Saudi Arabia’s Remarkable Strides Towards Sustainable Agriculture
Saudi Arabia has notably expanded into sustainable agriculture, attracting attention to its economic and environmental importance. The Saudi News Agency reported a new Guinness World Record for the world’s largest sustainable farm by area. Situated in the Asir region, the farm spans approximately 3,204,182 square meters, utilizing innovative irrigation from treated water sources. It’s divided into two sections, each equipped with a 500 cubic meter concrete water tank and an automatic irrigation network. The farm comprises 50 fields for fruit trees and an additional 20 for future cultivation and reclamation.
Saudi Green Initiative: An Ambitious Environmental Roadmap
The Kingdom announced a roadmap to plant 10 billion trees under the Saudi Green Initiative, launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The plan targets combating environmental challenges related to climate and improving citizens’ quality of life through associated economic and social benefits. Saudi Arabia, embracing over 2000 plant species, envisions planting over 600 million trees by 2030, aligning with the sustainability targets of Vision 2030.
Collaborations & Innovations Bolstering Sustainable Agriculture
SABIC, a Saudi agricultural nutrient company, will collaborate with ADM and BioWish Technologies in the U.S. to assist farmers in achieving enhanced productivity sustainably and cost-effectively in Saudi Arabia. Focusing on a 50,000-acre pilot project, Midwestern U.S. farmers will utilize SABIC’s biologically-enhanced urea for the 2023 season. Furthermore, Red Sea, a Saudi company specializing in sustainable technologies for hot environments, commenced operations at its facility in Abu Dhabi, first of its kind in the UAE. The company’s technologies include cost-effective, heat-resistant roofs, and a saline water evaporative cooling system operating without desalination.
Global hunger victims rose to approximately 828 million in 2021, an increase of about 46 million since 2020 and 150 million since the Covid-19 outbreak. Sustainable agriculture, therefore, becomes imperative to address the escalating food security and environmental issues worldwide, with Saudi Arabia showcasing a tangible commitment to this cause.
