SQU launches 14th agricultural scientific festival ‘Midad’

MUSCAT: Sultan Qaboos University launched the 14th Agricultural Scientific Festival Midad’, organised by the Agricultural and Marine Sciences Society at the College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences.
The event, held at the Grand Hall of the Cultural Centre, took place under the auspices of HH Sayyid Dr Fahd bin Al Julanda al Said, Vice-Chancellor of SQU, and concludes today.
Held under the theme ‘Creative Cultural Industries in Agriculture and Marine Sciences,’ the festival presents a renewed vision that connects scientific knowledge with cultural identity while highlighting the potential of agriculture and marine resources to evolve into creative industries with sustainable economic and cultural value.
The festival aims to serve as a national platform that brings together scientific research, youth innovation, and cultural industries, reinforcing the role of the agricultural and marine sectors in economic diversification and sustainability in line with Oman Vision 2040.
It also seeks to showcase innovative student projects, promote environmental sustainability and the green economy, connect students with the labour market and entrepreneurs, and highlight industries linked to land and sea resources.
The three-day exhibition features interactive scientific corners representing the college’s various specialisations. These include plant sciences, soil and water technologies, natural resource economics, marine sciences, animal and veterinary sciences, as well as food and nutrition.
Visitors can explore applied student projects, modern technologies, and hands-on interactive experiences. The event also includes participation from government and private sector entities, in addition to entrepreneurial initiatives that reflect cultural and economic dimensions related to agriculture and marine resources.
Alongside the exhibition, the festival is hosting a series of specialised lectures delivered by national experts and researchers.
Topics include biological control of plant diseases, freshwater fish research in Oman, the Wadi Dawkah Frankincense Project, natural reserve management, and veterinary sustainability and stray animal management.
Through this integrated programme, the festival aims to empower youth innovation, enhance the public perception of agricultural and marine sectors, support creative industries rooted in Omani identity, and strengthen collaboration between students and supporting institutions.