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.
KAUST's Center of Excellence for Sustainable Food Security (CoE-SFS) has launched 12 translation projects focused on plant growth and water security, establishing partnerships with public and private entities to scale up research. Mark Tester's team developed stress-tolerant rootstocks, grafted onto crops like tomatoes, that thrive in hot, dry conditions with increased yields. Through his start-up Iyris, Tester is conducting commercial field trials in over 12 countries. Why it matters: These efforts to adapt agriculture to environmental change are crucial for ensuring food security in Saudi Arabia, the region, and globally, especially in the face of climate change and limited water resources.
Uwaidh Al-Harethi, executive VP at SABIC, spoke at KAUST's 2019 Winter Enrichment Program about the importance of innovation, noting that leading tech companies invest heavily to penetrate markets. He highlighted Samsung's patent filings and Amazon's innovation spending. Al-Harethi stated that SABIC makes three dollars for every one dollar spent on innovation, emphasizing its role in the chemical industry's success. Why it matters: The talk underscores the increasing focus on innovation and technology leadership within Saudi Arabia's key industries, particularly in leveraging AI for future technologies.
KAUST is working to extend its research excellence to innovation and impact, aligning with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 to grow SME contributions. A KAUST Innovation Committee, led by Andrew Liveris, is collaborating with entities like TAQNIA and Monshaat to convert policy into tangible actions. The goal is to accelerate startups and deep technology development within the Kingdom, with KAUST startups playing a leading role. Why it matters: The initiative signifies a concerted effort to diversify the Saudi economy and foster a thriving startup ecosystem, leveraging KAUST's research capabilities.
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.
KAUST has launched a Center of Excellence for Sustainable Food Security, led by Professor Mark Tester. The center aims to develop innovative solutions for food security challenges in arid regions, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030. It will focus on enhancing resource use efficiency, developing resilient crops, and promoting sustainable biosystems through interdisciplinary research and partnerships. Why it matters: This initiative will advance agricultural innovation in Saudi Arabia, supporting economic diversification and reducing reliance on food imports.
Fred Davies from Texas A&M University spoke at KAUST about the challenges of feeding the world's growing population. The keynote address was part of KAUST's Enrichment in the Fall program. Davies discussed the growing needs and problems related to global food production. Why it matters: Such discussions at KAUST can help foster research and innovation in agricultural technologies relevant to Saudi Arabia and the wider region.
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.