Two student teams from MBZUAI won top prizes at the inaugural Agritech Hackathon (“Agrithon”) organized by ADAFSA. The “Masdar Boys” team developed a dashboard integrating ML models for plant disease diagnosis, optimal animal clinic placement, and disease outbreak zone classification. The “Green AI” team built a machine learning framework for plant disease classification, winning second prize. Why it matters: This highlights the growing role of AI in addressing food security challenges in the UAE and the region, with potential for real-world applications through ADAFSA's interest in further developing the students' work.
Red Sea Farms, a Saudi AgTech company based at KAUST, secured a $10 million venture capital investment from Saudi and UAE investors. Their technology enables commercial farming using primarily saltwater, reducing freshwater consumption by 85-90%. The funding will be used to expand operations in Saudi Arabia, building more than six hectares of commercial farming facilities. Why it matters: This investment signals growing interest in sustainable AgTech solutions within the Gulf region to enhance food security and combat supply chain disruptions.
GITEX Africa 2026 will focus on the role of agritech in transforming Africa's agricultural sector. The event aims to bridge existing gaps and foster innovation within the industry. Discussions will likely cover topics such as precision farming, AI-driven solutions, and sustainable agricultural practices. Why it matters: The event highlights the growing importance of technology in addressing food security and promoting economic development across the African continent.
The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has launched the Saudi AgriFood Tech Alliance. KAUST is a founding member along with the Research, Development and Innovation Authority and Topian (the NEOM Food Company). The alliance includes around 40 entities from the public and private sectors, research, academia, and nonprofit organizations to deploy AgriFood technological solutions. Why it matters: This initiative signals Saudi Arabia's intent to leverage technology and partnerships to enhance food security and sustainability within the Kingdom's agricultural sector.
Red Sea Farms, a KAUST startup, is advancing its saltwater greenhouse technology with a new 21,000 square foot pilot facility at the KAUST Research & Technology Park. Their greenhouse technology allows for growing crops on marginal land, using 90% less freshwater than traditional methods. The system uses saltwater in greenhouse-cooling and climate control, resulting in a lower environmental footprint. Why it matters: This technology addresses critical food and water security challenges in arid regions by enabling local food production with minimal freshwater resources and reduced energy consumption.
A KAUST and KFUPM student team won at the Saudi Telecom Company (STC) AIoT Hackathon for their AgriDoctor project, an autonomous, sustainable, intelligent agriculture system. The team developed a business plan, trained neural networks for problem detection, and built an IoT device with agricultural sensors. The AgriDoctor system aims to improve crop yields and reduce resource consumption in agriculture. Why it matters: This win highlights the growing focus on AI and IoT applications in Saudi Arabia, particularly in the key domain of sustainable agriculture.