Riyadh, October 1, 2026, SPA -- The National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plants Pests and Animal Diseases (Weqaa Center) has launched seven reference atlases on plant health as part of a National Transformation Program initiative for integrated pest management. The launch supports agricultural security and sustainable domestic production.
The atlases cover endemic and invasive plants and weeds in agricultural environments. They also cover pests affecting field crops and fodder, fruit trees, date palms and dates, stored grain and seeds, and vegetables. The atlas on endemic and invasive plants and the atlas on agricultural weeds were each published in Arabic and English.
The atlases are the result of a research and fieldwork project that ran from 2018 through the end of 2025. The project aimed to document pest biology, map pest distribution across Saudi Arabia’s varied environments, and build a comprehensive national database to support decision-makers in agricultural quarantine and integrated pest management.
The atlases provide scientific descriptions, illustrations, geographic distribution maps, and control methods. The pest atlases also describe pest life stages and symptoms of infestation. These resources help improve prevention, strengthen agricultural and food security, and sustain domestic production.