Saudi science institutions to collaborate on food security research

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and The National Research and Development Center for Sustainable Agriculture, known as Estidamah, have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on research for sustainable agriculture and food security.

The university’s vice president for research, Pierre Magistretti, was quoted in Arab News: “Since its foundation, KAUST has recognized food as a key research thrust for our faculty. Sustainable food security is one of the core global, regional and national challenges that KAUST has a mandate to solve.

“Through this agreement, we are creating a greatly enhanced resource for training the next generation of Saudi Arabia’s scientists in sustainable agriculture. The novel research supported by this collaboration will have an impact on Saudi Arabia’s agriculture sector and beyond.”

The agreement will build on the existing collaboration between the two institutions, where research is focused on the creation of sustainable planting systems for both the Kingdom and the region, and the use of strategic crops.

The deal will allow KAUST students and researchers to perform their experiments in Estidamah facilities, developing and executing combined research projects and organizing joint scientific events, said the Arab News report.

Learn more about creating a sustainable food supply in arid landscapes at the AgraME event, here.