RIYADH: Almarai has announced plans to increase its investments to SR 15.6 billion and employ 12,000 Saudi nationals at its various factories and sectors within five years.
CEO Abdulrahman A. Al-Fadley said the company’s total investment had reached SR 8 billion. This includes SR 2 billion to expand the dairy sector, SR 4 billion for the development of the poultry sector and SR 1 billion to set up the Kingdom’s first baby milk plant.
“The total output of Saudi dairy companies meets only 45 percent of the local demand while Saudi poultry farms meet 56 percent of demand,” he told a press conference.
Currently, Almarai has more than 4,700 Saudi employees on its payroll, said the CEO.
He said career development programs equip Almarai employees with more technical skills to enable them to increase their efficiency.
Almarai has set up a food processing academy established in conjunction with a reputed international organization, he said.
Almarai is also involved in the University Students Co-operation Training program, said the CEO.
Addressing a press conference, company CEO Abdulrahman A. Al-Fadley disclosed Almarai’s decision to purchase three fodder farms in Argentina, while voicing concerns over the rising prices of animal feed.
Al-Fadley also predicted a dramatic increase in demand for food products in Saudi Arabia and other countries of the region.
Fresh Almarai investments to create 12,000 jobs for Saudis
Fresh Almarai investments to create 12,000 jobs for Saudis
Experimental farm in Al-Lith looks into future of Saudi Arabian agriculture
- Research initiative reflects strategic transformation
JEDDAH: An experimental farm in Saudi Arabia’s Al-Lith Governorate is one of the research initiatives reflecting the strategic transformation taking place in the Kingdom’s agricultural sector.
The farm uses highly efficient, sustainable production models that combine scientific research with commercial application, contributing to strengthening the country’s food security system and the sustainability of water resources.
Located in the Ghumaiqa Center on an area of about 10 hectares, the cutting-edge farm is a testing platform for modern agricultural technologies that tackle the challenge of water scarcity.
The farm includes developed open fields and modern greenhouses, supported by smart irrigation encompassing drip and sprinkler irrigation alongside surface and subsurface technologies.
All the systems operate via smart controls that enable the monitoring of water consumption and ensure improved efficiency, thereby achieving a balance between agricultural production and water conservation.
The farm also uses treated and diluted low-salinity seawater.
It aims to diversify agricultural water sources, reduce reliance on freshwater, and open new horizons for agriculture in coastal and semi-arid environments.
The project represents a promising investment opportunity in the field of smart agriculture, enabling the development of commercially scalable production models, particularly for high-value vegetables and fruits, while reducing operational costs associated with water and energy, enhancing the economic feasibility of future agricultural projects.
In addition, the project contributes to transferring and localizing agricultural expertise, supporting local food supply chains, and creating an attractive environment for agricultural investment.
This aligns with Sustainable Development Goals and enhances the efficiency of the private sector in adopting innovative agricultural solutions.
Yahya bin Abdulrahman Al-Mahabi, the director of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture office in Al-Lith Governorate, told the Saudi Press Agency that the project represented the future of agriculture in the Kingdom.
He explained that the vision was based on investing in technology, enhancing the return on water per unit, and integrating scientific research with investment opportunities.
Al-Mahabi spoke of the experimental farm as a modern, scalable and replicable model applicable in several regions of the Kingdom, particularly in coastal environments.
Al-Mahabi highlighted the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture’s commitment to supporting distinctive projects that contributed to achieving food security while developing rural areas and enhancing agricultural production efficiency, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
