With the attendance of 57 experts and specialists, and representing 13 countries.

Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation General Secretariat, organized a scientific virtual lecture on the “Efforts and achievements of the Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA), in the field of date palm cultivation and production at the Arab level”, presented by Dr. Rida A. Shibli, Executive Secretary of AARINENA, on Monday 02^nd of August, 2021, with the attendance of 57 experts and specialists representing 13 Arab countries. Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid, Award’s Secretary General, noted that this virtual lecture comes under the directives of H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Chairman of the Award’s Board of Trustees, and within the Award’s framework and commitment to spread the scientific knowledge and awareness specialized in date palm cultivation and agricultural innovation.

From his side, Dr. Rida A. Shibli, highlighted the fact that the Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA), is an association that brings together agricultural research centers and institutions in the Near East and North Africa region. Where in this presentation, the efforts and achievements of the AARINENA in the field of date palm cultivation and production in the Arab region, is highlighted. The AARINENA association consists of several networks, including the Date Palm Network, and which includes a group of the best date palm experts in the Near East and North Africa region. A cooperation has also been established between AARINENA and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), to establish and operate the research, technology and innovation platform for the integrated production system for the date palm crop in the Middle East and North Africa region. Dr. Shibli,  also indicated the importance of the platform in coordinating the efforts of member states at the regional and international levels, as it is an interactive hub for multiple stakeholders, including researchers, producers, financiers, farmers associations, private industries, investors and government agencies to enhance the integrated production system of the date palm in the Near East and North Africa region, to maintain high competitiveness in both the regional and global markets.

On the other hand, Dr. Shibli, stressed on the fact that the platform will serve as a center for information and knowledge that effectively connects stakeholders and share research results, technologies and available innovations related to the date palm production value chain. The platform will also play an important role in technology transfer and enhancing various capabilities for people of interest and beneficiaries using ICT solutions. AARINENA in partnership with the FAO, will facilitate the implementation of the platform's activities. These activities include: identification of research priorities, available technologies, innovations and technical practices related to the date palm value chain. Accordingly, a regional model of the research, technology and innovation platform will be created and operated, including the monitoring and evaluation system for the integrated date palm production system, and this model will mainly focus on expanding and sharing promising research results, technologies and innovations to small producers and interested stakeholders.

Dr. Rida A. Shibli, then concluded the lecture by highlighting the great role played by the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation in supporting and developing the date palm cultivation sector and the date production, through the organizing of Jordan International Date Palm Festival, Sudan International Date Palm Festival, and Egypt International Date Palm Festival and the accompanying activities and events. Which actively contributed to the increase of the reputation of the Arab dates and the volume of exports, in addition to the series of international conferences organized by the Award’s General Secretariat.