As the levels of food insecurity and hunger are on the rise worldwide, Saudi Arabia has stressed the importance of global collaboration to combat poverty and hunger.
During the “World Without Hunger” Conference, held in Ethiopia from November 5-7, 2024, the Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti, highlighted Saudi Arabia’s efforts to strengthen food security and help other countries in need.
A World Without Hunger
Al-Mushaiti headed the Saudi delegation to the “World Without Hunger” Conference, held in Addis Ababa. It is a three-day event that focuses on coordinating efforts among stakeholders to face the challenges of hunger and malnutrition.
This year’s edition featured solution-oriented technical sessions, an investment forum, and a high-level political forum. It saw the participation of more than 1,500 high-level stakeholders, including Heads of States, Ministers, UN agencies, the private sector, financial institutions, donor community, non-governmental organizations, and academia.
The conference was co-organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the Government of Ethiopia, with technical assistance of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Saudi Arabia’s Leading Role
Speaking at the conference, Al-Mushaiti noted that Saudi Arabia’s participation in the conference aligns with the Kingdom’s commitment to effective collaborative actions that aim to eradicate poverty and hunger and to building a world capable of meeting the growing demand for food.
The Deputy Minister pointed to the significance of direct food aid and human relief in providing short-term solutions for food security challenges in many countries around the world, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
In the light of this, Al-Mushaiti spotlighted the leading role of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) in providing aid to several countries.
He said that the KSrelief has implemented 900 food security projects in 78 countries across the world, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s leading humanitarian role and support for people in dire conditions.
Agriculture: A Core Pillar to Combat Hunger
During his speech, Al-Mushaiti emphasized the importance of agriculture as a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development and bolstering economic growth.
Moreover, agriculture creates jobs and contributes to the prosperity of local communities, through supporting farmers and advanced agricultural practices to increase production and enhance efficiency, with the ultimate goal of achieving food security, Al-Mushaiti said.
Therefore, promoting investment in agriculture and food sectors has become a priority to build a world without hunger, he added. This can be achieved through adopting innovation and advanced technological practices in agriculture, as well as providing flexible financing solutions, to increase productivity and build resilience in agricultural and food systems.
Remarkable Progress
Al-Mushaiti shed light on Saudi Arabia’s milestones in supporting the agricultural sector. These include launching several programs and initiatives such as the Sustainable Rural Agricultural Development Program, which contributed to boosting small-scale farmers’ income and living standards.
Moreover, the Kingdom’s efforts include the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha’at) which provides financing, training, jobs and several programs to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the agricultural sector, in order to enhance their contribution to achieving food security.
Towards Self-Sufficiency
Saudi Arabia has made major strides towards reaching food self-sufficiency in several products. Through a number of initiatives, investments and technological innovations, the Kingdom has achieved complete self-sufficiency in the production of dates, fresh dairy products and table eggs, according to figures from the General Authority for Statistics’ Agricultural Statistics Publication in September 2023.
This progress is the result of Saudi Agricultural Development Fund’s efforts in providing support to local farmers, by approving substantial loans for small farmers in greenhouse vegetable production, fish and shrimp farming, and poultry breeding.
In addition, the Kingdom has harnessed technology and innovation in the agricultural sector. This includes issuing the first operational license for a commercial agricultural project using aeroponics technology in the Middle East.
Aeroponic agriculture refers to growing plants in an air or mist environment, irrigating them with a nutrient-dense mist without needing soil.
Inviting Investors
In his remarks, the Deputy Minister expressed Saudi Arabia’s keenness on expanding agricultural investments. He said that the Kingdom welcomes, encourages and supports agricultural investments across all fields.
Furthermore, the Kingdom seeks to expand agricultural investments in countries with competitive edge, abundant natural resources, and thriving markets which provide opportunities for businesses and diverse agricultural activities, according to Al-Mushaiti.
This, in turn, contributes to leveraging integrated agricultural capabilities, creating more job opportunities and ultimately achieving food security, he said.
International Collaboration against Hunger
Al-Mushaiti added that although the advancements in the fields of science, innovation and cutting-edge technologies have addressed several food challenges worldwide, they are still insufficient to enhance food security.
Hence, there is an urgent need to intensify global efforts and enact policies to develop practical and effective solutions to address these challenges.
In order to build a world without hunger, the Saudi Deputy Minister stressed the need to strengthen multilateral international cooperation, engage with international organizations, and enhance fair trade in line with the World Trade Organization (WTO) standards.
He further emphasized the importance of exchanging the best agricultural practices and technologies, expanding access to innovative financing, bolstering infrastructure, and social safety net programs.
