Culinary Arts Commission Launches Saudi Elite Chefs Competition to Promote Local Talents

Culinary Arts Commission Launches Saudi Elite Chefs Competition to Promote Local Talents
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Culinary Arts Commission Launches Saudi Elite Chefs Competition to Promote Local Talents

Culinary Arts Commission Launches Saudi Elite Chefs Competition to Promote Local Talents

The Culinary Arts Commission has launched the inaugural Saudi Elite Chefs Competition to support professional Saudi chefs by highlighting their skills and creativity in the culinary field while emphasizing sustainability and the use of local ingredients.
Targeting chefs with exceptional culinary abilities, participants will prepare distinctive dishes using local ingredients. The competition features two main categories consisting of main courses and pastries, allowing chefs to select the category that best aligns with their expertise, SPA reported.
Judging will be based on strict criteria, including flavor, presentation, technical skills, and adherence to the theme of culinary sustainability, underscoring the importance of creatively and responsibly utilizing local resources.
Participants can look forward to several benefits, such as priority access to prestigious culinary events, receiving the Saudi Elite Chefs Medal, and special invitations to forums and discussions related to the culinary arts.
The competition will unfold in several phases, beginning with registration and qualification from October 20 to 31. Final qualification results will be announced between October 31 and November 10. A preparatory workshop follows from November 20 to 24, culminating in the final competition on November 25 and 26 at the 13th Edition of the Saudi HORECA 2024 Exhibition in Riyadh.
This competition reflects the Saudi Culinary Arts Commission's commitment to supporting and empowering Saudi chefs, showcasing their talents on both local and international stages, and promoting the concepts of sustainability and the use of local ingredients to raise awareness of culinary culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.



UNCCD Executive Secretary Praises Saudi Efforts to Combat Desertification

The current conference session focuses on enhancing capacities to address global drought challenges - SPA
The current conference session focuses on enhancing capacities to address global drought challenges - SPA
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UNCCD Executive Secretary Praises Saudi Efforts to Combat Desertification

The current conference session focuses on enhancing capacities to address global drought challenges - SPA
The current conference session focuses on enhancing capacities to address global drought challenges - SPA

The Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Ibrahim Thiaw, highlighted that the world is currently facing a critical situation. The increasing frequency and unpredictability of droughts present significant challenges to agricultural and food systems in affected countries. He emphasized that land restoration is one of the most effective tools for tackling these global challenges.
During his speech at the opening plenary session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) Monday in Riyadh, he praised Saudi Arabia for its commitment to combating drought and promoting land restoration through the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) and the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI).
The ongoing conference session focuses on enhancing capacities to address global drought challenges.

On its first day, three major international initiatives were announced, including the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Initiative.

This initiative aims to mobilize international action to improve preparedness for drought, transitioning the global response from emergency crisis management and post-crisis relief to a proactive approach centered on early prevention and preparedness before disasters occur.
Additionally, the International Drought Observatory and the Global Drought Atlas were launched, both designed to enhance monitoring and tracking efforts, implement preventive measures, and raise awareness among various stakeholders about drought issues worldwide.
On the eve of the multi-stakeholder talks in Riyadh, the UNCCD released a new report that underscores the escalating global emergency caused by land degradation.

The report highlights the damage caused by unsustainable agricultural practices, which are responsible for 80% of deforestation and account for 70% of freshwater consumption. Furthermore, 23% of greenhouse gas emissions stem from agriculture, forestry, and land use.
According to the latest UNCCD report, 46% of the world's land area is classified as arid. COP16 in Riyadh, taking place from December 2 to 13, is the largest session of the Conference of the Parties to date.

It marks the introduction of a green zone, an innovative concept introduced by the Kingdom to mobilize multilateral action and provide necessary funding for initiatives aimed at rehabilitating degraded lands.