The National Research and Development Center for Sustainable Agriculture (Estidamah) concluded today the activities of the Third International Virtual Workshop titled “Enhancing Smart and Innovative Agricultural Solutions to Advance the Agricultural Sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." The event was held under the patronage of His Excellency Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and organized by the Center in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
The workshop saw the participation of experts, researchers, and specialists from local and international institutions, representing universities, research centers, and companies specializing in modern agricultural technologies. It featured 16 speakers from 8 countries, and attracted over 6,000 participants. The scientific sessions covered the latest global trends in smart agriculture, efficient resource management, remote sensing technologies, and precision agriculture, in addition to showcasing practical experiences in sustaining agricultural systems.
Dr. Khalid bin Marshoud Al-Rohily, Director General of the Center, explained that hosting the workshop comes as part of supporting the national agricultural research and innovation ecosystem, strengthening the Center's role in knowledge transfer and technology enablement, and developing scientific solutions that enhance agricultural productivity and resource sustainability.
He noted that the workshop provided a scientific platform for experts to connect, exchange expertise, and explore research and technological opportunities supporting the development of the agricultural sector. He added that the workshop outcomes will contribute to advancing the Center's future efforts in agricultural innovation and stimulating applied research within the Kingdom.
The workshop concluded with several key recommendations, including the call to diversify crops and production systems to protect local crops and develop salt-tolerant varieties; expand controlled-environment agriculture, hydroponics, and precision irrigation to enhance water-use efficiency and reduce waste; and apply agricultural circular economy models through reusing palm waste and leveraging local biological agents to support sustainability and reduce operational costs.
The recommendations also included adopting high-tech vertical farming solutions to increase productivity and reduce resource consumption; enhancing automation and artificial intelligence in agricultural production to improve output quality and reduce operational costs; and establishing an advanced digital infrastructure based on Digital Twins to enable production forecasting and informed decision-making before actual implementation. Additionally, the recommendations emphasized developing profitability models focused on operational efficiency by shortening production cycles, reducing inputs, and building long-term supply contracts.
At the conclusion of the workshop, Dr. Al-Ruhailey affirmed that the Center will continue following up on the implementation of the recommendations in collaboration with relevant entities, in a way that supports agricultural innovation, strengthens food security, and contributes to achieving the Kingdom's sustainable development goals.