Riyadh: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and the National Agricultural Development Company (NADEC) have launched a new collaboration that brings together advanced scientific research and large-scale agricultural application, supporting the Kingdom's direction toward building more sustainable and resilient food systems. The collaboration aims to develop practical and innovative solutions for the food and agriculture sector.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the partnership is based on the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that establishes a long-term framework for joint work in applied agricultural research, technology development, and professional capacity building. The agreement reflects a shared vision to transform scientific outputs into effective field applications that improve production efficiency, enhance food sector stability, and support long-term sustainability.
The MoU was signed by President of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Professor Edward Byrne and chief executive of the National Agricultural Development Company Dr. Solaiman Al-Twaijri. The agreement opens the door to closer integration between KAUST's research and innovation ecosystem and NADEC's extensive operational expertise. This integration is expected to accelerate the innovation cycle by enabling solutions to be tested, refined, and scaled in real production environments with greater efficiency.
President of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Professor Edward Byrne affirmed that food security is one of the most prominent challenges facing the world today. He noted that addressing the complexities of food systems requires effective partnerships between scientific institutions and the industrial sector. He added that the current phase represents an opportunity to rethink methods of producing healthy and sustainable food amid growing environmental challenges, particularly water scarcity and rising temperatures, expressing his aspiration that the collaboration with NADEC will deliver tangible, real-world impact.
For his part, chief executive of the National Agricultural Development Company Dr. Solaiman Al-Twaijri explained that the memorandum of understanding represents a strategic step toward integrating scientific research with practical agricultural application. He noted that the partnership will support the development of innovative and sustainable solutions that enhance productivity while addressing challenges related to natural resource management, particularly water-use efficiency and soil health.
He pointed out that cooperation with KAUST enables the application of the latest research achievements within existing operational environments, while also contributing to national talent development and the building of specialized capacities. Implementation of the agreement's research programs will be led by KAUST's Center of Excellence for Sustainable Food Security, which was established to advance scientific research on food system development in the Kingdom using advanced technologies.
Under the agreement, KAUST researchers will have access to NADEC field sites, operational data, and production environments to test technologies and verify their effectiveness under realistic agricultural conditions.
Chair of the Center of Excellence for Sustainable Food Security at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Professor Mark Tester explained that improving food systems requires testing scientific innovations in real environments that take into account water, soil, climate, and production scale. He emphasized that the center's role is to direct research toward practical application from its earliest stages, adding that collaboration with NADEC will help build robust applied knowledge and develop implementable solutions aligned with the Kingdom's future needs.
