Madinah: Madinah Region has strong potential to turn date palm waste into value-added products, drawing on its competitive advantage in the palm and date sector to open up investment opportunities in the circular economy.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the region has about 26,000 farms and approximately 8.1 million date palms, representing nearly 21% of Saudi Arabia's total.

Each palm generates between 20 and 23 kilograms of waste annually, bringing the region's estimated annual total to between 162,000 and 186,000 metric tons. Products that can be made from date palm waste include wood and composite boards, organic fertilizer, biochar, charcoal briquettes, biofuel pellets, natural fibers, insulation materials, and date seed oil, as well as wooden products and handicrafts.

These industries could create new production chains, from waste collection, sorting, and processing to manufacturing and marketing. This would open up investment opportunities for businesses, diversify the palm sector's products, and improve the efficiency of resource use.