Plants of the Qur'an and Sustainable Food Practices

Ahmed Zaki, founder of Azka Farms, aims to promote greater ethical consumption, emphasizing transparently and sustainably in business.
After years of in-depth research on food ethics and its impact on society and sustainability, Zaki founded his company to promote self-sufficiency in food production across Saudi Arabia. Through the "AZKA Basket" platform and AZKA Farmers' markets, he brings together over 180 local producers and farmers from 13 regions across the Kingdom, supporting local agriculture and advancing sustainable food practices. 

Additionally, AZKA has been entrusted with key government projects, including documenting Saudi Arabia’s wild plants and their culinary properties, as well as collaborating with Slow Food to establish Slow Food Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Shahina Ghazanfar is a plant taxonomist specializing in the flora, vegetation, biogeography, and conservation of plants in the Middle East. With over 40 years of experience in teaching and research, she has contributed significantly to the understanding of biological diversity in the region, particularly within the Arabian Peninsula. As the Lead Scientist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Dr. Ghazanfar has developed collaborative projects that focus on establishing herbaria, seed banks, restoration initiatives, the use of native plants for landscaping, and building local capacity in the Arabian Peninsula. 
In 2024, Shahina Ghazanfar received the highest academic accolade for her contributions and services: the Degree of Doctor of Science (ScD) from the University of Cambridge, UK. Currently, she is researching and writing on the medicinal plants of the Middle East: from antiquity to the present, and on plants along the Hijrah Path.