Koppert Biological Systems and the King Saud University in Saudi Arabia are joining forces to find biological solutions against pests and diseases in date palms. Both parties signed a research and development agreement in Riyadh on Wednesday, 11 October.
The contract was signed by Koppert’s Product Manager Rick van der Pas, and DEAN professor Nasser Al-Suhaibani of the King Saud University. It was also signed by Prof. Abdulrahman Saad Aldawood, the head of Economics Entomology Research Unit (EERU) at the Department of Plant Protection, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The EERU team will be responsible for doing the research and development work in labs and field trials.
The King Saud University is currently working on all economically important insect pests. With the agreement both parties hope to intensify the current research. Date palms are one of the most important crops in the Middle East. By working together we hope to find sustainable solutions for pests and diseases in date palms faster’, says Koppert's Export Manager MENA & India, Yassin Lahiani.