Focus Session: Controlled Environment Agriculture for Sustainable Food Security in the KSA

Speakers

Session Moderator

Dr. Rebekah Waller, Agricultural Specialist at the Center for Desert Agriculture, KAUST

Panelists

Prof. Abdulaziz Al-Harbi, Professor, King Saud University & Technical Advisor, Estidamah

Prof. Murat Kacira, Professor and Director of the Controlled Environment Agriculture Center, University of Arizona

Dr. Ryan Lefers, CEO and Co-Founder, Red Sea Farms

Mr. Sadek Al-Ramadan, Chairman, Al-Yaseen Agriculture Company

Key messages

1. There are exciting technologies and practices being developed in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) [1], but the challenge remains of how to make them useful and accessible and desired to farmers. If farmers do not trust the proponent or supplier of the technology, they will not adopt the technology.

2. Despite the value of their innovations in CEA, researchers are often lacking the connection to farmers.

3. Extreme environmental conditions and a shortage of skilled labor are the primary challenges for agriculture in the KSA.

4. Academic institutions will play a critical role in moving the CEA industry forward in the KSA.

5. Adoption of CEA in the KSA will be accelerated by the market, which is the consumers.

6. Marketing a huge challenge for farmers; without a good price, growers and companies will not invest in the technology.

7. The most important factor in determining the economic viability of CEA systems is proximity to markets.

8. Although CEA is more space- and water-efficient, modern greenhouses and indoor farms are extremely energy-intensive to operate.

Recommendations

1. Establish renewable energy and CEA systems on the same land footprint for co-production of food and energy, in order to develop clean CEA.

2. Establish strong triangles of cooperation between universities, government entities, and industry (which includes both farmers and agricultural distributors/traders) in CEA.

3. Establish degree programs for students in CEA as well as professional development courses for community members.

4. Pursue innovations that will reduce the cost of CEA (less risk, higher reward).

5. Match the right CEA technology to the appropriate climate conditions in the KSA.

6. Provide financial support for capital expenses in CEA companies.

7. Develop and implement quality and safety measures that can separate high quality from low quality products in CEA to facilitate better market pricing.

8. Integrate CEA systems with other processes that will reduce waste streams and also convert waste streams into valuable resources.

9. Incentivize the CEA industry in the KSA with more funding.