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“Contributing to mitigating climate change” is the great challenge that Aziza Sidi Bouna, a 32-year-old Mauritanian renewable energy engineer, has set for herself. To achieve this, she has developed an innovative solution: producing biogas from animal, plant, and domestic waste. She is a pioneer in her field and is determined to revolutionize this sector in Mauritania. In 2019, she launched SBGAZ, a start-up specialized in valorizing agricultural and livestock by-products.
Regularly, she roams the markets of Nouakchott, the capital, in search of this precious raw material. “Until today, cow dung, excrement from certain ruminants like camels, were undervalued in my country. I wanted to change that,” explains this dynamic entrepreneur. “You can find the raw material everywhere: on the farm, in the village, at the slaughterhouse, and of course, at home. It is an almost inexhaustible source,” she adds. In fact, in Mauritania, livestock production is one of the pillars of the national economy. It represents more than 15% of GDP, which is thousands of tons of animal waste per year. It is more than enough to produce huge quantities of biogas.
A Source of Clean Energy
Once collected, livestock manure is placed in a biodigester, a natural solution for recycling organic waste, which allows for the production of a combustible gas, biogas, and also a highly effective fertilizer, digestate. “Production lasts between 15 and 45 days, depending on the season,” explains Aziza Sidi Bouna.
“Our biogas has the advantage of being carbon neutral. We don’t use any fossil energy to extract the gas. It’s called methanization, and it’s 100% carbon natural.”
Aziza Sidi Bouna, Founder and CEO of SB-GAZ
“We started designing several biodigester prototypes in 2019,” she continues. “The resulting biogas is a clean energy that can be produced cheaply. It’s much less expensive than propane gas traditionally used for cooking.” And to demonstrate this, the engineer highlights an irrefutable argument: with one kilogram of cow dung, according to her, one can produce gas for one to two hours of gentle cooking.
But that’s not all. Aziza Sidi Bouna’s biodigesters also transform organic waste and excrement into biological fertilizer, which is excellent for increasing agricultural yields. And she affirms, “Out of 100 kilograms of organic waste digested by the machine, we recover 10 kilograms of manure that is as good as or even more effective than chemical fertilizer.”
It Runs in the Family
Aziza Sidi Bouna is not alone in her ambitious project. Her right-hand man and the technical director of SBGAZ is none other than her father, Ahmed Sidi Bouna. As a rural economics engineer, he is particularly proud of his daughter, whom he has always supported, especially in a country where women are often confined to domestic work. Together, they aim to popularize biodigesters throughout society. Thanks to funding from the International Committee of the Red Cross, they have installed several biodigesters in the Mbera refugee camp, providing relief for families in their daily struggles. In Bassikounou, in the southeast of the country, SBGAZ’s first industrial biodigester is up and running, and “almost daily, more than 200 households come to fill their biogas bottles,” says Aziza. “With a USD150,000 grant from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), I hope to achieve my dream of providing a clean and accessible source of energy to all Mauritanian and Sahelian households in the future,” she adds.
An Alternative to Fossil Fuels
This dream is within reach and, if realized, would have a tangible impact. In fact, the widespread use of biodigesters in Mauritanian households would reduce dependence on fossil fuels such as oil or coal, which are imported mainly from abroad. This would also reduce the emissions of fossil fuels that contribute to climate change. “With my project, I want to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions for the future of our children and our planet. This is the challenge of our century, and it is my responsibility as an entrepreneur,” says Aziza.
Protecting the environment by producing green energy is thus Aziza Sidi Bouna’s promise, and she hopes to create hundreds of new jobs through the development of this new sector. The young woman already employs five workers aged 28 to 45, including two women, “and many more in the future,” she says confidently. Aziza believes in the future, not just for herself but for all her country’s youth. She wants her journey to serve as an example for all the young people in Mauritania and beyond. “I want to change the mindset of the youth here, in the Sahel, and even in Africa. We, young people, have the power to make a difference,” concludes Aziza Sidi Bouna.
Her tenure as Minister of Environment included a modern waste management system, the issuance of the region’s first sovereign green bond, work across protected areas, and nearly 20,000 green jobs.
The Nobel Sustainability Trust has selected Dr. Yasmine Fouad to receive the 2025 Nobel Sustainability Medal, an announcement that comes as she concludes her role as Egypt’s Minister of Environment and takes up the position of Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Over 26 years, Fouad’s work has moved across environmental policy, climate diplomacy, and sustainable development, from early research on ecological resilience to convening communities, scientists, and policymakers. That human-centred lens has taken her to countries facing climate impacts, meeting pastoralist communities navigating drought, women rebuilding livelihoods after environmental shocks, and youth calling for climate justice. In Egypt, her tenure as minister included a modern waste management system, the issuance of the region’s first sovereign green bond, work across protected areas, and nearly 20,000 green jobs. During COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, she put adaptation and resilience at the centre of negotiations, bringing the needs of vulnerable communities into the room. The medal reflects values present in her work — resilience, collaboration, and belief in people’s role in shaping their future — and places attention on the Arab region and Africa within the sustainability conversation. As climate pressures intensify — from water scarcity to land degradation and drought — Fouad often frames sustainability as a human agenda focused on dignity, safety, and livelihoods, with an eye on what future generations will inherit. In her acceptance message, she dedicated the medal “to the women who rebuild their communities, the young people who refuse to inherit despair, the workers who turn scarcity into innovation, and the families who choose hope every day.
Under the auspices of H.E. Mr. Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Iraq marked a major step toward safeguarding its agricultural heritage and enhancing its food security with the laying of the foundation stone for the first-ever Gene/Seed Bank in the Region.
The facility, located in Hawari Shar Park in Sulaymaniyah, is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Federal and Regional Governments as part of the “Restoration and Strengthening the Resilience of Agri-Food Systems in Iraq” project. The facility will enable the preservation of plant genetic diversity, enhance food security, and build resilience against climate change.
The event was inaugurated by H.E. Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Mr. Qubad Talabani; H.E. Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Ms. Begard Talabani; the Governor of Sulaymaniyah, Dr. Haval Abubakir; the Mayor of Sulaymaniyah, Ms. Leyla Omar Ali; the FAO Representative in Iraq, Mr. Salah El Hajj Hassan; along with a number of senior representatives from academic and agricultural institutions.
H.E. Mr Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister, emphasised the importance of this initiative, saying: ‘The gene bank is an investment for the future; it protects our past and secures our future.’
The Gene/Seed bank is a strategic facility for conserving Iraq’s rich plant genetic diversity, which includes over 3,500 plant species originating from the ancient civilizations that once flourished in Iraq—the cradle of civilization. These species hold scientific, historical, and human value across the region and globally. The facility will enable the conservation of rare plant genetic resources, including wild varieties of grains, vegetables, and indigenous crops. It will also strengthen Iraq’s capacity to conserve seeds and make use of valuable genetic traits—such as drought tolerance—from wild species to support the development of more climate-resilient crops.
In her remarks, H.E. Minister Begard Talabani stated: “This initiative represents a strategic milestone in the journey of developing the agricultural sector by protecting plant diversity and supporting scientific research. It will enable farmers to benefit from our historical plant heritage and will allow us to preserve our agricultural legacy for future generations.”
FAO Representative in Iraq, Mr. Salah El Hajj Hassan, expressed his sincere appreciation to FAO’s national partners in the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government for their close collaboration and support. He also acknowledged and thanked the European Union for funding this initiative under the scope of the “Restoration and Strengthening the Resilience of Agri-Food Systems in Iraq,” project, which also reflects the follow-up to the recommendations resulting from the FAO Director-General visit to Iraq and his meetings with senior officials. He added that this facility represents a center for scientific innovation in research and resilience-building. It enables the preservation of Iraq’s historical, environmental and agricultural heritage, ensures that future generations can benefit from it, and stands as a testament to FAO’s commitment to transforming Iraq’s agricultural legacy into a powerful tool for sustainable development.”
The gene bank will house modern storage vaults, laboratories, research and training facilities, and seed data documentation and conservation areas. Future expansion is anticipated to include a field gene bank, a tissue culture laboratory, and a cryobank.
The initiative directly contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 13: Climate Action, by investing in biodiversity conservation and climate-resilient agriculture.
source/content: fao.org – FAO of the UN (headline edited)
In a significant step for Oman’s research sector, Eng Najat al Fadhili of the Industrial Innovation Academy has contributed to an international peer-reviewed study examining the effects of environmental changes on ancient marine organisms.
The study, published on the European Geosciences Union (EGU) platform, was conducted in collaboration with Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Utrecht University, and Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg.
Researchers analysed marine species dating back more than 60 million years to understand their response to climate shifts over geological time. Fieldwork was carried out at the Saiwan geological site in Al Wusta, internationally recognised for its scientific importance.
The project aligns with national efforts to strengthen the research ecosystem and support the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, particularly in innovation and sustainability.
According to the Industrial Innovation Academy, the study contributes critical insights into the long-term impact of climate change on marine ecosystems. It also demonstrates Oman’s capacity to support advanced research through local expertise in geosciences and climate science.
Such initiatives are seen as strategic to enhancing scientific output, informing sustainable resource management, and reinforcing Oman’s role as a regional player in environmental research.
A young Libyan scientist has secured a bronze medal at the International Festival of Science and Technology (I-FEST) 2025 in Tunisia after developing a patented natural antibiotic.
Halima Al-Khazali, 18, from Bayda, claimed third place among 800 international competitors for her invention of an antibiotic derived from wormwood and other herbs. Her achievement adds to Libya’s growing reputation in scientific innovation.
The breakthrough came after five months of rigorous research into a traditional Libyan remedy for dental infections, culminating in Al-Khazali obtaining a patent for her discovery.
This latest success follows her previous gold medal at the Bosnia and Herzegovina Science Olympiad (BOSEPO) 2025, where she finished first among 300 participants.
Al-Khazali’s accomplishments highlight both her exceptional scientific talent and Libya’s potential contributions to global scientific research, making her an inspirational figure for young people across Libya and the broader Arab world.
The power plant is a major step in the country’s ambitions to achieve the Net Zero 2060 target.
Bahrain-based industrial giant Foulath Holding has partnered with Yellow Door Energy, a leading sustainable energy developer in the Middle East and Africa, to launch a record-breaking 123 megawatt-peak (MWp) solar project.
The project marks the construction of the world’s largest single-site rooftop solar power plant, signaling a crucial step in Bahrain’s pursuit to achieve its Net Zero 2060 target.
Developed under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), 77,000 solar panels will be installed across a newly built 262,000-square-meter stockyard shed, capable of generating a total rooftop capacity of 50 MWp.
The announcement was made at the Four Seasons Hotel in Bahrain Bay on November 2, during the third edition of the premium investment forum Gateway Gulf.
It was hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board, with global investors, business leaders, policymakers, and government officials from multiple regions in attendance.
A transformative step towards clean energy vision
As a small island nation, Bahrain faces unique constraints in developing large-scale solar farms on the ground. Rooftop installations provide a space-efficient and scalable solution to harness clean energy without compromising valuable land resources.
In total, the site will consist of ten rooftop and four on-ground photovoltaic systems, producing an estimated 200 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean electricity in its first year.
The overall initiative of the project is to reduce carbon emissions by 90,000 metric tons annually.
“Today, the island nation of Bahrain stands at the forefront of sustainable global innovation. We are incredibly proud of this transformative project – marking the largest rooftop solar plant in the world,” said Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development.
“This milestone not only strengthens our position as a regional leader in clean energy, but embodies our dedication to build a resilience, sustainable future in line with our national vision of elevating Bahrain’s international competitiveness,” she continued.
A $250M commitment to sustainability
For Foulath Holding, the project represents the continuation of a long-term environmental strategy.
Meshary Al-Judaimi, Chairman of Foulath Holding, revealed that the company has already invested approximately $250 million in sustainability projects over recent years.
“Over the past several years, Foulath has invested approximately $250 million in various sustainability projects,” he said.
“These investments are a testament to our commitment to responsible operations, environmental stewardship, and protecting the health and well-being of our community, thereby ensuring industrial development goes hand-in-hand with environmental care. The solar project serves as a continuation of that commitment,” Al-Judaimi added further.
Powering a sustainable industrial future
The solar plant project will be developed in partnership with Yellow Door Energy, known for its large-scale renewable infrastructure in the region.
“I think this project proves how cost-competitive, clean energy can drive forward industry and set a new global benchmark for decarbonizing steel production,” said Sherif ElKholy , Managing Director at Actis and Chairman of Yellow Door Energy.
“As a leading investor in sustainable infrastructure and majority shareholder of Yellow Door Energy, we are proud to witness this signing and look forward to seeing this transformative project come to life,” he continued, emphasizing the significance of the partnership.
With over 189,900 high-efficiency solar panels spanning 707,000 square meters, this initiative will power a new chapter in Bahrain’s energy transition.
Saudi Arabia is making advances in its BESS projects as it launches one of Middle East’s largest BESS deployments, a 4GWh BESS project. The nation’s battery storage drive comes as HiTHIUM is commissioned with a 4 GWh BESS project in a joint venture between the Saudi Electricity Company and Alfanar.
The systems, to be installed in Tabuk and Hail, will deploy HiTHIUM’s 1175 Ah long-duration technology in climate-resilient containerized units, being commissioned in 2026. This follows on the back of the earlier commissioning of the 500 MW / 2 GWh Bisha BESS, the globe’s largest single-phase grid-tied project, and a record 12.5 GWh transaction with BYD, which puts Saudi Arabia at the center of the world’s biggest in-development grid-scale storage pipeline.
By the year’s end, the Kingdom should surpass 11 GWh of operational storage and place itself among the top five utility-scale BESS leaders as it targets Vision 2030 renewable ambitions. The impact and influence of BESS projects around the world cannot be overstated, with Saudi Arabia taking the lead. Other countries such as Finland are determined to catch up as they launched the world’s largest sand battery , a monumental achievement.
The Middle East is making effort in various energy projects other than the world’s largest BESS project in Saudi Arabia. The UAE has broken ground on the world’s largest solar and BESS project, first of its kind. Moreover, it will be capable of delivering round-the-clock baseload renewable energy. Masdar in collaboration with EWEC (Emirates Water and Electricity Company) is developing the $6 billion project. Moreover, it will deliver up to 1 gigawatt (GW) of baseload power 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The ceremony was witnessed by Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs.
August 11, 2024: The implementation of the world’s largest battery energy system (BESS) project progresses as Saudi Arabia begins qualification tenders. A Saudi Arabian entity that has been tasked with procuring electricity generation projects has commenced the process. Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) is licensed as the sole buyer of electrical energy. The government is soliciting bids to develop four battery energy storage system (BESS) projects. Furthermore, it is expected that each will have a 500MW output and 2,000MWh in storage capacity. The contract, which entails 15-year terms, will be awarded on a build-own-operate (BOO) model. It also entails the aspect of bidders holding 100% equity in special purpose vehicle (SPV) companies set up for the development and operation of projects. The SPPC, administered by the Saudi Ministry of Energy, aligns with the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP). Once completed, the BESS project is expected to be the world’s largest.
Project Factsheet
Location: Saudi Arabia
Capacity: 8GWh of storage capacity
Significance: World’s largest BESS Project
Main Company Involved: Saudi Power Procurement Company
Project duration: 15 years
Prequalified Bidders
The Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) has released a list of 33 prequalified bidders for its 8GWh BESS project. The tender, structured as a build-own-operate model, attracted significant energy companies, both local and international. These include Masdar, ACWA Power, EDF, TotalEnergies, and Jinko Power, among others. The list also included prominent companies from nations such as South Korea, Japan, and China. Leading the pack were Samsung, the China Energy Overseas Investment Company, China Power Engineering, and China Southern Power Grid International. Of the 33 prequalified bidders, 21 applied, aiming to provide management and technological services. The remaining 12 applied solely for asset management roles for the BESS project.
The projects mark the first phase of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious battery storage program. It is designed to support its 50% renewable energy goal by 2030. Each 500 MW facility will operate for four hours, providing 2,000 MWh of total power capacity, said the SPPC. In early November, the state-owned limited liability company called for qualification for battery storage procurement. The company has so far contracted several gigawatts of solar PV and wind in competitive solicitation over the past years. Other technologies, such as Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) and Water Infrastructure, have also had deals inked. Successful candidates will be granted 15-year Storage Service contracts with SPPC for respective projects they develop, featuring an output and storage capacity of 500 MW/2,000 MWh at various locations in the country. In addition, the bidders will have 100% equity in projects developed by SPV companies.
The State of Affairs Regarding the World’s Largest BESS Project in Saudi Arabia
The world’s largest BESS project in Saudi Arabia is one that has received accolades from the state government. Under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 policy roadmap, the country aims to have a 50% share of renewable energy in its grid. According to energy minister, Prince Abulaziz bin Abdullah Al Saud, the government is prepared to incur the needed costs. Speaking in 2021, the Saudi government expects to spend $293 billion on power and energy projects by then. The biggest share of this revenue is expected to be spent on transmission upgrades and renewable energy.
Furthermore, investment is expected to be placed in the distribution network. SPPC noted earlier this week that the newly launched BESS procurement project will help the nation reach its 50% goal. The company also noted that the current tenders represent the first batches of solicitations. The locations of the four BESS facilities have already been decided. Two will be in Makkah province, one in Qassim province, and the other in Hail province. They have also been termed as independent storage projects (ISPs) by SPPC. Qualified bidders have been issued until midday, 25 November 2024, to submit their proposals for the BESS project.
Entrepreneur Yassine Khelifi is hoping to redirect agricultural waste into alternative energy sources to help ease the burden in Tunisia.
In a northern Tunisian olive grove, Yassine Khelifi’s small workshop hums as a large machine turns olive waste into a valuable energy source in a country heavily reliant on imported fuel.
Holding a handful of compacted olive residue — a thick paste left over from oil extraction — Khelifi said: “This is what we need today. How can we turn something worthless into wealth?”
For generations, rural households in Tunisia have burned olive waste for cooking and heating or used it as animal feed.
The International Olive Council estimated Tunisia will be the world’s third-largest olive oil producer in 2024-2025, with an expected yield of 340,000 tonnes. The waste generated by the oil extraction is staggering.
Khelifi, an engineer who grew up in a family of farmers, founded Bioheat in 2022 to tackle the issue. He recalled watching workers in olive mills use the olive residue as fuel.
“I always wondered how this material could burn for so long without going out,” he said. “That’s when I asked myself: ‘Why not turn it into energy?'”
Beyond profit, Khelifi hopes his startup helps “reduce the use of firewood as the country faces deforestation and climate change”.
Employees transport truckloads of olive waste at his workshop, stacking it high before feeding it into the processing machines.
The material is then compacted into cylindrical briquettes and left to dry for a month under the sun and in greenhouses before being packaged and sold.
The soul of olives
Khelifi began developing his idea in 2018 after he travelled across Europe searching for a machine to turn the olive paste into long-burning fuel.
Unable to find the right technology, he returned to Tunisia and spent four years experimenting with various motors and mechanical parts.
By 2021, he had developed a machine that produced briquettes with just eight percent moisture.
He said this amount significantly reduces carbon emissions compared to firewood, which requires months of drying and often retains more than double the amount of moisture.
Bioheat found a market among Tunisian restaurants, guesthouses, and schools in underdeveloped regions, where winter temperatures at times drop below freezing.
But the majority of its production — about 60 percent — is set for exports to France and Canada, Khelifi said.
The company now employs 10 people and is targeting production of 600 tonnes of briquettes in 2025, he added.
Selim Sahli, 40, who runs a guesthouse, said he replaced traditional firewood with Khelifi’s briquettes for heating and cooking.
“It’s an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative,” he said. “It’s clean, easy to use, and has reduced my heating costs by a third.”
Mohamed Harrar, the owner of a pizza shop on the outskirts of Tunis, praised the briquettes for reducing smoke emissions, which he said previously irritated his neighbours.
“Besides, this waste carries the soul of Tunisian olives and gives the pizza a special flavour,” he added.
‘Protect the environment’
Given Tunisia’s significant olive oil production, waste byproducts pose both a challenge and an opportunity.
Noureddine Nasr, an agricultural and rural development expert, said around 600,000 tonnes of olive waste is produced annually.
“Harnessing this waste can protect the environment, create jobs, and generate wealth,” he said.
Nasr believes repurposing olive waste could also help alleviate Tunisia’s heavy dependence on imported fuel.
The country imports more than 60 percent of its energy needs, a reliance that widens its trade deficit and strains government subsidies, according to a 2023 World Bank report.
Fuel and gas shortages are common during winter, particularly in Tunisia’s northwestern provinces, where households struggle to keep warm.
Redirecting agricultural waste into alternative energy sources could ease this burden.
Yet for entrepreneurs like Khelifi, launching a startup in Tunisia is fraught with challenges.
“The biggest hurdle was funding,” he said, lamenting high-interest bank loans. “It felt like walking on a road full of potholes.”
But now his goal is “to leave my mark as a key player in Tunisia’s transition to clean energy”, he added. “And hopefully, the world’s, too.”
Climate-induced droughts drying up MENA’s olive oil production
A report on climate change by the World Meteorological Organization had found that “the warming has been more rapid in Africa than the global average,” adding that “increased temperature has contributed to a 34% reduction in agricultural productivity growth in Africa since 1961,” a greater drop “than any other region in the world.”
In an ominous note, the report also observed that “the warming trend for North Africa, around 0.41 °C/decade between 1991 and 2021, was higher than the warming trend for all the other African sub-regions.”
Heat waves pose a serious risk to the production of olive oil in North Africa, which accounts for much of the world’s supply. According top provisional data from the IOC, Morocco produced 160,000 metric tons of olive oil between October 1, 2020, and September 30, 2021, making that country the world’s fifth-biggest producer.
Tunisia, the world’s sixth-largest producer during that period, recorded 140,000 metric tons. Algeria and Egypt together had 100,000 metric tons.
With climate change becoming a more persistent aspect of everyday life, the consequences for olive oil look set to grow worse.
The Tunisian National Observatory for Agriculture predicts that Tunisia’s production of olive oil may drop 35 percent from its 1981-2010 average by 2050 and 70 percent from that average by the turn of the century. Production in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, and Morocco seems unlikely to fare much better in the face of global warming.
To safeguard a vital part of Sudanese agricultural heritage, scientists quietly moved copies of strategic crops to the frozen chambers of the Svalbard vault in Norway.
In December 2023, the civil war that had broken out the previous April between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took a troubling turn when the paramilitary group seized the country’s second-largest city, Wad Madani, in a swift offensive.
The sudden fall of Wad Madani, under circumstances that are not yet fully clear, dealt a heavy blow to the regular army and came as a shock to the hundreds of thousands of people, many of them displaced from Khartoum, who had come to see the city as a safe refuge.
The RSF’s advance quickly triggered a new mass displacement of people and disrupted the work of humanitarian agencies that had relocated to the city after the war broke out.
Like in other areas they have passed through, RSF fighters extensively looted Wad Madani and widespread abuses against the population were documented.
Although it drew little attention at the time, Sudanese scientists also issued a call to protect one specific facility in Wad Madani: the city’s seed bank, the most important in all of Sudan.
“We did not expect that the RSF would attack Wad Madani,” Ali Zakaria Babiker, director of the gene bank, told Middle East Eye.
“But when they did, all the staff fled the city to safer places.”
“We expected they would attack the gene bank,” he admitted, “because ever since they attacked Khartoum, [everyone] had already suffered a lot.”
Hidden cargo to evade checkpoints
Before the war, Sudan’s seed bank, managed by the Agricultural Plant Genetic Resources Conservation and Research Centre (APGRC), housed a collection of more than 17,000 accessions of crops and plant species, including sorghum, millet, wheat and sesame.
The collection, started in 1982, was a reflection of the crop diversity of Sudan, a country with rich biodiversity and a long agricultural tradition.
It also served as a repository for its agricultural genetic material, considered essential for both local and global food systems.
After fleeing Wad Madani, some APGRC staff met in el-Obeid, the capital of the North Kordofan region, where a subnational gene bank is located, holding copies of most of the material they had left behind.
One of their initial moves was to install a solar power system at the backup facility, ensuring a stable electricity supply to keep the freezers running and safeguard the seed copies.
At the same time, however, the staff began to develop a plan to extract as many copies of the seeds as possible and transfer them to a location where they could be safe.
“El-Obeid was also under threat from the RSF, so we went there straight away and took some duplicate accessions to dispatch them,” Babiker explained.
Their plan involved preparing more than 2,000 seed samples and sending them from el-Obeid to the icy chambers of Svalbard’s seed vault, located on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, deep in the Arctic and more than 7,000km from the capital of North Kordofan.
“[We decided to] dispatch them to Svalbard so that we would have a duplicate copy outside the country,” Babiker said.
One of their initial moves was to install a solar power system at the backup facility, ensuring a stable electricity supply to keep the freezers running and safeguard the seed copies.
At the same time, however, the staff began to develop a plan to extract as many copies of the seeds as possible and transfer them to a location where they could be safe.
“El-Obeid was also under threat from the RSF, so we went there straight away and took some duplicate accessions to dispatch them,” Babiker explained.
Their plan involved preparing more than 2,000 seed samples and sending them from el-Obeid to the icy chambers of Svalbard’s seed vault, located on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, deep in the Arctic and more than 7,000km from the capital of North Kordofan.
“[We decided to] dispatch them to Svalbard so that we would have a duplicate copy outside the country,” Babiker said.
“I did it to ensure that at least some of the seeds were preserved beyond Sudan’s borders.”
The scale of the mission was daunting: if they succeeded, APGRC staff would have managed to secure more than a quarter of Sudan’s seed collection in the depths of the earth.
The seeds selected included crops that have been grown in the region for thousands of years, amongst them key varieties of pearl millet and sorghum – a crop vital to Sudan’s food security, known for its drought resistance, and part of the country’s agricultural and cultural heritage.
“These [were] some of the main staple crops in Sudan, and also some of the oldest,” Babiker noted.
“They are essential for food security not only in Sudan, but also for the region – and for global food security as well.”
Before heading to one of the northernmost corners of the world, the seeds had to be taken out of el-Obeid as discreetly as possible and transported all the way to Port Sudan – the main port of the country, located in the northeast – from where they could be sent abroad.
Babiker described it as an “exciting” mission, particularly at the start, given that the RSF controlled almost all routes in and out of El Obeid.
To avoid potential trouble at checkpoints, the APGRC staff asked the truck driver transporting the seeds to load their boxes first, and only then pile on the rest of the load.
“The mission took more than 10 days because, for security reasons, it didn’t follow a normal road but routes unfamiliar to the RSF,” said Babiker, who added that no APGRC staff travelled with the shipment to avoid drawing attention.
After those 10 days on the road, the seeds finally made it to Port Sudan, although Babiker said the seed packages were scattered across the truck and had to be collected and organised.
Still, the first half of the journey – and the most challenging part – was now behind them.
Sudan Post to the rescue
Once in Port Sudan, the shipment of seeds to Svalbard was made possible because the Sudan Post courier service was still operating despite the war, said Nelissa Jamora of Crop Trust, an organisation dedicated to safeguarding the world’s crop diversity that supported the entire mission.
“Sudan Post was still functioning, at least in Port Sudan. So it was [arranged] through the regular postal service,” she told MEE, noting that there were three boxes of seeds in total.
On their way to Svalbard, the seeds made a stop at the Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGen), an organisation dedicated to safeguarding the Nordic region’s genetic resources.
There, the centre helped sort, catalogue, re-pack, and document the shipment from Sudan.
“It was a few days’ work for our seed technicians, but an investment well worth its price considering the importance of these seeds for the future of Sudan’s agricultural sector,” said Johan Axelsson, head of NordGen’s seed laboratory.
The seeds finally arrived at the seed vault on 25 February 2025, together with seed shipments sent by 19 other gene banks.
Established in 2008, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault has its storage area more than 100 metres inside a mountain, carved into solid rock and shielded by 40 to 60 metres of stone.
The mountain mass has a stable temperature ranging from -3 to -4 degrees Celsius, but the seed storage area is equipped with a cooling system that keeps it constantly at -18 degrees.
With more than 1,350,000 seed samples, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault is currently the largest backup facility for seeds and crop diversity in the world.
Owned by Norway, the site is operated by three partners: the country’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food, NordGen and Crop Trust.
Gene banks from all over the world can store backup copies of their seeds there free of charge and with no legal transfer of ownership, the seeds always remain property of the depositor.
Sudan made its first deposit in 2019 and today holds 1,884 accessions, a distinct, uniquely identifiable sample of seeds, from 15 different species, according to Svalbard’s website.
Jamora said that the difference from the more than 2,000 seeds initially sent by the APGRC from el-Obeid was likely due to some packages arriving in less-than-optimal condition and not making it into the final set, although they are preserved by NordGen and can be returned.
The mission to evacuate Sudan’s seeds was funded through an emergency reserve launched in 2021 by Crop Trust and the secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources under the supervision of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), to assist gene banks that are under threat.
In Sudan’s case, Crop Trust had been collaborating with the local gene bank before the war through a project called BOLD (Biodiversity for Opportunities, Livelihoods and Development).
“The mission aimed to secure as many seeds as possible,” Jamora noted.
Fears vindicated
Sudan’s army recaptured Wad Madani in January, and when the APGRC staff returned to their facilities, their worst fears were confirmed: the bank’s freezers, computers and servers had been looted, and the seed bags were torn open, their contents scattered across the floor.
However, with the support and funding from the emergency reserve jointly run by Crop Trust and the Plant Treaty, efforts to rebuild and start over are already under way.
For now, the gene bank is still assessing the losses, but it is also beginning to rebuild its seed collection despite limited state funds and power cuts that often last more than 12 hours a day.
When the situation stabilises, the centre hopes to be able to assess the state of its seeds and move into a regeneration phase, but this will require new freezers and other equipment.
During a meeting with the director of Sudan’s Agricultural Research Corporation (ARC) and FAO representatives, the governor of Gezira State – where Wad Madani is located – Tahir al-Khair, pledged to try to install a new cold storage facility for the gene bank.
In the meantime, at least, the seeds stored in the Svalbard vault remain safe, waiting for the day they can once again serve their country.
“We felt very relieved and reassured once we made sure we had these duplicate copies outside Sudan,” Babiker said.
In the holy city of Makkah, pilgrims visit Jabal Al-Nour, whose name means “Mountain of Light”.
As pilgrims complete the sacred rites of Hajj, many embark on a deeper spiritual journey by exploring historic Islamic sites across Saudi Arabia to connect with the roots of their faith.
In the holy city of Makkah, pilgrims visit Jabal Al-Nour, whose name means “Mountain of Light.” At its peak lies the Cave of Hira, where the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed through the Angel Jibreel.
The mountain’s distinctive camel-hump shape makes it a striking landmark, especially with the nearby Hira Cultural District, where the Revelation Gallery offers pilgrims to learn the story of divine revelation and history.
Ahmed Khan, a private tour guide said: “There’s something unexplainable about standing where it all began. When I take pilgrims to Jabal al-Nour, many of them are moved to tears it’s not just a climb, but it’s a spiritual awakening.”
To the south lies Jabal Thawr, the mountain that cradled the Prophet and his companion Abu Bakr as-Siddiq in its cave during their migration to Madinah. The story of divine protection, where a spider’s web and a dove’s nest concealed their presence from their pursuers, resonates deeply with pilgrims.
Another frequently visited site is Jabal Abu Qubays, believed in some traditions to be the first mountain placed on Earth. As the closest peak to the Grand Mosque, it resonates with the early public da’wah and the great spiritual responsibility.
FAST FACTS
• Al-Qiblatain Mosque, where revelation changed the direction of prayer from Jerusalem to Makkah, remains a must-visit site for pilgrims.
• Programs like ‘Hala,’ launched by Al-Bait Guests Co., are curating journeys for pilgrims to explore with knowledgeable guides.
Nearby, the modest yet historically significant Al-Bay’ah Mosque marks the location of the Pledge of Aqabah, where the Ansar of Madinah pledged allegiance to the Prophet Muhammad.
Built during the Abbasid era, it symbolizes early Muslim unity and commitment to the new faith. A short distance away in Al-Hajun district is Jabal Al-Sayyidah, at the base of which lies the revered Al-Ma’la Cemetery, resting place of Khadijah, the Prophet’s beloved wife. Her grave remains a focal point of deep reverence.
“Pilgrims love visiting these places and it helps them to understand the sacrifices of the people who shaped Islam,” Khan added.
Madinah has its own timeless legacy. Al-Qiblatain Mosque, where revelation changed the direction of prayer from Jerusalem to Makkah and marked a defining shift in Muslim identity and remains a must-visit site for pilgrims.
Hussain Rauff, regional director of Madinah Hotels at Elaf Al-Taqwa, said: “We’re planning to organize guided tours across Madinah to help pilgrims explore the city’s rich Islamic heritage. It’s a meaningful way to extend their spiritual journey beyond the rituals of Hajj.”
Further west of the Prophet’s Mosque lies the cluster known as the Seven Mosques, each linked to events from the Battle of the Trench. Among them are Al-Fath Mosque and those named after figures such as Fatimah, Ali ibn Abi Talib, and Salman Al-Farsi. These mosques are rich in historical memory and serve as reminders of hardship during one of Islam’s critical battles.
Mount Uhud rises just north of Madinah city, its slopes reminds of the Battle of Uhud and the place where the Prophet’s uncle, Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib, and 70 companions were martyred. Today, pilgrims pause at the Uhud Martyrs Cemetery indicating the modesty found in victory and the strength drawn from loss.
Equally powerful is a visit to Baqi’ Al-Gharqad Cemetery, the resting place of many of the Prophet’s family members and companions. Located near the Prophet’s Mosque, the cemetery has long served as a site for prayer and remembrance, offering pilgrims a moment of intimate connection with those who stood beside the Prophet during Islam’s formative years.
Beyond the holy cities, other destinations continue to attract pilgrims in search of spiritual enrichment. Northwest of Madinah lies Khaybar, the site of a pivotal military campaign that showcases both the strategic and ethical dimensions of the Prophet’s leadership. Its volcanic terrain and ancient fortifications tell stories etched in stone.
Fatima Al-Mutairi, a pilgrim from Kuwait: “I am planning to visit these places in Jeddah and Taif after my Hajj. I am planning to visit the Tomb of Hawa in Jeddah and in Taif, I look forward to visiting Masjid Abdullah ibn Abbas, to pay tribute to one of the great scholars whose work in Qur’anic interpretation and Hadith continues to inspire many seekers of knowledge.”
Recognizing the growing desire for such experiences, programs like “Hala,” launched by Al-Bait Guests Co., are curating immersive journeys for pilgrims to explore these sacred sites with knowledgeable guides and spiritual context.
Mohammed Al-Shahrani, experience officer in Hajj and Umrah sector said: “Our aim is to enrich the post-Hajj experience. We want pilgrims to understand that the journey of faith continues, and Saudi Arabia is opening its heritage for those who wish to walk in the footsteps of the Prophet.”
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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Beyond the holy cities, other sacred destinations continue to attract pilgrims in search of spiritual enrichment. (Supplied/File photo)
