JEDDAH: Honey, an essential part of the breakfast ritual for many Saudis, is one of the most popular products from the Kingdom’s southern highlands.
For hundreds of years, the mountains of Asir have produced some of the finest varieties of honey.
The mountains are known for their climatic and geographical diversity, with thousands of trees and flowering shrubs providing an ideal environment for nature’s cultivators, bees.
The Sarat Asir mountains are ideal for beekeeping in the Saudi summers, due to the precipitation and moderate weather.
In winter, beekeepers move their hives from the mountaintops to the Tihama plains in order to achieve ecological balance and protect bees from harsh conditions.
Bees can also produce larger quantities of honey due to the availability of honey plants and trees, such as the sidr, sumra, talh, salm, darm, sharm and shouka.
Honey production is gaining extra attention from the government, which has launched several projects to encourage beekeeping.
The projects hope to train Saudi youth to pursue beekeeping as part of a campaign to promote the culture of beekeeping in the Kingdom in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan to diversify the labor market.
Realizing the importance of beekeeping and honey production in achieving self-sufficiency, King Khalid University in Asir has set up a special research unit on bees and honey production, which will also help to create jobs for Saudi youth.
The Bees and Honey Production Research Unit has launched several programs and initiatives, including the “Distinctive Trademark” scheme with the beekeeping industry.
It has also begun marketing bee products and the region’s uniqueness in having rare types of high-quality honey in a bid to counter the sale of inferior products, one of the main challenges facing beekeepers and national marketers.
The unit’s laboratories test the quality of the honey and other bee products. A laboratory equipped with an incubator where bees can stay until they are examined also carries out diagnosis of bee diseases.
Microscopes and a special microscopic imaging unit are used to photograph pathogens and diagnose illnesses.
Asir is witnessing remarkable cooperation between authorities specialized in beekeeping, such as the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the Cooperative Society for Beekeepers, the Bee Research Unit and Saudi Aramco, to support beekeepers and promote the culture of beekeeping among Saudi youth.
Methods of beekeeping and honey production vary between hobby and commercial purposes. Some beekeepers create special hives in backyards, parks, near their homes or on farms, and prefer calm bee strains that can adapt to the space and flowering plants in the surrounding area.
Saudi Arabia’s growing need will encourage beekeepers and farmers to provide high-quality products for the local market.
Saudi Arabia creates a buzz with support for honey farms
https://arab.news/9cfvn
Saudi Arabia creates a buzz with support for honey farms
- Microscopes and a special microscopic imaging unit are used to photograph pathogens and diagnose illnesses
Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art to host ‘Manga Hokusai Manga’ exhibition
- Exhibition is homage to renowned Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai
The much-anticipated “Manga Hokusai Manga” exhibition will be held at the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art in JAX Diriyah from Jan. 15 to Feb. 8.
Held in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan and the Japan Foundation, the exhibition, ratified by the Kingdom’s Museums Commission, will showcase the works of the renowned Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai.
It will highlight the history and evolution of manga, and provide a perspective on how Hokusai’s classical illustrations have influenced modern visual arts, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
Hokusai published his first collection of art in 1814, featuring sketches of “daily life, landscapes and whimsical creatures,” according to a post on X by the museum.
The Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art aims to foster cultural exchange between local and international creators.
Rain for 3 days over most parts of Saudi Arabia
- Warning of high waves along the Kingdom’s coastlines
RIYADH: Rain of varying intensities will fall over most parts of Saudi Arabia from Jan. 10 to 12, the National Center for Meteorology stated on Thursday.
In a weather bulletin, the NCM warned of downpours accompanied by winds of up to 60 kph, and the possibility of torrential rain and hail. High waves are expected along the nation’s coastlines.
The regions of Al-Jouf, the Northern Borders, and Hail will have rainy conditions on Friday and Saturday.
On Friday, rain is expected in the Tabuk and Madinah regions; on Saturday and Sunday in the Eastern Province, Asir and Jazan; and on Saturday in Qassim.
For the Riyadh and Al-Baha regions, rain is expected from Friday to Sunday.
The NCM urged the public to stay updated on the weather conditions in the Kingdom by checking the daily reports on its website, the Anwaa application, or its social media accounts.
Saudi Falcons Club CEO and Kazakhstan ambassador discuss ways to boost cooperation
RIYADH: The CEO of the Saudi Falcons Club, Ahmed Al-Hababi, met Kazakhstan’s ambassador to the Kingdom, Madiyar Menilbekov, in Riyadh on Thursday to discuss opportunities for cooperation and ways in which these might be enhanced to benefit mutual goals.
One of the topics was the Hadad Program, a leading initiative developed by the club with the aim of returning falcons to their natural habitats and saving the species from the threat of extinction.
Menilbekov praised the club for the important role it plays in enhancing falconry and preserving its cultural heritage.
The club said the meeting was part of its efforts to strengthen international partnerships in keeping with the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification.
Saudi envoy to US outlines efforts to maintain safety of Saudi citizens amid LA wildfires
LOS ANGELES: Saudi ambassador to the US, Princess Reema bint Bandar, reaffirmed on Thursday the embassy’s commitment to the safety and security of Saudi citizens in Los Angeles and surrounding areas impacted by wildfires, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
In a statement, Princess Reema emphasized that the embassy and the consulate general were working tirelessly to support citizens affected by the fires.
She highlighted that ensuring their well-being remains a top priority for Saudi diplomatic missions in the United States.
She said the team was monitoring the situation closely and was prepared to provide immediate assistance to those in need. The embassy and consulate were dedicated to ensuring the security and safety of all Saudi citizens in affected areas, she added.
The embassy and consulate have activated a round-the-clock response team to address concerns and offer necessary support, SPA added.
The wildfires in California have prompted widespread evacuations and caused significant disruptions in the Los Angeles area, with officials working to contain the blazes.
KAUST conducts research study on microbiomes in glacier-fed streams
- Collaboration with scientists from Swiss Federal Technology Institute of Lausanne
RIYADH: The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, in collaboration with scientists from the Swiss Federal Technology Institute of Lausanne, has conducted an unprecedented, in-depth study on microbiomes — microorganisms that live symbiotically with humans or other organisms — in glacier-fed streams.
These streams, originating from glaciers atop the Earth’s highest mountains, harbor a wealth of unique microorganisms.
The research team collected and analyzed samples from 170 glacier-fed streams over five years across regions including New Zealand, the Himalayas, the Russian Caucasus, the Tien Shan and Pamir Mountains, the European Alps, the Scandinavian Alps, Greenland, Alaska, the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda, and the Ecuadorian and Chilean Andes, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The findings, published in the renowned scientific journal Nature, represent the first global reference for microbiomes in glacier-fed streams.
These streams, which are among the most extreme natural freshwater ecosystems in the world, are located at mountain summits and are characterized by near-freezing temperatures and low nutrient levels.
They also serve as the origin for many of the world’s largest rivers, functioning as vital water reservoirs for the planet.
KAUST researcher Dr. Ramona Marasco emphasized that glacier-fed streams were highly vulnerable to climate change.
She spoke of the importance of establishing a baseline for their microbiomes to better understand the rate of ecological change, while highlighting KAUST’s extensive genetic sequencing efforts, which have significantly contributed to creating a comprehensive picture of these endangered microbiomes.
The researchers successfully developed the first global atlas of microorganisms in glacier-fed streams.
Their work revealed that these streams harbor a unique microbiome distinct from other cryospheric systems, such as glaciers, frozen soils, and ice-covered lakes.
About half of the bacterial species in these streams are endemic to specific mountain ranges. The scientists attribute this phenomenon to the geographical isolation of mountain ranges, similar to islands, and to the powerful natural selection exerted by the harsh conditions in glacier-fed streams.
