Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture Showcases Cutting-Edge Technologies at SAADEF 2024.

Riyadh: The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture has highlighted the significance of integrating artificial intelligence and drones into the agricultural sector and other sectors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The ministry aims to enhance investment in emerging technologies to establish Saudi Arabia as a global leader in their production and marketing, which aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. According to Saudi Press Agency, this announcement was made during the opening of the Saudi Arabia AI and Drones Exhibition and Forum (SAADEF) 2024, which is taking place for three days under the ministry's patronage at the Arena Riyadh Venue. The "The Integration of Drones and Artificial Intelligence" event has attracted extensive international participation from technology experts, industry leaders, and investors in artificial intelligence and drone innovations. During his speech at the opening ceremony, the General Supervisor of the Environment Ministry's Agency for Information Technology a nd Digital Transformation, Dr. Abdul Hamid Al-Aliwi, elaborated that SAADEF aims to foster digital transformation and innovation in the Kingdom. The objective is to leverage emerging technologies and drones to support digital transformation goals, enhance the digital economy, and contribute to food security and environmental conservation, which aligns with the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030. Dr. Al-Aliwi pointed out that drones can be utilized across various applications, such as smart irrigation, providing precise information about soil moisture levels, detecting water accumulation, and monitoring dams. The ministry also plans to offer drone services to small farms for tasks like crop spraying, inspection, and mapping. Additionally, drones play a vital role in environmental protection by allowing for the monitoring of poaching activities, tracking biodiversity, and minimizing encroachments in protected areas. They also enhance wildlife surveys and biodiversity monitoring, especially for endangered species a nd seed dispersal, in regions challenging to access through conventional agricultural methods.