercially scalable production models, particularly for high-value vegetables and fruits, while reducing operational costs associated with water and energy, enhancing the economic feasibility of future agricultural projects.
In addition, the project contributes to transferring and localizing agricultural expertise, supporting local food supply chains, and creating an attractive environment for agricultural investment.
This aligns with Sustainable Development Goals and enhances the efficiency of the private sector in adopting innovative agricultural solutions.
Yahya bin Abdulrahman Al-Mahabi, the director of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture office in Al-Lith Governorate, told the Saudi Press Agency that the project represented the future of agriculture in the Kingdom.
He explained that the vision was based on investing in technology, enhancing the return on water per unit, and integrating scientific research with investment opportunities.
Al-Mahabi spoke of the experimental farm as a modern, scalable and replicable model applicable in several regions of the Kingdom, particularly in coastal environments.
Al-Mahabi highlighted the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture’s commitment to supporting distinctive projects that contributed to achieving food security while developing rural areas and enhancing agricultural production efficiency, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
