Session 7: Perspectives from Government and Industry — Government and Inter-government

Speakers

Session Moderator

Dr. Paul Dalby, Director and Principal Consultant, In Fusion Consulting.

Panelists

Mr. William England, Senior Vice-President, The Saudi Agriculture and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC)

Dr. Ali bin Mohammed Al Shaikhi, CEO of the National Fisheries Development Program

Dr. Suliman Ali Al-Khateeb, Director General of Plant Resources, Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture (MEWA)

Dr. Majid Al-Khalaf, Secretary General of the National Nutrition Committee, Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA)

Key messages

1. Technology has raced toward the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which allows us to use seawater effectively, to use CRISPR technology, to use bacteria to produce alternative protein.

2. Food security can be increased by increasing local food production, but this must be done strategically.

Recommendations

1. Link government subsidies with best practices in agriculture and aquaculture.

2. Adopt innovation that will enhance the sustainability of agriculture in the KSA.