Center of Bee Research and its Products - King Khalid University

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.

Saudi Arabia stands out in beekeeping and honey production, supported by its vast area of 225,000,000 hectares, diverse climate, varied topography, and rich vegetation. Approximately 2250 plant species have been recorded, with about 70% found in the Asir region (Collenette 1998, 1999). The distribution of these species is highly adapted to the terrain, and their density largely depends on the quantity and seasonality of rainfall.

The country boasts diverse topographies, including mountainous highlands, with the Sarawat Mountains being the most significant. These mountains extend from Saudi Arabia's border with Yemen in the south to just before Taif city in the north, with elevations ranging from 800 to 3000 meters above sea level. Large valleys, such as Wadi Jizan, Wadi Najran, Wadi Tathlith, Wadi Bisha, Wadi Al-Hamd, Wadi Al-Rummah, Wadi Yanbu, and Wadi Fatima, descend from these mountains, flowing eastward and westward.

These mountains, stretching over 1000 kilometers, are among the most crucial beekeeping areas in the Kingdom. This is due to the availability of excellent mountain pastures, especially during spring and summer, resulting from winter and early spring rains, as well as summer precipitation. Annual averages range from 400 mm in Jizan to 207.9 mm in Khamis Mushait, 442.3 mm in Namas, and 368.5 mm in Baljurashi.

Along the eastern side of the Sarawat Mountains, parallel to the Red Sea, lies the coastal Tihamah plain, which is approximately 1100 kilometers long and 60 kilometers wide. It receives an average rainfall of 100 mm. Beekeepers move to these coastal areas at the onset of rain in late autumn and winter to escape the cold mountain weather and benefit from the abundant mountain bee pastures that flourish after rainfall. These pastures are rich in pollen, which beekeepers utilize to strengthen colonies weakened during the honey harvesting season, a period typically characterized by scarce pollen (Abulfatih, 1984; Moustafa and Alwadi, 2010, 2016).

Beekeeping and its industry are experiencing rapid growth and significant development throughout our beloved country, thanks to the efforts of individuals and relevant entities like the Ministry of Agriculture. The Ministry has recently begun implementing measures to advance beekeeping, such as drafting a law to regulate the beekeeping profession and developing a strategy to promote the beekeeping industry. In recent years, it has also engaged consultants from universities to contribute to strategy development, training, and guidance. The presence of specialized Saudi faculty members in beekeeping across Saudi universities has facilitated research and research projects aimed at developing the beekeeping profession and resolving the challenges and obstacles faced by beekeeping and its practitioners. This has led several governmental and private entities to support small-scale beekeeping projects and adopt beekeeping as a sustainable source of income for impoverished families, as part of local development programs in various regions of Saudi Arabia.

King Khalid University has taken the initiative to propose the establishment of a Bee Research and Products Center to contribute to the scientific and industrial development in the beekeeping sector in Saudi Arabia. This aligns with our nation's vision 2030, which emphasizes the transition to a knowledge-based economy. Based on these considerations, we are proposing a project to establish a scientific center for bee research and products. Through this center, we aim to transform research findings into valuable products and industries for the national economy in the field of bee science and its products. These products will be a strong factor in advancing our beloved nation scientifically, economically, and industrially, and in raising awareness about the importance of honey bees and the nutritional, medicinal, 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:

1. 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.

2. 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 / Central Laboratories / Second Floor / Bee Research and Products Center. 

Email: halgramh@kku.edu.sa 

Phone: 0172417333 

Fax: 0172417333

Director of the Bee Research and Products Center 

Prof. Hamed Ali Al-Garamah Professor - College of Science - King Khalid University 

Phone: 0172417333 

Email: halgramh@kku.edu.sa