Saudi Arabia Signs CGIAR Cooperation Agreement To Accelerate Sustainable Agriculture And Innovation

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has entered a cooperation agreement with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research to support food security, environmental sustainability and agricultural innovation in Saudi Arabia. The ministry will finance the partnership with $5 million, under regulations binding both sides.

The agreement, signed by Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Alfadley, focuses on long-term collaboration with CGIAR. The arrangement seeks to align joint work with national strategies, while supporting sustainable agricultural development and related research priorities across the Kingdom’s farming and water sectors.

Under the agricultural innovation agreement, both parties will contribute to initiatives linked to national agricultural strategies and programmes. Cooperation covers capacity-building activities in innovation, food systems and environmental sustainability. Scientific studies on sustainable water management in Saudi Arabia will also be prepared, reflecting the Kingdom’s specific climatic and resource conditions.

The agricultural innovation partnership further includes designing a technical roadmap to improve crop performance and resilience. It will also assess and recommend digital tools that can raise the efficiency of irrigation methods. These tools are expected to help optimise water use in farming, an important concern for the Kingdom’s arid regions.

The agricultural innovation agreement highlights support for strengthening the Saudi plant gene bank and improving access to local genetic resources. Research infrastructure and assets in Saudi Arabia, including experimental lands and laboratories, will be used for pilot projects. These projects aim to test new approaches before wider application across the agricultural sector.

Through the agricultural innovation framework, CGIAR will provide access to its international research centres and facilities. The agreement also calls for international experts and consultants to work in Saudi Arabia, transferring knowledge in agricultural innovation, food security and sustainable agriculture. Joint projects will follow an agreed implementation plan with clear technical and financial responsibilities.

The agricultural innovation cooperation will be carried out according to specific schedules and timelines, covering all planned activities. The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture will offer the necessary facilitation to ensure efficient execution. These efforts are intended to support sustainable agricultural growth and contribute to the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

With inputs from SPA