Saudi Arabia Launches Sustainable Agricultural Challenge to Boost Global Crop Yield

Saudi Arabia has taken significant steps towards achieving sustainability goals by recognizing and supporting innovative solutions in climate-smart agriculture. The Smarter Climate Farmers Challenge, an initiative launched by the Kingdom in collaboration with Uplink, the open innovation platform of the World Economic Forum, aims to identify and promote sustainable agricultural practices.

The announcement of the challenge was made by Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal Al-Ibrahim, during the 14th annual meeting of the New Champions organized by the World Economic Forum in Tianjin, China. Al-Ibrahim emphasized the importance of sustainable agriculture and introduced the Smarter Climate Farmers Challenge as a global initiative to improve food production, enhance the resilience of farmers, and promote zero-emission practices.

Addressing the challenges of food security, particularly in Saudi Arabia's desert environment, the minister called for immediate action. He highlighted the need to cultivate food, combat prolonged drought, mitigate desertification, and tackle unpredictable rainfall patterns. Al-Ibrahim emphasized that these actions should cover the entire supply chain, promoting healthy consumption and reducing food loss.

In addition to the Smarter Climate Farmers Challenge, Saudi Arabia has launched several initiatives to ensure both food security and sustainability. These initiatives include the Saudi Green Initiative, the National Food Security Strategy, the Water Conservation Program, and the Middle East Green Initiative. Al-Ibrahim highlighted that these efforts prioritize sustainability and aim to overcome specific obstacles related to food security.

The Kingdom is committed to driving a transformative shift in food production to effectively address climate change and ensure a sustainable future for agriculture. This approach focuses on leveraging knowledge, resource efficiency, inclusive technology, and innovative financing. In line with these objectives, Saudi Arabia launched a food security action plan in collaboration with regional partners during a meeting of G20 agriculture ministers in Indonesia in September 2022. The initial funding for this plan amounts to $10 billion, and it aims to tackle the global food supply crisis.

Saudi Agriculture Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, speaking at the event, highlighted the growth of the Kingdom's agricultural sector, which expanded by over 7.8 percent in 2022 compared to the previous year. Al-Fadhli emphasized that Saudi Arabia is implementing modern techniques to enhance the agriculture sector's productivity while reducing water wastage.