Riyadh, March 23, 2025 – The Almarai Scientific Creativity Award board of trustees has announced the winners of the 2024 Almarai Prize under its updated strategy, which aligns with national priorities for research, development (R&D), and innovation in environmental sustainability and essential needs. The award aims to reinforce the Kingdom’s global standing, highlight progress in food security within dryland regions, encourage researchers and innovators, and showcase pioneering work to educate future generations.
The announcement was made during the award’s annual board meeting, held virtually and chaired by Dr. Munir M. Eldesouki, President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and Chairman of the award’s board. Prince Naif bin Sultan bin Muhammad bin Saud Al-Kabeer, Chairman of Almarai Company and Vice Chairman of the award’s board, along with other members, attended the session.
The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) received the Almarai Prize, the largest international award in financial value dedicated to food security in dryland regions, for its 12-year project, “Enhancing Food Security in Arab Countries.” This initiative focuses on increasing agricultural productivity through sustainable solutions that empower farmers, improve yields, and contribute to a more food-secure future for the Arab world.
At the national level, King Saud University (**KSU**) associate professor Dr. Fahad bin Khudair Alshehri was honored with the Almarai Scientific Innovation Award for Emerging Scientists for his research, “Coupling Machine and Deep Learning with Explainable Artificial Intelligence for Improving Prediction of Groundwater Quality and Decision-Making in Dryland Regions, Saudi Arabia.” His work marks a significant advancement in monitoring and managing water quality in arid areas.
Additionally, Dr. Nada Salem Al-Theyab, an assistant professor at KSU, received the award for her study, “Draft Genome Sequence of Potato Crop Bacterial Isolates and Nanoparticles-Intervention for the Induction of Secondary Metabolites Biosynthesis.” Her research employs gene-targeting techniques to enhance crop growth and safety by integrating nanotechnology with microbial genomics.
During the closing session of the annual meeting, the board of trustees commended the winning projects for their contributions to food security and sustainable solutions for dryland regions. They emphasized that the selected research represents a significant addition to the Kingdom’s R&D and innovation sector, with potential benefits extending to dryland regions worldwide.
The board reaffirmed that the award is designed to support scientists and innovators globally in addressing critical global challenges through groundbreaking research and projects focused on food security in dryland regions. It expressed its hope that the recognition would inspire the winners to continue their efforts in research and innovation within their respective fields.