Saudi-Dutch Agreement to Support Sustainable Agricultural Production in the Kingdom

The National Center for Sustainable Agriculture Research and Development (Estidama) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Dutch company Hudson River Biotechnology (HRB), in the presence of Eng. Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti, Deputy Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture. The signing took place during the GreenTech 2025 exhibition held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. This is a qualitative step aimed at strengthening international cooperation in research and technology related to sustainable agriculture.

The two sides were represented at the signing by Dr. Khalid bin Marshood Al-Rahili, Director General of Estidama, and Jorik Bremer of HRB. This memorandum comes within the framework of the two sides’ efforts to enhance cooperation in the fields of agricultural research and development, and to utilize modern biotechnologies to support sustainable agricultural production in the Kingdom. The memorandum aims to develop cooperation mechanisms in the areas of transferring and localizing advanced genomic technologies, improving and developing plant tissue culture techniques, and implementing specialized training programs aimed at qualifying national competencies in the fields of biotechnology and genetic modification. It also aims to launch applied projects focused on improving the performance and productivity of strategic crops in the Kingdom, enhancing their ability to cope with environmental and biological stresses, contributing to raising the efficiency of agricultural production, and achieving long-term sustainability.

Dr. Al-Rahili emphasized that the Center is continuously working to build an integrated research and development system that contributes to achieving the goals of the agricultural sector in the Kingdom by supporting innovation in agricultural production and the sustainability of natural resources.

The signing of this memorandum embodies the commitment of both parties to enhancing integration in areas of common interest and establishing an institutional framework for future cooperation in the fields of research, development, training, and technology transfer, ensuring tangible results that contribute to supporting sustainable agricultural development in the Kingdom.