The Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) signed in Riyadh today an agreement with the National Center for Research and Development of Sustainable Agriculture, "Estidamah" to participate in the management and development of the center's business.
The agreement was signed by the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Center for Research and Development of Sustainable Agriculture "Estidamah", Engineer Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Fadhli, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of SABIC, CEO Youssef bin Abdullah Al-Bunyan.
This agreement is valid for five years, starting from July 25, 2021 AD, following the expiration of the period of the agreement concluded between the two sides in 2016 AD, according to which SABIC was assigned to manage the Sustainability Center for five years ending on July 24, 2021 AD.
Al-Benyan stressed that the new agreement will enhance SABIC's contribution to the development of sustainable agricultural programs. To achieve the objectives of the National Strategy for Agriculture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
Under the agreement, SABIC will assign eight employees to work and participate in the management of the Estidamah center, and in return, it will obtain the right to benefit from the center's facilities to conduct its research work.
It is noteworthy that the Estidamah Center was established in 2011 with funding from SABIC, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, to build and operate the center in the Riyadh Technology Valley at King Saud University in Riyadh. For sustainable agriculture, his research focuses on increasing agricultural production, improving crop quality, reducing pesticide use, and raising water use efficiency.
It is noteworthy that the Estidamah Center mainly aims to promote sustainable agriculture in the Kingdom, adopt modern agricultural techniques to enhance the sustainability of agricultural activities in the Kingdom, and enable optimal use of natural resources, foremost of which is water, to contribute to achieving food security and preserving these resources for future generations.
The Estidamah Center seeks to consolidate its position and leadership in the field of modern agricultural technologies, to apply research that provides modern solutions and technologies to public and private agricultural institutions, and to reach, through research, practical and applicable solutions for the development, improvement and application of agricultural technologies in the Kingdom.