King Khalid University participated in the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, held in Riyadh. This global event, the largest of its kind focusing on land protection and combating desertification, brought together an elite group of experts, scientists, and world leaders to discuss innovative solutions for environmental challenges caused by climate change. The university’s participation highlighted its research contributions and reinforced its role in achieving sustainable development.

Dr. Mohammed Ali Asiri, Vice Dean of Graduate Studies and Director of the Research, Development, and Innovation Unit, explained that the university's involvement in the conference aligns with its leadership role in supporting environmental sustainability and sustainable development. This commitment reflects its adherence to the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to balance economic growth with environmental protection. He added, “King Khalid University places utmost importance on scientific research to provide innovative, practical solutions for global environmental challenges. During the conference, we emphasized our advanced research efforts in this domain.”

Dr. Asiri highlighted several standout projects presented by the university at the conference. One such project focused on valorizing the biomass of specific agricultural products, showcasing their promising potential. The research involved extracting silica from certain products for advanced desalination technologies, isolating cellulose and its derivatives for medical applications and innovative treatments, and producing activated carbon, which demonstrated high efficiency in purifying polluted water.

Among the groundbreaking projects that garnered significant attention was the development of a standard reference material for certain local fruits famous in Saudi Arabia. This project, a world-first, was developed in collaboration with 12 laboratories from nine countries to enhance chemical measurement processes, ensure laboratory quality, and adopt new analytical techniques. It was registered as a patent with the European Patent Office, marking a scientific achievement that bolsters the university’s reputation in research and innovation.

Another ambitious project showcased was aimed at decarbonizing the oil, gas, and energy sectors through the bioconversion of carbon dioxide into valuable chemicals. Dr. Asiri explained that this initiative contributes to the sustainability of these industries while producing innovative materials such as bio-methane and polyhydroxyalkanoates with significant economic potential.

Dr. Asiri emphasized that the university’s participation in the conference underscores its dedication to expanding research collaboration with renowned international institutions and strengthening its position as a leading educational and research establishment. He added that the university’s involvement in COP16 reflects its regional and global role in achieving the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative by presenting rigorous scientific research that supports environmental sustainability and the preservation of natural resources.