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.
KAUST's Darwin21 research group, led by Maged Saad and Heribert Hirt, has developed biostimulant products using plant endophyte microbes to enhance crop resilience in arid conditions. Estidamah, the National Research and Development Center for Sustainable Agriculture, validated Darwin21's products, demonstrating increased vegetable yield and quality with reduced water consumption. A cucumber harvest required only two-thirds of the water when the microbes were applied. Why it matters: This validation paves the way for commercial application, contributing to Saudi Vision 2030's goals of water conservation and food security through innovative agri-technologies.
A KAUST and King Abdulaziz University research team is using superhydrophobic sand to grow crops like tomatoes with less water. Superhydrophobic sand reduces water consumption in agriculture, the world's largest consumer of freshwater. The sand was developed by KAUST's Himanshu Mishra and Ph.D. student Adair Gallo Junior. Why it matters: This research offers a promising solution for water conservation in agriculture, especially in arid regions like the Arabian Peninsula, addressing critical water security challenges.
KAUST Associate Professor Liming Xiong is researching how plants adapt to drought conditions, focusing on reducing water consumption, increasing water uptake, and surviving under stress. His "whole plant" approach aims to identify major genes controlling water uptake, water loss, and cellular detoxification. The research seeks to develop plants that use water more efficiently or can be irrigated with brackish water, important for agriculture in Saudi Arabia. Why it matters: Understanding the molecular mechanisms of plant drought tolerance can help in breeding stress-tolerant crops suitable for the arid conditions in the region.