JEDDAH – The 13th Asian Apicultural Association Conference will take place in the Middle East for the very first time, which is set to commence today (April 24) at the Jeddah Hilton Hotel for three days. The theme of the conference is "Beekeeping as tool to cope with environmental challenges". The conference, under the patronage of Makkah Governor Prince Khalid Alfaisal, is expected to host 700 attendees, 500 of which are invited guests from various member countries. "It will be a valuable opportunity for Saudi apicultures and those interested to meet international experts and scientists and see the latest news and updates in the field," said Professor Ahmad Alghamdi, general advisor of the Abdullah Bugshan Chair in Expansive Soils at King Saud University and board of directors of the Beekeepers Cooperative Association (BCA) in Baha. "Regulations for use of honey as alternative medicine will be discussed," he told Saudi Gazette. "If it gets endorsed it will be later submitted at a ministry level." Doctors from Turkey, the United States, China, Germany, among other countries, will examine medical prospects of the use of honey and other topics. Saudi Arabia currently imports 14,000 tons of honey and 300,000 beehives that each cost SR50 million. Other related equipment is also imported. In the absence of official data, production is estimated to generate 9,000 tons of honey annually and one million beehives. Additionally, there are approximately 5,000 beekeepers in the Kingdom. More than 400 academic papers will be reviewed in the conference and over 100 exhibitors will participate. Workshops and certified training for various subject, including the medical use of honey, will be offered to beekeepers and others interested in the field. The conference takes place at a member country every two years.
