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Center of Bee Research and...
Regional Excellence in Bee Research, Natural Product Development, and Commercialization.
Advancing High-Quality Research in Beekeeping, and Developing Investable Natural Products in Line with Global Standards.
1. Achieving Vision 2030 by focusing on environmental and agricultural sustainability through field and laboratory studies.
2. Publishing high-quality scientific research in leading international journals and participating in specialized conferences and symposia on beekeeping.
3. Establishing specialized laboratories and a dedicated apiary for bee research at King Khalid University in collaboration with both the public and private sectors.
4. Developing modern technologies for beekeeping and its products using genetic engineering, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and materials science.
5. Preserving and proliferating the local bee strain.
6. Enhancing beekeeping techniques and improving beekeepers' skills through training and consultancy.
7. Promoting international collaboration and providing training for students in the field of beekeeping.
8. Raising awareness about the importance of local honey bees and their products, with the involvement of graduate students.
9.Investing in bee products and developing them to reach global markets in line with international standards.
10. Authoring and translating specialized books and scientific publications in the field of beekeeping.
11. Contributing to the development of laws and regulations governing the beekeeping industry in the Kingdom.
Advanced Laboratory for Diseases and Vaccines
Bee Breeding and Biology Laboratory
Quality Laboratory for Honey and Bee Products Analysis.
Laboratory of Genetics and Queen Breeding.
Bee Venom and Natural Products Production Laboratory.
Excellence Lab for Honey Packaging and Canning.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is distinguished in beekeeping and honey production. This has been supported by its vast area of 225,000,000 hectares, its climate, diverse terrain, and vegetation cover. Approximately 2,250 plant species have been recorded in the Kingdom, around 70% of which are found in the Asir region (Collentte 1998,1999). Their distribution is largely adapted to the terrain, while their density depends considerably on the quantity and seasonality of rainfall. The Kingdom is also characterized by varied terrain, including mountainous highlands, the most important of which are the Sarawat Mountains. They extend from the Kingdom's southern border with the Republic of Yemen to an area just before the city of Taif in the north. Their elevation ranges from 800 to 3,000 meters above sea level. Large valleys descend from these mountains toward the east and west, including Wadi Jazan, Wadi Najran, Wadi Tathlith, Wadi Bisha, Wadi Al-Hamd, Wadi Al-Rummah, Wadi Yanbu, and Wadi Fatimah. These mountains, which extend for more than 1,000 kilometers, are considered among the most important beekeeping regions in the Kingdom due to the availability of mountain pastures
that are highly suitable for beekeeping, particularly during the spring and summer seasons, as a result of rainfall during winter, early spring, and summer. The annual average rainfall is approximately 400 mm in Jazan, 207.9 mm in Khamis Mushait, 442.3 mm in Al-Namas, and 368.5 mm in Baljurashi. On the eastern side of the Sarawat Mountains, along the Red Sea, lies the Tihamah coastal plain, which is approximately 1,100 kilometers long and 60 kilometers wide, with an average rainfall of 100 mm. Therefore, beekeepers move down to the coastal areas with the beginning of rainfall in late autumn and during winter to avoid the cold weather in mountainous regions and to benefit from mountain bee pastures that spread after rainfall and are characterized by an abundance of pollen. Beekeepers use these pastures to strengthen colonies that have been exhausted during the honey-harvesting season, which is characterized by a shortage of pollen (Abulfatih, 1984; Moustafa and Alwadi, 2010,2016).
Beekeeping and the apiculture industry are witnessing rapid growth and remarkable development throughout our beloved country as a result of the efforts made by individuals and relevant entities, such as the Ministry of Agriculture. The Ministry has recently begun taking measures that will contribute to advancing beekeeping, including preparing legislation to regulate the beekeeping profession and developing a strategy to advance the apiculture industry. In recent years, it has also engaged consultants from universities to contribute to strategy development, training, and extension services. The presence of Saudi faculty members specializing in apiculture at the Kingdom's universities has also supported the implementation of research and research projects aimed at developing the beekeeping profession and addressing the problems and challenges facing beekeeping, the apiculture industry, and those working in this profession. This has encouraged several government and private entities to support small projects related to beekeeping and to adopt beekeeping as a sustainable source of income for low-income families as part of local development programs implemented in various regions of Saudi Arabia.
Accordingly, King Khalid University has undertaken the initiative to propose the establishment of the Bee Research and Products Center to contribute to the scientific and industrial development taking place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the field of apiculture, in alignment with the direction of our beloved nation represented by Saudi Vision 2030, which emphasizes the transition toward a knowledge-based economy. Based on these considerations, we present a project to establish a scientific center for bee research and products. Through this center, we aim to transform research findings into products and industries of value to the national economy in the field of bee sciences and products, enabling these products to become a strong contributor to the scientific, economic, and industrial advancement of our beloved country, while also raising awareness of the importance of honeybees and the nutritional, medical, therapeutic, and economic value of their products.
The center is an administrative entity affiliated with the Vice President for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research. It focuses on bee research and high-economic-value bee products, striving to achieve its objectives in line with the university's vision, mission, and goals.
Center's Significance
The Bee Research and Products Center at King Khalid University holds significant importance as the first specialized research center in Saudi Arabia dedicated to developing bee research and investing in natural bee products. The center was established to be an advanced scientific beacon contributing to environmental and agricultural sustainability, aligning with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. It focuses on qualitative research that supports the bee industry and helps enhance production efficiency and improve product quality. The center aims for regional leadership in bee research by developing research based on advanced technologies such as genetic engineering, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and materials science. Additionally, the center seeks to preserve local bee breeds and study the medicinal and therapeutic uses of bee products, thereby enhancing Saudi Arabia's position as a reliable source of high-quality natural products.
Beneficiaries of the Center
The beneficiaries of the Bee Research and Products Center include several sectors and institutions, as follows:
Academic Sector: This includes King Khalid University and other universities and educational institutions that benefit from the research and scientific studies produced by the center. This involves training students and publishing research in international scientific journals, as well as engaging postgraduate students in research and development projects.
Government Sector: The government sector benefits from the research results provided by the center, which contribute to developing regulations and laws governing the bee industry in the Kingdom. It also benefits from the center's studies that promote environmental and agricultural sustainability in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
Private Sector: The center collaborates with the private sector, including companies like Saudi Aramco, which supports research initiatives and the development of beekeeping technologies. The center also contributes to raising the efficiency of beekeepers and developing honey products to reach global markets.
Local and International Community: This includes local and international beekeepers who benefit from the training and consultations provided by the center, as well as consumers who receive high-quality honey products that meet international standards.
Laboratory Description
The laboratory has two production lines:
First Line: Specialized in packaging and canning honey in containers of various sizes, ranging from 100 grams to 1 kilogram. This line has a production capacity of up to 100 kilograms per hour and operates for 16 hours daily, meaning a daily production of 1600 kilograms of honey.
Second Line: Specialized in packaging honey in spoon-shaped portions, with a production capacity of at least 10,000 spoons per day.
Production Processes
Before packaging and canning, honey is meticulously examined according to international and local standards. Any honey that does not meet these standards is discarded to ensure the quality of the final product. All batches of honey are inspected to ensure that Saudi honey, considered one of the best types of honey in the world, reaches the consumer with the highest quality.
Objectives and Initiatives
This laboratory is part of a Saudi Aramco initiative aimed at achieving several objectives aligned with Saudi Vision 2030:
Achieving Self-Sufficiency: The laboratory aims to support the local market and contribute to the Kingdom's self-sufficiency in honey products. The laboratory's total annual production is approximately 352,000 tons of honey, contributing to reducing reliance on imports.
Accessing Global Markets: By improving production quality and developing packaging and canning processes, the laboratory seeks to transform Saudi honey into an economic product capable of competing in global markets. This project represents an opportunity to increase exports and generate additional income amounting to millions of Riyals annually.
Generating Additional Income for Individuals: By providing job opportunities and developing the skills of workers in the honey industry, the laboratory contributes to generating additional income for individuals working in this sector, thereby strengthening the local economy. The laboratory is expected to provide more than 38 direct jobs, in addition to hundreds of indirect jobs.
Enhancing Social Role: The laboratory aims to achieve great benefits for the community by supporting beekeepers and developing the honey industry as a sustainable economic source. Supporting the Al-Majardah Beekeepers Association is an essential part of this initiative.
Cost and Contributions
The establishment and operation of the honey packaging and canning laboratory were largely supported by a Saudi Aramco initiative, which provided the necessary funding. Additionally, King Khalid University provided essential support by offering a suitable location for the laboratory and covering the costs of electricity, maintenance, operation, and water. The university also equipped the laboratory with advanced honey quality testing devices. The laboratory is managed by a specialized team comprising 8 faculty members from the university, all holding doctorate degrees, including some at the professor rank.
Furthermore, the Al-Majardah Beekeepers Association plays a vital role in this process by supplying honey to the laboratory. The honey is initially inspected by the association's experts, who discard honey that does not visually meet the required standards. Subsequently, the association's team transports the honey to the university laboratory, where it undergoes full inspection and is packaged according to international and local standards. After the packaging process is complete, the association receives the packaged honey and begins sales and distribution to consumers. These joint contributions reflect the commitment of all parties to deliver a high-quality product that achieves the initiative's goals and supports the local economy.
Production and Operational Capacity
First Line: Production capacity of 100 kilograms per hour, meaning 1600 kilograms per day.
Second Line: Production of 10,000 spoons per day.
Operating Hours: Each line operates for 16 hours daily, with the possibility of extending working hours to increase productivity.
Compliance with Standards
The laboratory adheres to strict standards to ensure the quality of the honey produced, through:
Comprehensive Honey Inspection Before Packaging: To ensure compliance with required standards.
Application of Strict Health Standards: At all stages of production to ensure product safety.
Saudi Vision 2030
This laboratory is part of Saudi Vision 2030, which focuses on developing promising economic sectors and achieving sustainable development. The laboratory enhances the position of Saudi honey in global markets and contributes to increasing Saudi exports, thereby strengthening the national economy and achieving the Vision's goals of diversifying income sources.
Recommendations
To ensure the continued success of the laboratory and achieve its objectives, the following are recommended:
Improve Operational Processes: Through continuous innovation and adoption of new technologies.
Increase Production Capacity: To consider extending working hours or adding new production lines.
Effective Marketing: To promote products more extensively in local and international markets to increase sales.
Conclusion
The Excellence Laboratory for Honey Packaging and Canning at King Khalid University, supported by Saudi Aramco in collaboration with the Al-Majardah Beekeepers Association, represents an ideal model of a successful partnership between the public and private sectors in achieving sustainable development. With an annual production capacity of 352 tons and a daily output of 10,000 spoons, the laboratory can significantly contribute to meeting the growing demand for honey products in the Kingdom and worldwide. These joint efforts enhance the position of Saudi honey as one of the best types of honey globally, contributing to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 by developing the local economy, promoting self-sufficiency, and entering global markets. Additionally, the laboratory contributes to supporting the local community by providing job opportunities and developing the skills of workers, which positively impacts the national economy and enhances the quality of life for citizens.
Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia / Abha / King Khalid University / Al-Faraa Campus / Central Laboratories / Second Floor / Bee Research and Honey Production Center.
Email: halgramh@kku.edu.sa
Phone: 0172417333
Fax: 0172417333
Director of the Bee Research and Honey Production Center
Prof. Hamed Ali Al-Ghramah
Professor, College of Science, King Khalid University
Phone: 0172417333
Email: halgramh@kku.edu.sa
