Almarai launches investments worth 1.2 billion SR to develop hatchery production facilities in Sakaka, Al-Jouf region
- December 22, 2022
- 7:53 am
Almarai launches investments worth 1.2 billion SR to develop hatchery production facilities in Sakaka, Al-Jouf region

Almarai Company announced, on Monday, December 05, 2022, an investment of 1.2 billion SR in Sakaka Governorate in the Al-Jouf region to develop poultry hatchery production facility.
This came at a signing ceremony of an agreement between Almarai Company and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture under the patronage of HRH Prince Faisal bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Al-Jouf Region, and in the presence of His Excellency Eng. Mohammed bin Saud Al-Kabeer, and the CEO of Almarai Company, Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Badr.
“The care that the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his trustworthy Crown Prince attaches to the private sector has directly contributed to the development of this sector to contribute effectively to achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. To enhance food security in the Kingdom.” the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Almarai Company, His Highness Prince Nayef bin Sultan bin Muhammad bin Saud Al Kabeer, said.
Prince Nayef added that the investments include the development of hatchery production facilities to enhance the vertical integration of poultry supplies and will provide 720 new job opportunities, indicating that the poultry production facilities to be established through these investments in the Al-Jouf region are one of several facilities that will be distributed in several of the areas of the Kingdom to ensure that fresh chicken reaches the final consumer in record time, in addition to reducing the risks of relying on only one site for production, as this meets the goals of biosecurity for Almarai Company.
It is noteworthy that Almarai Company launched a similar investment a few days ago in the Hail region, at a value of 4.5 billion Saudi riyals, to expand poultry production, and this comes as part of an investment plan for this vital sector that was announced in May 2021, estimated at 6.6 billion riyals to develop poultry production, and the presence in sites different geography in Saudi Arabia to enhance the vital security of the sector, in addition to distributing the company’s contributions in economic development to the various regions of the Kingdom.
Source: almarai.com
Saudi Agricultural Investment Financing Witnesses 400 Percent Growth

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Fadhli, emphasized the success of the Kingdom’s experience in the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, which was launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
In remarks during his participation in the meeting of the ministers of Agriculture of the G20 in the Italian city of Florence, Fadhli said that 12 billion riyals (USD 3.2 billion) were allocated to support small farmers.
The minister noted that agricultural investments in Saudi Arabia, funded by the Agricultural Development Fund, have grown over the past four years by about 400 percent, which has contributed to building a resilient and sustainable food system.
He added that the Kingdom has turned to modern technical methods in the field of agricultural extension, with the aim of reaching the largest segment of farmers in a faster and more efficient manner.
Meanwhile, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hail (Northern Saudi Arabia), represented by the Agriculture and Food Committee, held a meeting in which it discussed the most important challenges facing farmers and agricultural marketing.
The meeting was held in the presence of specialized members and representatives of the Agricultural Development Fund, the Ministry of Environment, the Municipality of Hail, the Saudi Grains Organization, and the Ministry of Tourism.
Discussions during the meeting focused on the mechanism of establishing a farmer’s market, in addition to the agricultural crop festivals in the region – projects that were recently approved on the main platform of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and presented to investors and businessmen.
Source: Asharq Al-Awsat
Eng. Al-Fadhli: Saudi Arabia has taken important steps to build effective and flexible food systems
- February 23, 2021
- 5:37 am
Eng. Al-Fadhli: Saudi Arabia has taken important steps to build effective and flexible food systems

Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli, reiterated that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has taken important steps towards consolidating effective and flexible national food systems and based its vision on building a sustainable agricultural sector that contributes to achieving food and water security, as well as economic, social and environmental development.
During his participation in the Food Systems Summit, which was held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the minister explained that the Kingdom has been working extensively to enhance the sustainability of natural resources, improve consumption, to reduce losses and waste by 50% by 2030, and build a strategy for responsible agricultural investment abroad, citing the Kingdom’s achievement to increase lending from the Agricultural Development Fund by more than 400% in 2020, and aims to hit a $1 billion target of agricultural loans, in addition to developing agricultural and marketing services, and improving agricultural and food production.
The minister said these steps contributed to achieving high rates of self-sufficiency for many strategic food commodities in the local markets, as the Kingdom, through its global, regional, and local partnerships has adopted different means of technologies and innovations that have raised the operational efficiency and productivity of local agricultural and food systems at the level of large and small producers and distributors, at low costs and ease of implementation with high efficiency, in addition to launching an ambitious rural development program that had a positive impact in supporting and empowering youth and women in agricultural work.
He underlined the need to build flexible and sustainable food systems at the local and international levels that ensure the availability of healthy and safe food for all segments of society, and to ensure the availability of all possible tools and measures that help achieve the goals of sustainable development in 2030, stressing the Kingdom’s keenness to support the UN efforts to rebuild global food systems, to achieve food security and combat hunger and poverty across the world.
Source: SPA
Saudi Arabia’s Agricultural Development Fund finances projects valued at $480 million
- February 23, 2021
- 5:14 am
Saudi Arabia’s Agricultural Development Fund finances projects valued at $480 million

Saudi Arabia’s Agricultural Development Fund approved funds worth SR1.8 billion ($480 million) to support different agricultural projects in the Kingdom since the beginning of the year, Argaam reported citing an official statement.
At a recent G20 meeting in Italy, Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdul Rahman Al-Fadhli said “the Kingdom has allocated SR12 billion to support small farmers”.
The minister noted that agricultural investments in Saudi Arabia, funded by the Agricultural Development Fund, have grown over the past four years by about 400 percent, which has contributed to building a resilient and sustainable food system.
The Kingdom has turned to modern technical methods in the field of agricultural extension, with the aim of reaching the largest segment of farmers in a faster and more efficient manner, the minister said.
Source: Arab News
How Saudi Arabia is making progress toward food security

The Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Co. (SALIC), a Public Investment Fund (PIF) business, has made an announcement confirming that its 60,000 ton shipment of Australian wheat will be arriving in the Kingdom around the middle of June 2021.
This shipment, part of SALIC’s tender to purchase 355,000 tons of wheat, is in line with Saudi Arabia’s bid to promote Saudi investors abroad and the Kingdom’s food security program, which aims to diversify and increase sources of foreign food supplies.
SALIC’s objective is to contribute to agricultural and livestock production and supply. Its investment focus is on mass commodities, including wheat, barley, corn, rice and sugar. SALIC’s mandate is to make long-term investments in countries that have the agricultural capacity and a surplus of agricultural exports.
Saudi Arabia is the Middle East’s largest individual food importer, with about 80 percent of the country’s food consumption coming from overseas. Food consumption in the Kingdom, currently estimated at 16 million tons, is expected to grow 4.6 percent per annum. In line with its food security plans, Saudi Arabia’s most ambitious agricultural goal is to become self-sufficient and transform itself from an importer to an exporter of basic foods such as wheat, dates, dairy products, meats and vegetables to key markets around the world.
Food security is a priority for any economy, including Saudi Arabia, considering the different challenges including water scarcity, land use, climate change and human capital. It is essential to redesign food production efforts innovatively given the anticipated high growth of the population in the next 10 years. Not only is the population growing, but also its dietary lifestyle is changing as well. People’s menu trends, especially among the young generation, has shifted to food items that are richer in processed foods, meat and dairy.
We at BMG Financial Group have been involved for many years with agribusiness investment opportunities in the Kingdom and abroad. Our most recent engagement is with Sunridge Partners, an agriculture private equity manager that plans to raise capital to invest in high-quality farmland and production assets to produce high-quality citrus fruit in Spain and Portugal. This investment vehicle will be implemented in line with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) guidelines.
In my opinion, SALIC’s strategy to import, invest or create joint-venture partnerships in agribusiness, locally and internationally, is a wise one and will further diversify its sources to achieve a sustainable long-term food security objective in line with the country’s Vision 2030.
Source: ArabNews
Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan aim to develop cooperation in the field of agriculture
- February 20, 2021
- 9:01 am
Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan aim to develop cooperation in the field of agriculture

Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sardor Umurzakov held a meeting with Minister of Environment, Water Resources and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Abdulrahman al-Fadli.
During the dialogue, the sides discussed the possibilities for building long-term mutually beneficial trade, economic and investment ties between the two countries in the agricultural sector.
The parties noted the significant potential for attracting leading Saudi Arabian companies in this area to invest in the creation of high-tech greenhouses and fruit and vegetable processing industries in Uzbekistan with the prospect of exporting to markets with high demand.
The high interest of large Saudi companies, such as Savola Group, SALIC, Almarai, Tamimi Group, who visited Uzbekistan in January this year as part of a delegation of government and business circles, to establish production activities in the market of the Republic was emphasized.
An agreement was reached on the systematization of interaction on the development of specific investment proposals to attract Saudi companies to their practical implementation.
They voiced mutual readiness for further joint work to create conditions for enhancing cooperation in the field of agriculture. In this context, the parties welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the State Committee for Veterinary Medicine and Livestock Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Environment, Water Resources and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Following the meeting, further interaction algorithms were outlined to deepen bilateral ties in the field of agriculture.
Source: UZ Daily
Saudi Green initiative is about improving quality of life

Unveiled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on April 3, the Saudi Green and Middle East Green initiatives are designed to reduce carbon emissions in the region by 60 percent.
The Saudi Green initiative is not only about planting trees; it is primarily about sustainability and improving the quality of life. The initiative will be the world’s largest afforestation project with its aim to plant 50 billion trees, including 10 billion in Saudi Arabia.
The region faces significant climate challenges, and the Saudi Green initiative is part of the effort to secure a sustainable future, especially as one of the most prominent features of the Arabian Peninsula is its sandy desert, with its hot climate, desertification, low rainfall and dust storms.
Saudi Arabia has proactively started and engineered four main mega-projects: Qiddiya, NEOM, the Red Sea Project and AMAALA, which all have sustainability as their core objectives. The projects will help to improve the quality of life, reduce carbon emissions, tackle deforestation, preserve marine and coastal environments and accelerate the transition to clean energy by boosting the amount of energy generated by renewables.
Saudi Arabia is focusing on the use of clean hydrocarbons and renewable energy and has set a goal that by 2030 half of its energy capacity will come from renewable sources, with the remaining 50 percent from gas.
This goal has helped raise the level of environmental awareness in the Kingdom and has led to increased international cooperation — all key solutions in reaching the country’s climate change objectives.
During its presidency of the G20 last year, Saudi Arabia was a staunch advocate for technology, stressing the role innovation can play in efforts to reduce and eliminate emissions.
One of the challenges involved in planting 10 billion trees in Saudi Arabia is water scarcity, as the Kingdom’s freshwater ecosystems are limited.
However, this challenge will be met by the advances taking place in the water treatment sector and the fact that the Kingdom is the world’s largest producer of desalinated water. Huge strides are also being made in the water distribution, sewerage and wastewater treatment sectors.
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture intends to slash water consumption by about 43 percent to 150 liters per capita per day by 2030, as the Kingdom has one of the highest per capita water consumption rates in the world at 250 liters per capita per day.
On the other hand, Saudi Arabia can utilize the treated wastewater to irrigate the trees. This water can then be released into the atmosphere, where it evaporates causing rain precipitation elsewhere — a process known as evapotranspiration — which will soften the atmosphere and reduce dust.
Saudi Arabia does not use coal to generate electricity, which is the most damaging fossil fuel, responsible for 72 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions.
It might be self-evident to confront coal power plants and not oil, which is not the main source of carbon emissions, but I believe a carbon tax should be primarily imposed on coal producers and consumers.
That being said, international efforts should work toward achieving an integrated system to meet climate and environmental challenges and raise the quality of life, but not to degrade or substitute hydrocarbons that cannot be replaced in the long term.
Source: ArabNews
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea company to plant over 15 million trees
