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Welcome to the professional profile of Natividad Jaime, a distinguished agricultural engineer with a passion for innovation and excellence in date palm cultivation. With over three decades of experience, Natividad is at the forefront of the industry, spearheading projects and providing specialized technical advice that shapes the landscape of date palm cultivation globally. From his roots in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, to collaborations with renowned institutions like the National Institute of Agricultural and Livestock Forestry Research (INIFAP) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and works promoting Mexico’s date palm industry at international date fairs in the Middle East, Natividad's expertise transcends borders, making him a key figure in advancing agricultural practices and research. Explore his journey, accomplishments, and contributions to the field as you delve into his professional profile. ​ Education: Natividad holds a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the Autonomous University of Baja California specializing in Agronomy and Crop Science. He is a graduated from Class 36 of the renowned California Ag Leadership Foundation, agleaders.org, with a focus on social, humanitarian, and technical advancements in agriculture. US & Mexico Ag Industry Experience: Date Oasis of Mexico, DOMEX, 2023-Present: As President of DOMEX, Natividad Jaime leads an agricultural cooperative specializing in the sales, marketing, and industrial development of date producers in Baja California and Sonora, Mexico. His role involves devising and implementing strategies to strengthen the date industry, enhance marketing efforts, and promote sustainable growth among associated farmers. Working closely with producers, he establishes high-quality agricultural practices and fosters strategic relationships with commercial partners and government agencies to boost the international presence of Mexican date products. Date Kings Company, 2014-Present: Under Date Kings Company, Natividad Jaime is engaged in fig cultivation research and its adaptation in the Mexicali Valley, focusing on markets in California and Canada where there is significant demand for the product. Additionally, he initiated a 5-hectare date palm plantation in the Mexicali Valley and established a company offering vegetative material, consultancy, and advisory services for date cultivation. This plantation serves as an experimental unit of the National Institute of Forestry, Agriculture, and Livestock Research (INIFAP), contributing to the development of technical recommendations for date palm management and research on new grape varieties' adaptation in the Mexicali Valley. Jaime Ag Logistics, 2000-Present: As an entrepreneur with Jaime Ag Enterprises, Natividad Jaime established a company dedicated to the management and harvesting of table grapes and raisin grapes for the jumbo raisin and Golden Raisin industry of California. His skills encompass technological solutions, operational management, networking, market planning, sales, engineering, and business development, demonstrating his expertise in driving successful ventures in the agricultural sector. Jaime Ag Projects: In previous entrepreneurial endeavors, Natividad Jaime established and managed his own companies involved in table grape production and raisin grape production in the San Joaquin Valley, overseeing harvests spanning approximately 2,000-3,000 acres each season. Additionally, he initiated a grape production program in Mexicali, pioneering a production and export system between Mexicali and the Coachella Valley, enabling the export of table grapes from the Mexicali Valley to consumers on the East Coast of the United States. Silver Canyon Ranch 1995-2000: Earlier in his career, Natividad Jaime served as a Field Supervisor at Silver Canyon Ranch, where he supervised fieldwork, conducted research on pest management, and developed control strategies for the devastating pest, mealy bug, which emerged in the Coachella Valley. His responsibilities included overseeing a team of eight field supervisors and integrating graduates from the Higher School of Agricultural Sciences into field supervision and research activities. American AgriCorp 1985-1995: In his earlier role as an Agricultural Technician at American AgriCorp, Natividad Jaime was directly involved in fieldwork, including the installation of irrigation systems. He later advanced to a field supervisor and was tasked with managing date palm plantation operations, overseeing all cultural practices, irrigation management, fertilization, pruning, pollination, bagging, and harvesting activities. His skills in technological solutions, engineering, influential marketing, logistical management, business development, executive leadership, and project planning were instrumental in his success in this role. Notable Contributions to the Date Palm Industry: Natividad Jaime is a Mexican agricultural engineer at the forefront of date palm cultivation and research. Recently, he provided specialized technical guidance for the expansion of date palm cultivation in Morocco's Boudnib region, where plans are underway to plant 6 million date palms, particularly of the Mejhoul variety. He is the first Mexican advisor hired for this ambitious project, Natividad brings over 30 years of experience in date palm cultivation and research. He traveled to Boudnib to offer his expertise on the cultivation of the "Palma Madre," the original date palm tree whose offshoots seeded the date industry worldwide. During his recent stay in April, Natividad worked on the initial 60 hectares of the Moroccan project, collaborating with a prominent Moroccan company. His involvement underscores the importance of specialists like him in projects aiming for agricultural expansion, such as the proposed 240-hectare cultivation area in Morocco. Natividad Jaime was recognized with the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation in both 2022 and 2023, Natividad's impactful efforts have significantly promoted the Mexican date industry in the Mexicali Valley and provided invaluable educational opportunities for agricultural producers and students. In 2016, Natividad pioneered the coordination of workshops and seminars, establishing visitation programs for Latin American students and scientists. They also facilitated experimental initiatives on their plantation in 2015, focusing on water management, fertilization, pollination, and offshoot planting, resulting in the creation of technical bulletins on these subjects. In 2012, Natividad played a pivotal role in establishing a connection between producers in the Valley of Mexicali and San Luis through DatePack, one of the world's leading Medjool date producers. Their collaboration with the USDA since 2009, alongside Dr. Sam Aslan, facilitated technical assistance and seminars for technicians and date palm producers in the Mexicali Valley. Furthermore, Natividad served as President of the California Hispanic Association of Professionals in Agriculture (CHAPA) in 2008, fostering connections among agricultural technicians and professionals in the date industry in California. They also promoted technological exchange tours that provided training opportunities for technicians and producers in the Valleys of Mexicali, Baja California, and San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora.