The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture (MEWA) was honored with a top distinction at the GLOBAL ESG AWARDS ceremony held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Ministry received the Platinum category prize for its submission under the Partnerships, aligning with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 17.
The Ministry was awarded the prize alongside several local and international entities and organizations in recognition of its excellence in establishing and managing research and innovation partnerships across the environment, water, and agriculture sectors. The partnerships aligns with the "Technology Adoption Roadmap"—the Executive Plan for Research and Innovation launched last year by His Excellency the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman Alfadley. These cornerstone partnerships are vital to the plan, as the Ministry leverages them to drive progress toward food and water security and environmental sustainability.
In an address during the ceremony, Dr. Abdullah Alradadi, Deputy Assistant for Support and Enable Research and Innovation, emphasized that investing in research and innovation is the optimal path for the future generations. He added that confronting global sustainability challenges requires partnerships that integrate scientific knowledge with innovation and international cooperation.
The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture (MEWA) is driving agricultural sustainability through the Saudi AgriFood Tech Alliance launched by Eng. Mansour Almushaiti, Vice Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture. This alliance acts as a key platform, bringing together government, academic, private, and non-profit entities. To date, the Alliance has amassed over 120 members dedicated to boosting food security.
Dr. Alredadi also highlighted the Water Strip Initiative, a major 40-kilometer project along Saudi Arabia's western coast designed to quickly advance technologies for water desalination, recycling, and climate-resilient technologies. Its goal is to create an ecosystem that draws in investment, boosts research, and accelerates commercialization of technologies.
The GLOBAL ESG AWARDS are extensive, featuring 22 categories that reflect the full spectrum of the UN's 17 SDGs, from promoting climate action and gender equality to advancing biodiversity protection and the circular economy.
The Ministry's involvement in the prizes is in line with its strategic objectives to strengthen its position in the fields of agriculture, water, and the environment. It also aims to establish strategic connections with worldwide institutions and professionals, promoting MEWA's research and innovation goals for food and water security, as well as environmental sustainability align with Saudi Vision 2030.