Weqaa Launches 'Healthier Choice' Farming Campaign

The National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plant Pests and Animal Diseases (Weqaa Center) has launched a new national campaign called "The Healthier Choice" to encourage safer, more sustainable farming across Saudi Arabia. The campaign targets farmers, agricultural workers, partners, and other stakeholders in the sector.

At the heart of the campaign is integrated plant pest management (IPM), an approach that reduces reliance on chemical pesticides by combining agricultural, biological, and mechanical control methods. The core message is simple: healthy food starts with healthy plants, linking safer farming directly to food safety and consumer health.

Why it matters

The campaign aims to strengthen crop protection and agricultural production, improve product quality, and build greater market confidence and consumer trust in local produce. It forms part of wider national efforts to support sustainable agriculture, improve pest management, and curb the indiscriminate use of pesticides.

Weqaa's plant health work currently covers around 80% of the Kingdom's agricultural areas, with 20 priority plant pests identified to guide monitoring and control operations. The campaign delivers digital content, press materials, educational resources, and field activities designed to make IPM easier to understand and apply in daily farming.

Interaction runs through Weqaa's own digital platform and electronic services, which include tools such as pest detection and diagnosis, animal immunization booking, disinfection services, and related permits — all integrated into the Kingdom's broader digital transformation of agricultural services. The initiative reflects Saudi Arabia's ongoing focus on food security while protecting human health and the environment.

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