Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, The National Research and Development Center for Sustainable Agriculture (ESTIDAMAH), a prominent agricultural research center in Riyadh, has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TOPIAN, the NEOM Food Company. This collaboration aims to advance and promote sustainable agriculture in Saudi Arabia through a mutually beneficial partnership.
Under the agreement, TOPIAN will benefit from ESTIDAMAH's expertise, ongoing research projects, network of farmers and industry leaders, as well as the center’s crop-management and engineering support. In return, ESTIDAMAH will leverage TOPIAN’s knowledge to explore sustainable farming methods and incorporate the latest international agricultural innovations.
The first project under this partnership involves conducting variety evaluation trials. Different variations of a crop will be grown alongside each other to determine the most economical vegetable crops in the Kingdom. The project is set to commence in January 2024, with a focus on screening premium taste and quality of hydroponic crops for future production in NEOM. Additionally, TOPIAN and ESTIDAMAH will engage in cooperative educational and research activities, including internships and knowledge sharing. The collaboration aims to develop water and energy-efficient greenhouse technologies tailored to desert environments.
Prof. Dr. Abdulrahman Al Soqeer, General Director of ESTIDAMAH, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "Our goal is to enable the agricultural sector in Saudi Arabia to be a part of the next big leap in modern agricultural technology through research and advanced practical solutions to develop, improve, and apply sustainable practices within the Kingdom. We are pleased to partner with TOPIAN and look forward to forging a close relationship, exchanging ideas, and furthering our understanding of modern agricultural technologies for the region's greater good."
Dr. Juan Carlos Motamayor, CEO of TOPIAN, highlighted the partnership's significance in advancing sustainable and innovative food practices. He stated, "This partnership is also another showcase of our work toward realizing the Saudi Vision 2030 sustainability goals.”
With a shared vision for sustainable food practices and a commitment to developing modern agricultural technologies, this collaboration between TOPIAN and ESTIDAMAH seeks to redefine Saudi Arabia’s food systems, emphasizing sustainability from farm to fork.
