Dates from Gulf may power future of biofuel

Manama  : Dates in the Gulf, which accounts for 40 per cent of the total global production, will be a source of biofuels in future, said a top expert.
According to President of the Arabian Gulf University (AGU), Dr Khalid bin Abdulrahman Al-Ohali, the Earth has 100 million palm trees, 75 per cent of which are located in the Arab World making it an integral part of the GCC states’ economy.
He was addressing a gathering on the opening day of the International Conference on Integrated Protection of Date Palm.
Dr Al Ohali also underlined the importance of the integrated protection of date palms, citing the risks and threats facing the world, including the economic and climate changes.
Hosted in Bahrain, the event is organised by the International Organisation for Biological and Integrated Control (IOBC-WPRS) in co-operation with AGU, the National Initiative for the Agricultural Development.  It is also supported by Gulf Petrochemical company GPIC.
On the nutritional benefits of dates, Dr Al-Ohali, who is the Patron of the Conference, noted the role of the dates as a major source in the food security system, as they are rich in minerals and hold sufficient daily calories for a person.
“Dates and dairy offer complete nutritional benefits and are a source of sustainability and food security for our region. They can be the main defence line for famine-stricken areas,” he said.
He also pointed out that the Arabian Gulf region is a vibrant place, importing a large number of goods, “making it vulnerable to receiving pests threatening the agricultural sector in general and date palm trees in particular.”