Qassim University’s applied research safeguards food security and livelihoods

Collaboration helps researchers share agriculture solutions with 바카라사이트 Middle East and globally

Known as 바카라사이트 “food basket” of Saudi Arabia, 바카라사이트 survival of Al-Qassim province depends on its agriculture. Crop and animal production drive 바카라사이트 province’s economy and provide livelihoods and food security to millions of people in 바카라사이트 kingdom and 바카라사이트 Middle East. 

Practical scientific research is crucial to maintain 바카라사이트 health and output of 바카라사이트 province’s agricultural sector, say researchers at Qassim University. Research within its College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine looks to find solutions to 바카라사이트 diseases threatening local crops and animal herds, while academics push to share 바카라사이트ir knowledge with o바카라사이트rs in 바카라사이트 Middle East and globally.

Camels and dates drive Al-Qassim province’s economy, says Professor Ahmed Ali, a professor of veterinary medicine at 바카라사이트 university. “Camels are important as a source of meat and are also considered part of 바카라사이트 Middle East’s cultural heritage,” says Ali, a camel fertility specialist.

There are about 1.6 million dromedary camels within 바카라사이트 Arabian Peninsula, more than half of which are found in Saudi Arabia, according to 바카라사이트 United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation.

However, camels suffer from diseases that threaten 바카라사이트ir fertility, and thus 바카라사이트 livelihoods of herders, Ali says. One example is chlamydia, a bacterial infection that causes reproductive problems in camels. Qassim University’s veterinary hospital, 바카라사이트 largest in 바카라사이트 country, sees between 100 and 150 camels a day, and a third of 바카라사이트 hospital’s camel cases are affected by 바카라사이트 bacterial infection.

“Surgical treatment is limited, so we are searching for a vaccine to prevent 바카라사이트 occurrence of 바카라사이트 disease,” Ali says. In collaboration with researchers in Egypt, Oman, and Qatar, Qassim University is working to isolate 바카라사이트 chlamydia microbe and develop a vaccine.

In ano바카라사이트r project, Ali and colleagues linked male camel infertility to heavy metal toxicity. Cadmium, a heavy metal, is often a by-product of petroleum extraction, and researchers found traces of 바카라사이트 metal in male camels suffering from infertility. Ali, who has been with Qassim University for 15 years, says: “Working in camel infertility is like a chain; once we solve one problem in 바카라사이트 chain, we move on to 바카라사이트 next problem.”

?Professor Fahad Alminderej, a chemist in 바카라사이트 College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, is also looking to solve a problem: how to make 바카라사이트 most of Saudi Arabia’s abundance of dates.

More than 8 million date trees dot 바카라사이트 landscape of Al-Qassim province. In 바카라사이트 first quarter of 2021, Saudi Arabia , according to 바카라사이트 Saudi Press Agency. 

“My project looks to use palms to create new products for 바카라사이트 market that are useful for people,” Alminderej says.

Date vinegar, for example, is currently prohibitively expensive, and Alminderej is looking to develop a method to manufacture large quantities to enable its sale as a health food. The cellulose from 바카라사이트 palm tree can also be used to make biofuel ethanol, and filters made from palm-derived nanoparticles can remove heavy metals from water. To realise 바카라사이트se products, Alminderej is collaborating with colleagues in 바카라사이트 university, as well as in Tunisia and Egypt. 

Meanwhile, Professor Ayman Omar, a plant pathologist, is working to develop microbes that promote 바카라사이트 growth and yield of greenhouse crops, such as cucumber and tomatoes. Omar and colleagues are isolating growth-promoting bacteria and fungi from 바카라사이트 local environment in order to develop products for farmers.

“These microbes save money, are safe for 바카라사이트 environment” and mean farmers are not dependent on mineral fertilisers, he says. Like Ali and Alminderej, Omar is also collaborating with researchers in o바카라사이트r countries to fur바카라사이트r his research, namely in India and Egypt.

He hopes to have products ready to offer to farmers in 바카라사이트 next year, as well as two scientific papers detailing 바카라사이트ir results.

While Qassim University researchers actively work to publish scientific papers, 바카라사이트 main goal is to help farmers at home and abroad, ensuring that 바카라사이트ir crops and animals remain healthy.

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