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MiSK Launches Interactive Platform for Discussing Future of Technology in Saudi Arabia

The MiSK Academy launches an interactive platform for discussing future of technology in Saudi Arabia. (MiSK Academy Twitter)
The MiSK Academy launches an interactive platform for discussing future of technology in Saudi Arabia. (MiSK Academy Twitter)
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MiSK Launches Interactive Platform for Discussing Future of Technology in Saudi Arabia

The MiSK Academy launches an interactive platform for discussing future of technology in Saudi Arabia. (MiSK Academy Twitter)
The MiSK Academy launches an interactive platform for discussing future of technology in Saudi Arabia. (MiSK Academy Twitter)

MiSK Academy, an arm of the Misk Foundation established by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, launched MiSK Academy Forum “1 Hour panel Talk”, a platform for periodic discussion between a group of experts and specialists in various topics in different fields, including technology, leadership and digital media.

The aim of the forum is to facilitate the transfer of expertise and raise awareness in the field of digital media and equip youths who are interested in media with the information they need to develop the sector in the country.

The panel discussion, entitled “The Future of Animation in Saudi Arabia”, was held at Prince Sultan University and hosted by the CEO of Manga Productions Essam Bukhary, filmmaker and director Ayman Jamal, whose movie Bilal was listed among of the top 10 animation films for 2018 and designer, director and animator Malek Najjar, who directed the series Masaamir (Nails), and Omar bin Dahlous, a painter and the art director of You Brand.

More than 100 people were in attendance, including motion graphic filmmakers and those interested in the media field. The discussion included an evaluation of local experiences, presented the challenges faced by animators and studied creative solutions to solve those problems. The panel also discussed the animation market, its future and the best schools in this field

The MiSK Academy is working on launching a number of educational and developmental programs with the aim of training Saudi youths and equipping them with the skills they need to help the Kingdom move towards becoming a digital economy. These include technical, financial technology and creative digital media programs. So far, more than 9,000 have been trained, with the career development reaching up to 80 percent.

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Varieties

Libya Farmer Breaks New Ground with Outlier Date Variety

A worker arranges a box of Mejhoul dates harvested from palm trees at fields of the Akmam Al Nakhil company, in the coastal city of Misrata, east of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, on September 28, 2024. (AFP)
A worker arranges a box of Mejhoul dates harvested from palm trees at fields of the Akmam Al Nakhil company, in the coastal city of Misrata, east of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, on September 28, 2024. (AFP)
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Libya Farmer Breaks New Ground with Outlier Date Variety

A worker arranges a box of Mejhoul dates harvested from palm trees at fields of the Akmam Al Nakhil company, in the coastal city of Misrata, east of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, on September 28, 2024. (AFP)
A worker arranges a box of Mejhoul dates harvested from palm trees at fields of the Akmam Al Nakhil company, in the coastal city of Misrata, east of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, on September 28, 2024. (AFP)

In the Libyan countryside, farmer Ismail Ben Saoud has launched an agricultural experiment, banking on Mejhoul dates -- a premium variety cherished across the Arab world but untested in such a humid coastal climate.

Ben Saoud's five-hectare (12-acre) farm in Misrata, western Libya, stands out in the landscape that is dotted by olive and citrus trees.

Eight years after taking the leap, he says his 700 palm trees now produce high-quality Mejhoul dates which he hopes will reach international markets soon.

"People have claimed that these palms couldn't survive here, especially near the sea," said Ben Saoud, 42.

"But with persistence and careful experimentation, we are proving them wrong."

Mejhoul dates, native to Morocco's semi-arid regions, are famed for their large size, tender texture and rich sweetness.

Traditionally thought unsuitable for Mediterranean climates, the variety has exceeded Ben Saoud's expectations.

Using organic fertilizers and refining techniques over time, Ben Saoud now anticipates reaching full production capacity in just two years.

"The harvest has been very satisfactory," he said about this year's output.

"Another year or two and it will be optimal. We improve from year to year."

For Libyans and others across the Arab world, dates are a treasured food.

A staple sweet during festivities, they hold cultural as well as religious value, traditionally eaten to break the daily fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Mejhoul dates go for up to 80 Libyan dinars (around $16) per kilogram in local markets, far more than the price tag attached to other varieties, as low as six and up to 20 dinars.

But for many customers, Mejhoul prices match their quality, with an unwavering demand among Libyans preferring locally produced goods.

- 'Growing interest' -

The country has faced a host of woes since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising overthrew and killed longtime ruler Moammar al-Gaddafi, plunging Libya into instability and conflict.

Even before that, decades of near-exclusive reliance on oil revenue left many of Libya's sectors underdeveloped.

But many have been striving to bring around Libyan agriculture.

In Misrata, a major port city and commercial hub about 200 kilometers (120 miles) from the capital Tripoli, supermarkets are stocked with a variety of date products.

They run the gamut from molasses and pastes used in traditional pastries like makroudhs, to novel concoctions such as stuffed dates smothered in chocolate.

"The quality of Libyan dates has improved noticeably since the 2011 war," said Najwa, an Egyptian nurse on vacation, shopping for her favorite varieties.

"There's more care put into growing and preparing them now."

Salah Shagan, a Libyan agriculture expert, said that "more Libyans are turning to farming in recent years", with a "growing interest" in olives, vegetables and dates.

"These efforts not only bring income, but also revive our connection to the land."

Libya now has over 10 million date palms, producing more than 50,000 tons of fruit annually, according to the agriculture ministry.

Much of this production satisfies local demand, but farmers also aim to make it to international markets.

For Ben Saoud, exporting Mejhoul is his next major bet.

"Our local demand is already strong, so we must ensure we can meet that before expanding further," he said, walking through his orchard with his two young daughters, their mouths full of fresh dates.