The students of UQU Department of Biology concluded the course of plant diseases and methods of control with a visit to the branch of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in the Jeddah Islamic Port as well as the Food and Drug Commission to review the Animal and Plant Quarantine Center and the Central Laboratory, and learn about the mechanisms of detecting the consignments incoming to the Saudi Kingdom through the port and the ways of dealing with them, starting from detecting the containers, collecting samples, and then sending them to laboratories. This visit came within the framework of joint cooperation between Umm Al-Qura University and different sectors to boost the theoretical concepts with practical experiments by specialists and experts in the same field.

During their visit to the ministry, the students participated in the daily tours of the inspectors in the docks, detecting the incoming consignments and collecting the necessary samples, according to different detection mechanisms. The students also learnt about the various equipment used in detecting diagnostic samples in laboratories specializing in plant diseases, viruses, and parasites.

At the Quality Control Laboratory in the Food and Drug Commission, the students checked on a number of pioneering and advanced technologies in the lab testing of local and imported food samples, the use of which reflects the keenness and attention paid by the wise leadership to all government sectors in achieving food safety.

It is worth mentioning that the visited facilities have high-quality features that enhance the understanding of the scientific concepts for the students, particularly after the conclusion of the courses. The visit came as the result of the keenness of the academic staff member Dr. Muhammad Khalil Al-Munjid, with the support and guidance of the Dean of the College of Applied Sciences, Dr. Hatim Al-Tas, and the Head of the Biology Department, Dr. Yasir Al-Maroui.