Dr. Maryam Mohammed Alomran

Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Research:

Aspergillus tubingensis is a Pre-Emergent Pathogen of Date Palm Seedlings

Dr. Ricardo Salomón Torres

Sonora State University

Research:

Advances in Date Palm Pollination and Pollen Biology: Viability, Fruit Set, and Quality Improvement of the Medjool Cultivar in Mexico - An Emerging Production Region

Dr. Raed Bandar Alsuwait

University of Hafr Al Batin

Research:

Effect of treatment conditions on the morphology of date empty fruit bunch lignocellulosic fiber for biocomposite applications

Dr. Chong Chou Min

Universiti Putra Malaysia

Research:

Towards Sustainable Aquaculture: Replacing Antibiotics with Natural Immunostimulants from Date Seed Waste

Dr. Takoua Mahjoub Msadek

University of Carthage, Tunisia — Higher School of Communications of Tunis (SUP'COM)

Research:

LoRa signal propagation and path loss prediction in Tunisian date palm oases

Prof. Dr. Yarub Kahtan Abdul Rahman Al-Douri

Al-Bayan University, Baghdad, Iraq — Al-Bayan University, Baghdad

Research:

Palm dates-based nanomaterials for water purification and treatment

Mr. Zeid Bassam Sinokrot

Palmear LTD. UAE — Palmear LTD.

Research:

AI Driven high precision pest management platform

Mr. Thomas Gradek

R H S T INDUSTRIES INC, Canada — R H S T INDUSTRIES INC

Research:

R H S T WaterPearls: Nature Based Sustainable Water Conservation Technology – Surface Evaporation Suppression for Sustainable Date Palm Irrigation

Mr. Amir Hashem El Dandarawi

K2 Europe B.V, Netherlands — K2 Europe B.V - Netherlands

Research:

Bugvage Technology: Early Red Palm Weevil detection

Dr. Abdellaoui Mustapha

The Regional Office for Agricultural Investment in Tafilalet, Morocco

Research:

Valorization of palm tree residues and job creation in the Jorf, Erfoud, and Rissani area

Ms. Fatima Rabhi AlRadhi

Saudi Water Authority, Saudi Arabia

Research:

Environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors developed to protect metal alloys

Ms. I Pyn Wong

Eden Innovations LLC, UAE

Research:

NanoDate : Plant Organic Booster from Date Seed

Dr. Emily Nicole Bick

University of Wisconsin–Madison - US — BugBug Ltd. UK

Research:

Insect Eavesdropper™ Non-Destructive Acoustic Monitoring of Hidden Insect Pests

Saudi Investment Recycling Company (SIRC)

Project Name:

Production of wooden boards from palm waste in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Project Results:

• Waste generation: Saudi Arabia produces 821,000 tons of palm waste annually.
• Waste production potential: 70% of this waste can be used in wooden products, reducing environmental impact.
• Market growth: Demand for wooden boards is expected to grow by 34% by 2028.
• Eco-friendly production: Provides economic viability and environmental benefits.
• Sustainability: Aligns with Saudi Arabia's sustainability goals and promotes efficient resource utilization.

International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)

Project Name:

Mobile solar-powered dryer for ripening and drying dates

Project Results:

• Small palm farmers in GCC countries benefit from a low-cost solar-powered dryer.
• It can efficiently ripen and dry dates, as well as other fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
• Dried dates have improved marketability in terms of color and appearance.
• The drying process is done in a healthy and environmentally friendly manner.

Intelligent Robotics Research Center at King Saud University

Project Name:

Full palm handling system with lifting machine

Project Results:

• This invention presents a self-contained harvesting system for palm trees, combining a multifunctional harvesting and maintenance system, a lifting mechanism, and a truck platform. The harvesting system features a large basin with a central opening along its rear edge, designed to encircle the palm trunk and collect fruits during harvest. A circular track is installed inside the basin, divided into two sections—one fixed and the other movable—to encircle the palm trunk. A sliding base with two degrees of freedom is placed on the circular track, carrying a robotic arm or filling system.
• This base allows the robotic arm or packaging system to move around the palm and vertically along it, ensuring accurate positioning for harvesting. The basin and circular track are supported by a lifting system that includes a scissor lift for vertical movement, enabling the harvesting system to reach the top of the tree. A tilting subsystem is also included to tilt the basin when unloading the harvested fruits. The entire harvesting system and lifting mechanism are mounted on the tail of the truck, which features an opening to accommodate the palm trunk in the center of the machine.

Valorizen Research and Innovation Center

Project Name:

Innovative industrial solutions for palm waste

Project Results:

• Developing solutions to recycle palm farming waste into sustainable materials with high demand and build a knowledge-based circular bioeconomy in the Arab region from these underutilized resources.
• PalmFil® and PalmPeat® technologies benefit society, the economy, and the environment by rediscovering underutilized renewable resources often considered waste, expanding sustainable natural materials, and increasing biodiversity.

Royal Commission for AlUla

Project Name:

AlUla Palm Waste Compost Product

Project Results:

• 175,000 tons of high-quality compost from over 450,000 cubic meters of palm waste collected from 3,500 hectares.
• The product enhances soil fertility, increases water retention by 26%, and boosts crop productivity by 40% while reducing chemical input usage.
• The compost product meets all Saudi and international standards, including optimal carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, macro and micro nutrient content, pH, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, and bulk density.
• The compost product will be applied to 3,000 hectares of palm orchards.
• Practical training for 350 participants, including farmers, young entrepreneurs, and students, to promote a scalable waste recycling model in the global palm industry.

Professor Othman Yousef Al-Othman

Chemical Engineering Department, King Saud University

Research:

System for developing micro/nano fiber fillers based on date palm and their subsequent characterization

Professor Basim Abu-Jdayil

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department, United Arab Emirates University

Research:

Utilizing palm waste in the production of green thermal insulators

Professor Najla bint Saad bin Awda Al-Raddadi

Chemistry Department, College of Science, Taibah University

Research:

Synthesizing platinum nanoparticles using Saudi date extract and using them in treating cancer cells

Professor Ikram Blilou

Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Research:

A framework for tissue regeneration and stable transformation in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.)

Professor Slim Smaoui

Biotechnology Center of Sfax, Tunisia

Research:

Exploiting palm kernels to develop smart, active, and biodegradable packaging materials and improve food products

SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company SAN

Represented by Dr. Mohammed Okasha Khalil

Project Name:

A new method for sustainable use of palm waste in supporting soil and feeding trees to enhance oasis productivity in arid environments [Organic Super Granules (OSG)]

Project Results:

• Palm trees thrive in abundance in Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, at the end of each season, most farmers burn tree residues, emitting millions of tons of carbon dioxide.
• Burning one million tons of palm tree waste releases approximately 2 million tons of CO2 in Saudi Arabia, posing a significant environmental concern as well as the loss of scarce organic matter resources. This patented innovation presents a practical technology that basically combines tree residues (organic) and mineral fertilizers (minerals) into an Organic Super Granular (OSG) fertilizer.
• The idea of converting tree waste into OSGs is the first regional invention that promises to provide both organic matter and mineral fertilizers simultaneously. The process is designed to mix virtually any source of date palm waste with any mineral fertilizer to produce Organic Super Granules (OSGs). Organic to mineral product ratios have been developed based on soil types and plant nutrient needs.
• Mineral components such as urea, diammonium phosphate, and potassium sulfate in balanced proportions suitable for the nutritional needs of date palms based on age, variety, and soil types. Other additives, such as trace elements, biostimulants, and soil conditioners, were incorporated into the mixture during and after granulation. Under these formulation conditions, OSGs offered distinct features of slow-release nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium nutrients, in addition to organic matter that enriches poor soils.
• Furthermore, this cost-effective process avoided waste burning, environmental concerns, and loss of plant organic carbon. The use of OSGs as a source of both low carbon footprint and rich nutrients promotes sustainable agriculture for date palm production regions.

Professor Irene Lim Swee Hwa

Higher Colleges of Technology

Project Name:

D-MicroFeed — an innovative, sustainable, and transformative microbial feed for the agriculture industry

Project Results:

• D-MicroFeed addresses a major challenge in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), which are costly due to the need for external carbon sources to support bacterial growth in biofilters. By utilizing date seed waste, it reduces operating costs, lowers the carbon footprint, and promotes innovation in waste-to-resource conversion. An innovative formulation at an exceptionally affordable price. A remarkable cost reduction of over 90%. Highly sustainable.

Professor Yus Aniza Yusof

Deputy Director of the Halal Products Research Institute, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and the Department of Process and Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, UPM, Malaysia

Project Name:

Improving male date palm varieties and producing one million selectively bred male date palms

Project Results:

• A new formula containing dates, black seed, and honey offers a preservative-free option for athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and those leading active lifestyles, including Hajj and Umrah pilgrims seeking a suitable health supplement. This unique energy gel provides an affordable option with a low glycemic index (GI 50), promoting steady energy levels and reducing the risk of sudden spikes and crashes.

Professor Eamonn Keogh

Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Riverside, Co-founder of FarmSense

Research:

FlightSensor counts and classifies insect pests

M. Hatem bin Fahd Al-Shammari

Founder of the Palm Male Enhancement Company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Research:

Improving male date palm varieties and producing one million selectively bred male date palms

Mrs. Janice Gold

Founder/Owner and CEO of Responsive Drip Irrigation, LLC

Research:

Group-based design for the development of a semi-automatic date harvesting machine

Dr. Mahmoud Abdel Rahman

Director, Manchester Business School Limited, United kingdom

Research:

Group-based design for developing a semi-automatic date harvesting machine.

Professor Dr. Ali Hassan Al Marzouqi

Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, The United Arab Emirates

Research:

Converting date palm waste and date fruit waste into high-value products: A sustainable approach to resource exploitation.

the doctor Muriel Gross Balthazard

French National Institute for Sustainable Development Research (IRD), Montpellier, France.

Research:

Exploring the agricultural biodiversity of date palms in AlUla: Revealing the secrets of “Alberni”.

Dr. Noman Abdullah Salah

Center for Nanotechnology and Department of Nuclear Engineering, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Research:

Carbon nanoparticles produced from Saudi palm leaves for different applications (activated and inactive).

Mohsen Boujabal

President of the Podgebal Association VACPA, Tunisia.

Research:

A wide, value-added range of innovative date-based health products in smart packaging.

Mr. Claude Eric Chat

Vice President of Research, Development and Quality, Al Safi Danone Company

Research:

Greek-style dairy drink fermented with Saudi dates.

Prof. Dr. Michael Purugganan

Silver Professor of Biology and former Dean of Science, New York University (NYU), Abu Dhabi, UAE; Director of 19 Washington Square North, the academic space of NYUAD in New York City

Career:

Ph.D. University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA (1993)

Prof. Dr. Suliman Ali Al-Khateeb

Former Dean of Graduate Studies, King Faisal University, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia; Assistant Deputy for Agriculture, Ministry of Environment, Water & Agriculture, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Career:

Ph.D. University of Reading, England, UK (1997)

Dr. Abdul Mutlab Mohammad

Designation:

Business development Manager at Nibras International Trading Co

Mr. Raees Ur Rehman

Designation:

Founder/CEO of Royal Trading Company

RAINCATCHER PLUS LLC

Country:

Kyrgyz Republic

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Country:

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Bateel Limited Company

Country:

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia