Having a policy to ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems associated with the university

This Program addresses the sustainability of agricultural and animal health. Research activities under this program deal with recycling of date palm waste to valuable products, production of biofertilizers and biocontrol agents, and mass production of natural enemies to eliminate the effect of destructive pests and reduce the use of harmful chemical pesticides, as well as finding effective Qassim University Framework strategy for Climate change 13 ways to rationalize irrigation water and conserve water resources. Outcomes of this research program will reduce greenhouse gas emission as well as environment contamination.

Sustainable Developments in the Energy, Water, and Environmental Engineering

Sectors Energy and water systems have often been treated as a separate system over the entire pathway from production to consumption. However, their close interdependence requires some perspective of the water-energy nexus, especially in regions with very high-water stresses combined with a myriad of rapid changes in resource production and consumption. The proposed research areas within this priority address 7 out of 17 Goals of Sustainable Development established by UN to transform our world including clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, industry, innovation, and infrastructure, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, and life below water.

Innovative Biotechnology and nanotechnology for a healthy life

Biotechnology and nanotechnology are disciplines that developed from the interaction of physical sciences, molecular engineering, biology, chemistry, and biotechnology, and holds major advances in pharmaceuticals and health care in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of various disease. Biotechnology and nanotechnology research is a promising field that can generate income and can initially focus on the improvement of dangerous diseases treatment. Globally, nanoparticles have become part of daily life as they found in fertilizers, and cosmetics, for instance. Given the breadth of the potential applications, nanotechnology has become a research priority for many countries, as shown by the UNESCO Science Report: towards 2030 in. Thus, the outcome of this research priority will focus directly on bettering the health of chronic disease patients such as cancer patients, etc. around the globe.

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His Excellency Prof. Dr. Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Dawood, Rector of the University, inaugurated on Monday the Tree Week, as part of the second phase of the initiative of His Royal Highness Prince Dr. Faisal bin Meshaal bin Saud bin Abdul Aziz under the slogan "The land of Qassim is green", which is implemented by the General Directorate of Maintenance and Services at the University, in cooperation with the General Directorate of Agricultural Affairs in the region, with the aim of planting 300 palms and 1500 shade trees, in addition to 1000 meters of green spaces and thousands of flowers.

Al-Daoud planted the first seedling, announcing the beginning of the second phase, and thanked all the participants and employees of the campaign, expressing his appreciation for the role played by the university employees to make the campaign a success, and their keenness to make the university land a distinguished model for other sectors in the region and at the level of the Kingdom.

Al-Daoud expressed his optimism that this land will turn into a green land with the help and determination of men, and with the great support that the university receives from the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Crown Prince of the Secretary, His Highness the Amir of the region and His Highness the Deputy Amir, for their continuous follow-up and their keenness to turn the Qassim region into green lands, pointing to the great benefit that will prevail on the region and its people after the completion of the implementation of this initiative.

For his part, the Director of the Services and Maintenance Department at the University, Eng. Saleh Al-Dhale'a, stressed that the inauguration of the Tree Week for the year 1439 AH comes in interaction with the initiative of His Highness the Amir of the region to spread greenery and plant trees in the university city to be a green city, where the first phase of the campaign began in the month of Muharram last, and continued over a whole month in which the governorates, their affiliated centers, associations and society interacted with all culture.

Al-Dhalea thanked and appreciated His Excellency the Rector of the University, who is always keen on the need to spread the culture of agriculture to combat desertification, and also thanked the Vice-Deans, faculty members and students participating in this campaign, which will be annual, God willing.

The celebration of this week coincides with the Tree Week, where celebrations of the cultivation and protection of vegetation cover are held in most countries of the world, with the aim of increasing the area of green spaces, restoring natural forests and planting artificial forests, in addition to giving more attention to planted trees and protecting them, restoring cultivated areas and protecting natural forests from encroachments, by promoting awareness of agriculture, supporting the spirit of participation and preservation of the tree and reducing unjust logging and desertification in the region.

Due to the importance of the agriculture and livestock sectors in achieving food security and economic revenue, and due to the nature of the specialties and departments of the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at Qassim University, which is concerned with maintaining the food chain completely, starting from the Department of Plant Production and Prevention, which grows, produces and maintains the vegetative part of the food chain, passing through the departments of veterinary medicine, animal production and breeding, which are concerned with the preservation and development of livestock and its importance in the food chain and last but not least the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, which It complements the rest of the roles of other departments by paying attention to the food industry and proper nutrition. This has made the college a mecca and a refuge for all farmers and breeders to solve their problems since its inception. In this context, the College spared no effort in providing various programs in the field of community service and the environment.

It was necessary to develop and expand the circle of community services, so came the decision of the college to establish a specialized unit concerned with community service, which was the most important objectives of which was excellence in community service and contribute to its development and solve its problems, as it includes a group of faculty members and assistant staff with experience in various fields of the college headed by the Dean of the College. The establishment of this unit is considered as a real breakthrough through the development of qualitative, specialized and new service activities that reach the beneficiary in several geographical areas inside the region (Qassim) and outside it through veterinary and plant therapeutic convoys, awareness, workshops and seminars.

The organizational structure of the Community Service Unit at the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at Qassim University:

  • Vice Dean of the College as President.

  • Essam Abdel Moneim Amin.

  • Khalid bin Ayed Al-Harbi Member.

  • Mohammed bin Sulaiman Al-Shuwaiman Member.

  • Representative of the Department of Plant Production and Prevention Member.

  • Representative of the Department of Animal Production and Breeding, Member.

  • Representative of the Department of Veterinary Medicine Member.

  • Representative of the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition Member.

Vision:

Excellence and leadership in providing diverse community services in the fields of agriculture and veterinary medicine locally and nationally.

Mission:

Providing various community service and awareness programs and activities in the fields of plant production and prevention, animal production and breeding, veterinary medicine, food science and human nutrition contribute to building sustainable development in the region and at the level of the Kingdom and to promote constructive partnership with the relevant sectors.

Objectives:

    • Contribute to the achievement of the mission of the college regarding community service.

    • Evaluate the link between the college and the community by providing programs and activities that meet actual community needs.

    • Encourage faculty members to provide community service activities.

    • Spreading awareness of good practices through the provision of awareness programs and veterinary caravans.

    • Providing specialized scientific consultations to both the government sector and the private sector.

    • Providing services with community needs in order to ensure and promote the development of the relevant sectors.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Tasks of the Head of the Unit:

  • Distribution of tasks to the members of the Committee.

  • Periodic follow-up to the implementation of the tasks of the Committee and evaluation of the performance of members.

  • Calling for a periodic meeting and recording this meeting.

Tasks of the Unit Supervisor:

    • Work on the development and modernization of the work system within the unit.

    • Work to deepen the communication of the unit with its community surroundings.

Tasks of the Unit's Rapporteur:

  • Follow up the implementation of the general policy set to achieve the objectives of the unit in accordance with the policy and objectives of the college and university in the service of society.

  • Follow up the formation of the administrative and organizational structure of the unit and determine the tasks of the committees of the unit.

  • Identify the names of distinguished people and nominations for workshops for community service.

  • Meet periodically with the members of the unit.

Community Service Unit Team Tasks:

  • Develop a proposal for the objectives and plan of the Community Service Unit.

  • Prepare annual reports.

  • Implement the college's policy in the service of the community.

  • Compilation of the activities of the faculty members of the college.

The qualitative services provided by the Community Service Unit at the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at Qassim University:

Veterinary Clinic:

The Veterinary Clinic of the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine provides specialized quality services to breeders of animals from the diagnosis and treatment of thousands of pathological conditions with an average of more than fifty-three thousand (53,000) cases for the academic year for various types of animals productive or racing or pets.

The veterinary clinic includes among its wings many veterinary medical specialties that play a distinguished role in serving the community such as the Department of Surgery, Anesthesiology and Radiology, the Department of Obstetrics and Reproduction Diseases, the Department of Clinical Medicine and veterinary laboratories. The veterinary clinic also has a laboratory for the diagnosis of animal diseases with the aim of raising diagnostic efficiency and excluding epidemic diseases (Figure 1 below).

The scope of the veterinary clinic's service has expanded beyond the Qassim region to receive other cases from distant areas such as Medina, Mecca and Dammam and even went beyond that to receive sick cases from neighboring countries such as Kuwait as these cases need experience and skill in diagnosis and treatment.

The veterinary clinic contains all the means that enable it to play its role in serving the community. Modern devices have been purchased to raise the efficiency of diagnostic technology such as radiological diagnostic devices, general anesthesia devices for small and large animals, surgical endoscopy, ultrasound devices, semen collection and examination devices and other tools and equipment.

Due to the need to initiate cases outside the veterinary clinic and also to exercise the role of therapeutic veterinary caravans, the mobile veterinary clinic (figure 2 below) was developed and equipped at a high level to meet the purpose and primary objective of its establishment.

Due to the importance of guidance and awareness and in view of the use of the time of patients and visitors to the veterinary clinic, the extension unit was established (Fig. 3 below) to practice counseling and raise awareness among breeders about infectious diseases, methods of prevention and correct scientific methods in breeding methods.

Environment and Community Service Laboratory:

The Environment and Community Service Laboratory at the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine provides specialized quality services to farmers and various agricultural companies through its analysis services for all soil, water, plant and fertilizer samples, where the average number of samples analyzed by the laboratory reaches more than one thousand six hundred (3322) samples annually.

The laboratory includes modern laboratory equipment and equipment that enable it to perform its tasks and objectives effectively (Figure 4 below). This is in addition to the consultancy services provided by the laboratory that may reach to visit the farms to identify problems in the field and make proposals to solve these problems.

Objectives of the Environment and Community Service Laboratory:

    • Providing technical and scientific support to workers in the agricultural sector, whether individuals, companies, municipalities or research centers and the Ministry of Agriculture.

    • Serving the community, participating in its development and supporting the sustainable development of the community through the practice of extension and raising the awareness of farmers.

    • Preserving the environment.

    • Solve farmers' problems related to soil, water, plant, plant pathogenesis and pests.

Tasks of the Environment and Community Service Laboratory:

    • Analysis of elements in soil, water, plant and fertilizer samples that arrive from farmers.

    • Evaluate the suitability of the soil for cultivation, identify the soil problems of farmers and develop appropriate solutions.

    • Identify problems of soil fertility and plant nutrition and write appropriate fertilizer reports and recommendations through the results of soil and plant analysis for farmers.

    • Estimating pollutants with heavy elements, whether in soil, plant or water to support environmental conservation and sustainable development.

    • The factory receives water samples from farmers for examination and determination of suitability for agricultural irrigation as well as for drinking.

    • Analysis of chemical contaminants and pesticides in soil, fruits and crops for the benefit of farmers.

    • The plant clinic of the laboratory receives infected plant samples from farmers for examination, identification of the cause of the injury and determination of appropriate treatment.

    • The Botanical Clinic provides extension services in many areas including the prevention and control of diseases of all plants and date palms, prevention and control of acacous and insect pests of all crops and date palms.

    • Specialized faculty members go out to farms with farmers to identify problems on the ground to examine infected plants or soils and take samples to the environment and community service laboratory to conduct the necessary tests and analyzes and prepare technical reports to respond to the problems and all this is voluntary work.

In addition, the laboratory records the results of the analyzes and keeps them as information of great importance to support the sustainable development of society. The following are tables of some of the years in which the preparation of the analyzes carried out by the Community Service Laboratory shows the environment, as well as some pictures of problems examined by the Botanical Clinic and developed appropriate solutions to them.

The program of therapeutic and awareness caravans provided by the Community Service Unit at the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at Qassim University:

The most important objectives of veterinary caravans:

    • Providing veterinary medical services for cases that do not have access to the veterinary teaching hospital.

    • Activating therapeutic convoys that strengthen the level of graduates and increase their knowledge of the actual problems that exist in society in their field of specialization.

    • Introducing the community to the direct role of the university in solving their problems and deepening the link between the university and the community.

Objectives of the Red Palm Weevil Caravans:

    • Alert to the danger of weevil and the destructive act it causes to palm fields.

    • Educate the farmer on the methods of detection and diagnosis of weevil by the practical methods available.

    • Educate the farmer about the signs and symptoms of weevil infection.

    • Addressing the most important causes of weevil infestation, whether they are insect pests or errors in agricultural processes.

    • Educate farmers on the proper and available methods in the fight against weevil (integrated management in the fight against weevil).

    • Introduce the farmer to the life cycle of the insect and the harmful phase and know the behaviors of the pest.

    • Proper and correct methods in how to get rid of the affected parts .

    • Noting the importance of agricultural quarantine and the danger of transporting liquids and palms without making sure that they are free of infection.

Objectives of the Nutrition Awareness Caravans:

    • Raising the awareness of high school students about the different components of food and the importance of proper and balanced nutrition.

    • Raising the awareness of high school students of the right eating habits.

    • Educate school students about the harms of fast food.

    • Evaluate the nutritional status of a representative sample of high school students to provide nutritional recommendations to the community.

Specialized activities provided by the Community Service Unit at the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at Qassim University:

Event Posts:

The College participates in many festivals and events at the level of the Qassim region and at the level of the Kingdom.

Specialized workshops and seminars:

Specialized workshops and seminars are one of the most important activities carried out by the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine for the agricultural and livestock sector in the Kingdom. These activities are multiple, diverse and in various fields that contribute to covering the societal needs of farmers, companies and breeders working in the agricultural and livestock sector.