Role of Date Palm to Food and Nutritional Security in Saudi Arabia

It is true that date palmDate palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) holdsNutritional security a significant position in the life of Muslims, especially those of Arab culture, due to its cultural, religious, livelihood, and economic significance. It is an essential part of the dietDiet and culture of Saudi Arabia, where the nutritious date palmDate palm fruitsFruit are typically eaten at the Rutab and Tamer stages. These fruitsFruit have been a staple food for Arabs since ancient times and have played a crucial role in improving food and nutritional securityNutritional security and economic circumstances. The functional characteristics and nutritional content of date palmDate palm fruitsFruit contribute significantly to improving general human health. Consuming an average of seven dateDates fruitsFruit by adults can provide approximately 13%, 20%, and 25% of the recommended dietary allowance for energy, dietary fiber, and potassium, respectively. In addition to its nutrientNutrients-rich fruitsFruit, the date palmDate palm is also considered a significant natural renewable resource for many by-products, handicrafts, and architecture. The date palmDate palm contributes substantially to the socioeconomicSocioeconomic development of nations, particularly Saudi Arabia. Ensuring food securityFood security has become a challenge that countries and organizationsOrganization must address with possible solutions through increasing the cultivationCultivation of crops that are rich in nutrientsNutrients and hold significant commercial values. The high-nutrientNutrients fruitsFruit of the date palmDate palm are a valuable contribution to achieving food and nutritional securityNutritional security at both local and global levels. The primary goal of this chapter is to highlight the researchResearch that has been conducted on date palmDate palm and its fruitsFruit in terms of their roles in food and nutritional securityNutritional security in Saudi Arabia’s dietDiet, culture, life, economyEconomy, and society.