RIYADH: The Royal Commission for AlUla is implementing a project to produce agricultural fertilizer from organic materials, primarily palm waste.
The RCU environmental initiative aims to enhance soil fertility, improve agricultural productivity, and reduce the environmental harm caused by waste burning.
To date, over 50,000 cubic meters of organic waste have been recycled into high-quality fertilizer. This has been distributed to more than 1,300 farmers, and expanded to reach over 3,000 beneficiaries, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
The project has also played a key role in rehabilitating more than 3,000 hectares of degraded farmland as part of a broader strategy to upgrade agricultural infrastructure across AlUla.
The organic fertilizer produced contains 52 percent organic matter, which significantly enhances soil fertility and improves water retention capacity.
The project has led to substantial environmental and economic benefits, including a reduction in chemical fertilizer use by up to 30 percent, decreased water consumption, and the sequestration of approximately 0.57 tonnes of carbon dioxide for every tonne of fertilizer produced.
This is equivalent to cutting emissions from more than 6,300 vehicles each year.
As a part of its community outreach and capacity-building efforts, the RCU has implemented training programs that have benefited more than 240 farmers and students.
These programs include workshops to share best practices for using organic fertilizers.
By turning agricultural waste into a valuable economic resource, the project strengthens food security, enhances soil health, and promotes long-term sustainability in the agricultural sector, the SPA reported.
