Closing of the activities of Expo Doha 2023 (Al Jazeera)
Doha -
To the tune of a hymn of peace that sings of the generosity of the earth and the importance of preserving nature for future generations, the international horticultural exhibition Expo Qatar 2023 concluded its activities yesterday evening, Thursday, after activities that lasted 179 days and with the participation of 77 countries.
For the first time in a country with a desert climate, Qatar hosted the A1 International Horticultural Exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa under the slogan “Green Desert... A Better Environment.” The exhibition focused on promoting sustainable innovations and combating desertification. Within 4 main topics that included modern agriculture, technology and innovation, environmental awareness, and sustainability.
During the closing activities, Qatari Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Attiyah stressed that the event constituted a milestone in the history of international horticultural exhibitions, within the framework of Qatari efforts to emphasize the importance of intensifying international cooperation, promoting social responsibility, preserving the environment and achieving sustainable development locally and internationally.
Qatari Minister of Municipality: The event is a milestone in the history of international horticultural exhibitions (Al Jazeera)
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The Qatari Minister added that the exhibition witnessed approximately 4 million and 219 thousand visitors, where experiences and expertise were exchanged, and challenges and achievements were shared with 77 countries, explaining that the common goal was cooperation and unity to find innovative solutions to reduce the problems of desertification, and create a green and sustainable environment for our current and future generations.
As for the Secretary-General of the National Committee to Host Expo 2023 Doha Horticulture, Faiqa Ashkanani, confirmed that the success achieved by this edition in terms of participation, numbers of visitors, workshops, entertainment programs, innovative initiatives, and achievements recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records was not the result of coincidence, but rather the result of work and efforts. Preparations continued for years before the exhibition began.
Ashkanani confirmed in a statement to Al Jazeera Net that the exhibition was an opportunity to bring together all those interested and specialized in the field of agriculture, greening, horticulture and sustainability, where science and expertise were brought together side by side. The attendees also participated in monitoring the challenges facing the desert countries and developing solutions to these challenges to benefit these countries.
The same official pointed out that for the first time the exhibition was organized in a country with a desert climate, and this is an exceptional matter, she explained that the benefit was great, especially in terms of sustainability, gardening and water saving, as partnerships were formed between many parties participating in the exhibition to exchange experiences.
She added that an agreement was reached between many Qatari businessmen in the field of agriculture with external centers and entities to bring some of the technology present in some countries to apply it in Qatar and also to benefit from Qatari experiences and ideas in agriculture, especially on the part of some African countries that decided to apply the hydroponics model that was presented. In the Qatari Pavilion.
Handing over the flag of the next edition of the Expo organization to the representative of Japan (Al Jazeera)
Facts about the exhibition
Expo 2023 Doha kicked off on October 2, under the slogan “Green Desert... Better Environment.”
The event was held in Doha's 1.7 million square meter Al Bidda Park, giving visitors the opportunity to explore the magnificently landscaped gardens and experience cultures from around the world.
Over 179 days, Expo 2023 Doha presented a variety of events and activities.
On the sidelines of the exhibition, 51 agreements were signed between the participants.
The exhibition's activities focused on 4 main themes: modern agriculture, technology, innovation, environmental awareness and sustainability.
Japan is hosting the next edition of the exhibition.
The exhibition also witnessed the hosting of many national events that coincided with the organization of the event, such as the National Day, Sports Day, Qatari Environment Day, and receiving audiences from inside and outside Qatar during the Asian Football Championship, in addition to many other events in the country, which provided the opportunity for thousands of visitors from inside and outside Qatar. To participate.
Expo hosted many activities during the Sports Day celebrations (Qatari Press)
Modern farming methods
A number of parties who participated in the event expressed that the exhibition was a valuable opportunity to shed light on modern methods of agriculture and development in irrigation techniques, which contributes to confronting desertification and preserving the environment.
Qatari businessman Ahmed Al-Khalaf said that the exhibition was a unique opportunity to showcase modern methods of agriculture and irrigation, especially those that suit the desert climate and contribute to saving water significantly.
He added in an interview with Al Jazeera Net that he was able, through his participation in the exhibition in a special pavilion, to display a new technology that was developed and presented as a purely Qatari industry that relies on several systems including the hydroponic, aeroponic and aquaponic system, pointing out that this technology depends on agriculture in greenhouses, which were manufactured locally. He explained that more than two tons of organic vegetables were produced during the exhibition period inside the pavilion.
Al-Khalaf continued that the experiment showed how to obtain agricultural production within small areas, which had a great positive reaction from the participants who were briefed on the Qatari experience that will be developed during the coming period.
For his part, the Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College - Qatar, Javed Sheikh, explained that the college participated in the event through an interactive educational pavilion that captured the senses under the title “Live Hub,” which provided its visitors with a unique visual experience in an immersive cognitive journey about 4 dimensions that are changing. Climate, sustainability, nutrition and wellness, science, technology and artificial intelligence.
He added in an interview with Al Jazeera Net that there is a close link between health and sustainability, noting the college’s commitment to supporting the tireless efforts made to improve human health and confront the challenges resulting from environmental degradation and climate change.
Life Hub focuses on protecting ecosystems and creating a healthier and more sustainable future (Al Jazeera)
Qur’anic Botanical Garden
In turn, Mohammed Hassouna, head of horticulture at the Qur’anic Botanical Garden affiliated with Hamad Bin Khalifa University, said that the Qur’anic Botanical Garden’s pavilion at Expo 2023 Doha received, over the course of 179 days, no less than 100,000 visitors, including school students, families, and tourist groups, to explore the world of plants. Mentioned in the Holy Qur’an and the Noble Prophet’s Hadiths.
He explained in an interview with Al Jazeera Net that participating in the exhibition was a wonderful opportunity to present the garden’s programs, which represent the mission of collecting, preserving and displaying its unique contents, pointing out that during that period, more than 30 plants from different geographical environments were displayed.
The same spokesman pointed out that the garden also displayed plants from the Mediterranean environment, such as figs, olives, pomegranates, and citrons, and among the desert plants is the aspic, which is a wild grass, and some wild species that grow naturally in the environment of the State of Qatar. The garden also presented its program for preserving plant resources, especially in Qatar, through a display. Herbarium sheets of collected wild plants as well as their seed types.
Source: Al Jazeera