Saudi Arabia uses space technologies to monitor the red palm weevil

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Saudi Arabia is moving to employ space technologies and applications to protect date palms from pests and diseases, through a project in which the National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plant Pests and Animal Diseases (Wiqa) is participating, within the “SPACE UP” initiative, with the aim of developing mechanisms for monitoring tree health and supporting early detection of the red palm weevil.

The project aims to take advantage of space technologies to monitor the health status of palm trees, analyze the patterns of spread of pests and diseases, and estimate the probability of infection and its levels, providing information that supports prevention and control work.

The project focuses on developing monitoring and analysis methods that help identify indicators related to the health of palm trees, and follow up on changes that may indicate the possibility of pests and diseases.

The red palm weevil stands out among the pests that the project aims to support early detection, given the threat it poses to palm trees, and the fact that combating it requires continuous follow-up and timely intervention.

Employing space technologies would open the way for developing agricultural monitoring methods, by making use of data and analysis to identify sites that require further field examination.

The project is expected to contribute to improving the efficiency of monitoring, inspection and follow-up work, by enhancing the ability to estimate the probability of infection and analyze the spread of pests and diseases.

It also aims to support efforts to protect agricultural wealth, by providing supporting tools that help the competent authorities direct follow-up and control operations more efficiently.

Measuring the actual impact of these technologies remains linked to the results of project implementation and verifying the accuracy of monitoring and early detection tools.

Waqa's participation comes within the "SpaceApp" initiative organized by the Communications, Space and Technology Commission, with the aim of employing space applications in developing solutions to practical challenges.

The project reflects a trend towards benefiting from advanced technologies in the agricultural sector, and linking satellite data with pest prevention efforts, which contributes to developing the palm protection system and maintaining the sustainability of date production in the Kingdom.