عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Varieties

Sixteenth Klija Festival Kicks off in Qassim

The festival is named after the traditional Saudi klija pastry filled with dates and molasses - SPA
The festival is named after the traditional Saudi klija pastry filled with dates and molasses - SPA
TT
20
TT

Sixteenth Klija Festival Kicks off in Qassim

The festival is named after the traditional Saudi klija pastry filled with dates and molasses - SPA
The festival is named after the traditional Saudi klija pastry filled with dates and molasses - SPA

The 16th Klija Festival, a 10-day event organized by the Chamber of Commerce in Qassim, kicked off Friday at the King Khalid Cultural Center in Buraydah.
In a statement to SPA, General Supervisor of the Klija Festival and Secretary General of the Qassim Chamber Mohammed Al-Hanaya explained that the festival aims to foster the skill of sustainable marketing.

It seeks to achieve several professional and practical objectives that ensure continued work and production of families in the cottage industry, as well as institutions and emerging small factories, with a particular emphasis on efforts to enhance and develop the craft.
Named after the traditional Saudi klija pastry filled with dates and molasses, the festival stands out as a vibrant celebration, featuring a variety of programs and events designed to cater to the needs of families and visitors.

Most Viewed

 
Varieties

KAUST Develops Robotic System to Improve Date Palm Harvesting

The robotic arms of the system will be able to move as quickly as a human farmer while precisely picking each date without damage to itself or the fruit - SPA
The robotic arms of the system will be able to move as quickly as a human farmer while precisely picking each date without damage to itself or the fruit - SPA
TT
20
TT

KAUST Develops Robotic System to Improve Date Palm Harvesting

The robotic arms of the system will be able to move as quickly as a human farmer while precisely picking each date without damage to itself or the fruit - SPA
The robotic arms of the system will be able to move as quickly as a human farmer while precisely picking each date without damage to itself or the fruit - SPA

The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has been developing a new robotic system designed to automate date palm harvesting, SPA reported.
According to a KAUST press release, the system aims to revolutionize the agriculture industry and establish Saudi Arabia as a leader in agriculture innovation. The research, led by KAUST Assistant Professor Shinkyu Park, focuses on automating key processes in date farming, such as harvesting, pollination, and tree maintenance through AI-powered robotics, and promises to yield larger quantities of more nutritious dates.
Park's "robotic farmers" solution combines robotics for reliable farming and AI for greater efficiency. The robotic arms of the system will be able to move as quickly as a human farmer while precisely picking each date without damage to itself or the fruit. Equipped with high-precision visual sensors, the robotic farmers can identify individual dates, flowers, and tree structures to perform tasks such as harvesting, spraying, and pruning, ensuring tree health, productivity, and longevity while reducing the risk of pest infestations and diseases.
Field trials are scheduled to begin during the 2025 harvest season, with full operational capability expected within three years. Park suggested that a Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) model could allow smaller farmers to access the technology without the burden of purchasing the robots outright.
The project is one of many at KAUST that will benefit date farming and food security. Such projects provide Saudi Arabia an advantage not only in agricultural technology but also in agricultural expertise, as leaders in farming and robotics are drawn to the region, while laborers will be the first to engage with the new technologies developed by Park and his team, according to the release.
"I am excited that this initiative extends beyond engineering solutions and cultivates research and development opportunities for local talent, contributing to the long-term sustainable educational and economic growth of the Kingdom," he said.