Riyadh’s New Agricultural and Food Technologies Alliance
In a groundbreaking move, at least 40 public and private sector entities in Saudi Arabia have joined forces to form the Saudi Alliance for Agricultural and Food Technologies. The goal? To revolutionize agricultural and food production by enhancing efficiency and abundance, while ensuring safe and sustainable supply chains.
Led by Deputy Minister Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA), the alliance was officially launched on July 3, 2024, in Riyadh, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Founding Partners and Participants
The alliance boasts prestigious founding partners such as the Research, Development and Innovation Authority, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and Topian, a subsidiary of NEOM. Additionally, major local companies in the agriculture and food production sector, advanced technology providers, universities, research centers, financing firms, and non-profit organizations have all signed up to be part of this innovative alliance.
Building a Community for Agricultural and Food Technology
According to the report, the primary objective of the alliance is to create a community of stakeholders in the agricultural and food technology sector. By fostering collaboration and networking among industry players, the alliance aims to accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge agricultural food technologies on a national scale.
Challenging Participants to Innovate
During the launch ceremony, Al-Mushaiti urged participants to ramp up their research and innovation efforts to help Saudi Arabia achieve its ambitious national goals. Emphasizing the importance of sustainability, he highlighted the Kingdom’s vision for a sustainable environment that ensures water and food security.
Driving Success in the Agriculture Sector
Al-Mushaiti pointed out that MEWA’s national strategies have already yielded significant successes, including a record-breaking contribution of 109 billion riyals ($29 billion) from local agricultural production to the Kingdom’s GDP in 2023. With the alliance now in place, he expressed optimism that these figures will continue to rise as participants work together to address challenges facing the agriculture and food sector.