The National Food Production Initiative is aimed at regenerating unproductive land, reinvigorating the economy of Saudi Arabia and reducing its reliance on imported produce
Iyris and Red Sea Global have announced the launch of the National Food Production Initiative in Saudi Arabia, with the aim of supporting local farming communities, regenerating unproductive land, reinvigorating the domestic economy and reducing the Kingdom’s reliance on imported produce.
“With this project we embarked on a mission to transform the Kingdom’s potential to sustainably improve its food security and secure the future of locally sourced food production,” said John Keppler, executive chairperson of Iyris, the sustainable agri-climate tech business.
The initiative has reportedly helped regenerate unproductive agricultural land with the construction of a 0.75ha sustainable farming facility in the Bada area, which includes a greenhouse using Saudi-based agriculture technology.
“By deploying 100 per cent Saudi-developed technologies, partners and innovation, we have transformed a farm in Bada from unproductive land into a sustainable, modern working facility – now delivering fresh produce to Red Sea Global resorts,” said Keppler.
The integration of iyris’ SecondSky technologies with Sabic’s Trucircle materials show how Saudi companies can help transform the agriculture sector and support farmers.
“Bada is a case study for the local farming community and is a scalable model replicable for growing local produce,” he said.
“For our destinations, it has provided us with a local food supply chain, which helps reduce our carbon footprint, and meets our guests’ expectations for high-quality, locally-grown food,” said Raed Albasseet, group chief environment and sustainability officer at Red Sea Global, the regenerative tourism destination developer.
In addition to iyris and Red Sea Global, other partners involved in the National Food Production Initiative include Sabic, Napco National, Tamala, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), the University of Tabuk and Terraxy.
The companies behind the initiative said its progress was important in addressing food security in the region and supporting Saudi farmers in developing harsh-climate agriculture where climate change has made cultivation challenging.
