Conference

The Future of Agriculture International Conference

Agricultural Technologies & Food Security

Featured Speakers

Richard Leonard Vollebregt

President and CEO - Cravo Equipment Ltd

Richard Leonard Vollebregt

President and CEO - Cravo Equipment Ltd

Richard Vollebregt has a degree in economics and is the President and CEO of Cravo Equipment Ltd, the world leader in the design and supply of retractable roof greenhouses, cooling houses and automated retractable field and orchard covers. For over 40 years, Richard has created innovative production systems combining the advantages of nature and a protected environment, developing the "Retractable Roof Production System" which helps growers increase yields and quality while reducing disease and insect pressure.

Professor Pierre Broun

Translational Faculty Office of the Vice President for Research - KAUST

Professor Pierre Broun

Translational Faculty Office of the Vice President for Research - KAUST

Pierre Broun is a plant scientist and agricultural-innovation leader and entrepreneur whose career spans academia and global industry. His roles included senior R&D leadership at Nestlé and Olam and, most recently, Director of Climate-resilient Agriculture at NEOM. He also co-founded two ventures at the interface of agriculture and food. As director of Nestlé’s Plant Science Research Unit and VP Plant Science at Olam/ofi, he led industry-leading R&D programs on coffee and cocoa spanning over 250 trial sites and impacting thousands of farmers globally. His team contributed to the release of innovative food products and the strengthening of supply chains while reducing reliance on chemical inputs. At NEOM he developed and executed the agriculture strategy for the region, delivering more than 10 hectares of advanced greenhouses and bringing premium produce to major retailers across the Kingdom. He holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University, has authored more than 30 scientific publications and 20 patents and has served on several advisory and steering bodies in Europe. 

Dr. Ali Al Khalaf

Chairman of the Board of Directors - Food Manufacturers Association

Dr. Ali Al Khalaf

Chairman of the Board of Directors - Food Manufacturers Association

Ali has PhD in biochemistry. He worked with Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) for over 17 years. He is currently working with Aujan Coca-Cola Beverage Company. He is also leading Food Manufacturers Association (FMA) as a Director of the Board of Directors. He is preferring to represent FMA in this conference as his talk will be comprehensive in serving the whole industry.

Dr. Albdullah Al-Mubarak

Director of Food Technology Department - National Industrial Development Center

Dr. Albdullah Al-Mubarak

Director of Food Technology Department - National Industrial Development Center

Dr. Abdullah Al-Mubarak holds a PhD in Human Nutrition from King Saud University with a 4.87/5 First Class Honor degree and a Master of Science in Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science from California State University, Northridge with a 4/4 First Class Honor degree. He has completed the Strategic Leadership Program at the University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business. From Chief Clinical and Human Nutrition at Dr. Sulaiman AL Habib Medical Group, Group Regulatory Affairs Manager at Almarai, Senior Regulatory & Scientific Affairs Manager at Saudi Airlines Catering Company, to his current role as Director of Food Technology Department at National Industrial Development Center, few food technology and regulatory affairs leaders in Saudi Arabia blend deep expertise in food technology, regulatory compliance, and strategic leadership, quite like Dr. Abdullah Almubarak.

Mr. Saleh Almahmod

Chairman - NineTenths

Mr. Saleh Almahmod

Chairman - NineTenths

Saleh Almahmoud is the chairman of NineTenths, a leading Saudi company specializing in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies. With a strong vision for the future of drone applications and national innovation, Saleh established NineTenths to drive the evolution of UAV solutions across critical industries including energy, security, and infrastructure - both within Saudi Arabia and throughout the broader region. With over a decades of leadership’s experience, Saleh brings a unique combination of technical depth and strategic acumen. His background spans aviation, project management, and public sector governance, equipping him to lead with insight and purpose. Saleh holds an MBA from California State University and a B.Sc. in Computer Science from King Saud University.

Eng. Abdulaziz A. Aldharrab

Group Chief Executive Officer - United Group

Eng. Abdulaziz A. Aldharrab

Group Chief Executive Officer - United Group

Abdulaziz Aldharrab has extensive experience across the agricultural and food value chain, including grains, animal feed, poultry, meat, and veterinary products. He currently serves as Group Chief Executive Officer of United Group and has held senior leadership roles at Radwa Food and ARASCO Foods, Entaj, where he led major operational and commercial transformation initiatives. He has also served on several boards and industry committees, including the Federation of Saudi Chambers, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, WEQAA, Arabian Maize Company, and Golden Fields. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, an MBA, and a Doctorate in Strategy.

Mr. Amit Dutta

Director Growth Advisory - Frost & Sullivan Co

Mr. Amit Dutta

Director Growth Advisory - Frost & Sullivan Co

Amit brings more than 17 years of experience in Food, FMCG & Agribusiness across Middle East, Africa and South Asia markets. He currently leads the Food Practice as Director with Frost & Sullivan for the Middle East and South Asia Region, focusing on strategy and growth consulting, market research, and due diligence for Food & Agri enterprises. Amit is a regular speaker at leading Food and Agri events across the MENA region.

Mr. Frederic Gomer

Managing Partner - B2G Consulting

Mr. Frederic Gomer

Managing Partner - B2G Consulting

Frédéric Gomer is a manufacturing and supply chain transformation leader supporting Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, with 20+ years of global experience. He helps Gulf and multinational companies move from sustainability pilots to investable, auditable operating models. Working across Houston, Paris, Singapore, Bahrain, and Riyadh, Frédéric has supported organizations including ARAMCO, SABIC, MA'ADEN, Saudi Ceramics, and Nahdi.

Dr. Dmitrii Krasiukov

VP Market Development KSA - SAP KSA

Dr. Dmitrii Krasiukov

VP Market Development KSA - SAP KSA

Dmitrii Krasiukov is VP Market Development for Saudi Arabia at SAP since mid-2025, leading market expansion and growth initiatives in the Kingdom. He previously served as COO for North and West Africa and joined SAP in 2003, holding multiple leadership roles across sales and industry management. He holds a degree in Financial Management and a PhD in Economics, and completed leadership programs at IMD Business School and INSEAD.

Dr. James Morgan

Principal Consultant - Jaradah Business Consulting | Visiting Lecturer, University of Westminster

Dr. James Morgan

Principal Consultant - Jaradah Business Consulting | Visiting Lecturer, University of Westminster

Dr. Morgan is a consultant with international experience in design and strategic storytelling in tourism, events, leisure, digital and traditional marketing. Recognized as an outstanding event host and moderator, he is listed among the most influential figures in the events industry, and also serves as a Visiting Lecturer at the College of Design, Creative and Digital Industries and at Westminster Business School.

Mr. Ahmad Moussa Assaf

Group CEO - AALICO Group

Mr. Ahmad Moussa Assaf

Group CEO - AALICO Group

Executive business leader with over 20 years of experience in business management, operations, and strategic growth across multiple industries in the Middle East. Currently serving as General Manager at AALICO in Riyadh, leading large-scale landscape and agricultural projects aligned with Saudi Arabia's giga-project developments. Holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from the American University of Science and Technology, Lebanon.

Mrs. Paola Laghetti

Area Export Manager - LA MECCANICA SRL di Reffo

Mrs. Paola Laghetti

Area Export Manager - LA MECCANICA SRL di Reffo

For over twenty years, Paola has worked in international trade and export sales, building markets, developing partnerships, and turning challenges into opportunities. In recent years, her focus has shifted to the pellet industry, navigating diverse sectors — from wood to animal feed, from compost to fertilizers. Her career has concentrated on strategic market expansion, cultivating pivotal partnerships, and consistently transforming complex challenges into lucrative opportunities.

Dr. Chandrajith Aruketty Velayudlan

Senior Director Lab Management Services ME&A - Cotecna

Dr. Chandrajith Aruketty Velayudlan

Senior Director Lab Management Services ME&A - Cotecna

Dr. A.V. Chandrajith is a seasoned leader with over 27 years of global experience in Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC). Beginning his career as a chemist, he has advanced into senior leadership roles, combining technical expertise with strategic business growth. He is currently Partner & CEO of Wimpey Laboratories, a division of Cotecna Inspection SA, and Senior Director – Laboratory Management Services MEA at Cotecna, overseeing operations, accreditations, and expansion across sectors including food, petrochemicals, and consumer products. He is a Board Member of IAS (USA), an ISO auditor, and a Legionella risk assessor, holding a PhD in Chemistry, an MSc, and an MBA.

Dr. Turgut Battal

Regional Sales Manager - Nouryon

Dr. Turgut Battal

Regional Sales Manager - Nouryon

Dr. Turgut Battal is educated as a Chemical Engineer and received his Ph.D in Surface Chemistry and Colloids at the Ohio State University, USA in 2000. He worked as a post-doc at Oxford University, England, and taught Surface Chemistry classes at several institutes afterward. He worked several years as a project leader/formulation scientist at Cheminova, Denmark before joining Nouryon in 2012, where he presently holds the position of Regional Sales Manager. His interests are directed toward new surfactants, adjuvants and polymers for agrochemical formulations.

Mr. Muhammad Mustafa Zaffer

CEO and Co-founder - OpenFarming

Mr. Muhammad Mustafa Zaffer

CEO and Co-founder - OpenFarming

Mustafa Zaffer is the CEO and co-founder of OpenFarming, an AI company building modern operating systems for food distributors in Saudi Arabia and the GCC. He previously worked at Uber, Meta, and Coinbase, where he built and scaled technology products across operations, marketplaces, and AI-driven workflows. At OpenFarming, Mustafa works with food distributors to improve ordering, sales visibility, route planning, inventory coordination, and customer engagement through WhatsApp and AI. OpenFarming is backed by MEWA's Sunbolah program, MCIT/NTDP AI talent initiatives, Google, and Microsoft.

Mr. Jan Krahulik

Future Protein Strategy Lead - BeneMeat Technologies

Mr. Jan Krahulik

Future Protein Strategy Lead - BeneMeat Technologies

As the Future Protein Strategy Lead at BeneMeat Technologies, Jan specializes in commercializing cultivated meat and driving high-growth go-to-market strategy, with a mission to bring sustainable, cell-based protein directly to consumer plates worldwide. He is looking to connect with visionary industry leaders and progressive partners who recognize the immense commercial potential of this food revolution, whether for market entry collaboration or acquiring production technology to manufacture cultivated meat independently.

Eng. Reza Armin Keshavarz

Business Development Strategist, MENA Region - BeneMeat Technologies

Eng. Reza Armin Keshavarz

Business Development Strategist, MENA Region - BeneMeat Technologies

Reza is a Business Development Strategist at BeneMeat Technologies, working at the intersection of biotechnology, food innovation, and global market development. With a background in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Bologna, he brings both scientific knowledge and strategic perspective to the future of cultivated meat. He is especially committed to advancing halal cultivated meat, ensuring this ethical and future-focused protein alternative can be trusted and accessed by Muslim communities worldwide.

Mr. Samuel Peter Ayres

Sales Manager - StuvEx UK

Mr. Samuel Peter Ayres

Sales Manager - StuvEx UK

Sam Ayres is a specialist in industrial safety, hazardous area compliance, and explosion protection, with more than a decade of experience supporting sites in maintaining the ATEX compliance Currently working with STUVEX by STIF, Sam helps organizations manage the risks associated with combustible dusts, explosive atmospheres, and process safety. His expertise spans DSEAR and ATEX compliance, explosion prevention and protection systems, and combustible dust testing. His aim is to ensure that explosion risks on site are reduced to the lowest practicable level by helping organizations identify potential hazards, understand the factors that contribute to explosive events, and implement effective prevention and protection measures. Outside of work, he is a family man with a wife and two you

Mr. David Frederick Farley

International Agribusiness Consultant - Knight Frank MENA

Mr. David Frederick Farley

International Agribusiness Consultant - Knight Frank MENA

BSc. (Hons) Agriculture and Farm Management (Harper Adams University). MA History (University of Edinburgh). Postgraduate Certificate in Management for Food & Grocery Industry (IGD). An international agribusiness consultant with field-to-fork expertise spanning farm management, global procurement, processing and retail fresh produce supply-chains for blue-chip companies such as Del Monte & AM Fresh. For the last 10 years, David has advised agribusinesses, investors and Agritech ventures internationally — including recent work in the KSA. Working with Knight Frank since early 2026, David specialises in the application of advancing sustainable production systems at commercial scale through the application of Agritech solutions that optimise traditional husbandry best-practice.

Mr. Christopher Alex Marconi

Director of International Business Development - University of California, Davis

Mr. Christopher Alex Marconi

Director of International Business Development - University of California, Davis

Christopher Marconi is Director of Business Development, International Programs, at UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education, where he leads UC Davis AgTech Academy partnerships across Saudi Arabia and the GCC for the #1-ranked agriculture program in the US (QS 2026). He is also founder and CEO of Grintas. Across 25 years he has originated B2B, B2G, and B2U international partnerships in workforce development and led over $1B in higher-education acquisitions, as a senior executive at Full Sail University and earlier in investment banking at Merrill Lynch. He trained at the Wharton School's Investment Banking Institute and holds an MBA from Rollins College and a BS from Marquette University, where he was a Charles Evans Scholar.

Mr. Nima Vakili

Founder CEO - Safa Bioworks

Mr. Nima Vakili

Founder CEO - Safa Bioworks

Nima Vakili is the Founder and CEO of Safa BioWorks, an integrated platform chemicals manufacturer based in Dubai and Riyadh, building the Gulf's first regional production of lactic acid and lactate derivatives from date palm biomass. These are chemicals the region consumes across food preservation, pharmaceuticals, and bioplastics, and currently imports in full. His work centers on the residue side of the date sector, converting off-spec fruit and palm biomass from a disposal cost for growers and processors into higher-value industrial chemistry produced in-region. Safa BioWorks partners with the National Center for Palms and Dates on feedstock development.

Mr. Ivan Harjaček

VP Digitalization - Andritz Feed BioFuel

Mr. Ivan Harjaček

VP Digitalization - Andritz Feed BioFuel

Mr. Ivan is an executive leader with a unique professional evolution; He began his career troubleshooting complex automation on-site, and today he own global digital businesses with full P&L accountability. His core focus is translating technical challenges into profitable, scalable business opportunities in industrial OEM environments. Currently, as VP Digitalization at ANDRITZ Feed & Biofuel, he is responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle of the company’s digital solutions worldwide. His recent focus has been shifting industrial operations from traditional project-based models to high-value, recurring revenue streams.

Mr. Rami Nissan

Area Sales Manager - AGI EMEA

Mr. Rami Nissan

Area Sales Manager - AGI EMEA

Rami Nissan is an experienced Industrial Designer and Area Sales Manager with extensive expertise in product design, development, and industrial solutions. His strong combination of technical knowledge, functional expertise, and commercial insight enables him to address complex industrial challenges and deliver effective solutions. He holds a Master of Technology (MTech) in Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance, providing him with a solid technical foundation and a comprehensive understanding of industrial systems, machinery, and maintenance.

Dr. Md Shamim Ahamed

Associate Professor - University of California, Davis

Dr. Md Shamim Ahamed

Associate Professor - University of California, Davis

Dr. Ahamed is interested in the energy-efficient design and operation of controlled environment agricultural (CEA) production facilities, including greenhouse, indoor/vertical farming, aquaponics, dairy and poultry barns, etc. Controlled Environment Engineering Lab focuses on different research topics in CEA, including thermal environment modelling and simulation; design optimization and evaluation of energy-saving techniques for the agricultural built-environment; net-zero energy (NZE) agricultural buildings; digitalization of CEA production systems; automated ongoing commissioning of HVAC systems. These research efforts aim to ensure the sustainability of CEA production systems through the minimization of energy usage.

Mr. Sebastian Alexander Ebers

Business Development Manager - Ecotube Germany GmbH

Mr. Sebastian Alexander Ebers

Business Development Manager - Ecotube Germany GmbH

Sebastian Ebers is Director Business Development at ecotube Germany GmbH, where he leads the development of new applications and partnerships across 10+ countries in Europe and Africa. Over the past decade, he has focused on bringing water-efficient technologies to arid and semi-arid regions, working closely with corporates, institutions, and distribution partners to scale irrigation and resource-saving solutions suited to water-scarce environments. With hands-on market experience across the Middle East, Africa, and North Africa, Sebastian has helped build commercial operations from the ground up and forged long-term partnerships around sustainable water use.

Mr. Mehdi Gmiha

Construction Manager - KHWitte Feedmill Solutions GmbH

Mr. Mehdi Gmiha

Construction Manager - KHWitte Feedmill Solutions GmbH

Mr. Mehdi Gmiha is an experienced Construction Manager with more than 20 years of expertise in the construction and implementation of complete feed mill and silo plants. His extensive experience covers the planning, execution, and installation of key feedmill systems, including dosing, grinding, mixing, pelletizing, and storage. Throughout his career, he has been involved in delivering efficient and reliable feedmill solutions, combining strong technical expertise with practical knowledge of plant construction and system integration.

Mrs. Aysha Ali AlShamsi

Strategic Advisor Data, AI & Innovation in Agriculture and Food Security

Mrs. Aysha Ali AlShamsi

Strategic Advisor Data, AI & Innovation in Agriculture and Food Security

Aisha Alshamsi is a strategic advisor and executive leader specializing in data, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation. She has extensive expertise in developing enterprise data strategies, AI governance frameworks, and advanced analytics that drive evidence-based decision-making, innovation, and sustainability. Her work has played a key role in strengthening the agriculture and food security ecosystem through large-scale data initiatives, while also contributing to national award frameworks that promote excellence and global recognition. As an active member of ISO/TC 347, she supports the development of international standards for data-driven agrifood systems and remains committed to advancing responsible AI, robust data governance, and cross-sector collaboration.

Jan Jaroslav Luprich

Director Strategic partnerships - BeneMeat technologies

Jan Jaroslav Luprich

Director Strategic partnerships - BeneMeat technologies

Jan Luprich leads strategic partnerships at Bene Meat Technologies, where he works at the intersection of market insight and technological development in cultivated meat for pet nutrition. Previously, Luprich contributed to the development of AI-driven research tools at Iris.ai, applying artificial intelligence to accelerate innovation in biotechnology and food science. Over nearly two decades, he has held leadership positions across research, biotechnology and scientific publishing, building collaborations that connect discovery with implementation.

Conference

The Future of Agriculture International Conference

Featured Speakers

Richard Leonard Vollebregt

Professor Pierre Broun

Dr. Ali Al Khalaf

Dr. Albdullah Al-Mubarak

Mr. Saleh Almahmod

Eng. Abdulaziz A. Aldharrab

Mr. Amit Dutta

Mr. Frederic Gomer

Dr. Dmitrii Krasiukov

Dr. James Morgan

Mr. Ahmad Moussa Assaf

Mrs. Paola Laghetti

Dr. Chandrajith Aruketty Velayudlan

Dr. Turgut Battal

Mr. Muhammad Mustafa Zaffer

Mr. Jan Krahulik

Eng. Reza Armin Keshavarz

Mr. Samuel Peter Ayres

Mr. David Frederick Farley

Mr. Christopher Alex Marconi

Mr. Nima Vakili

Mr. Ivan Harjaček

Mr. Rami Nissan

Dr. Md Shamim Ahamed

Mr. Sebastian Alexander Ebers

Mr. Mehdi Gmiha

Mrs. Aysha Ali AlShamsi

Jan Jaroslav Luprich

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