Today, His Excellency Eng. Abdulrahman Alfadley, Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, launched the 42nd Saudi Agriculture Exhibition in Riyadh. The event will run for four days at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center.
In a speech by His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Turki bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz, the Chairman of the Riyadh Exhibitions Company, he emphasized that the Saudi Agricultural Exhibition serves as an important platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing among everyone involved in agriculture. The event highlights the latest technologies and innovations aimed at boosting agricultural output and improving food systems. He also noted that the increasing climate and environmental challenges necessitate a collective, innovative effort to create sustainable solutions that protect our resources and promote sustainable development.
Following the inauguration, Minister Alfadley was given a tour of the exhibition, which highlights a wide range of agricultural areas, including plant production, organic farming, livestock (poultry and dairy), food processing & packaging, and aquaculture.
During the event, Minister Alfadley witnessed the signing of 28 deals and MoUs, securing more than SAR 3.5 billion in total investment. These agreements involved collaboration between government entities, essential private sector partners, and international agricultural firms. Such partnerships are crucial for strengthening the food and agriculture sector and accelerating economic expansion. Furthermore, Alfadley inaugurated a new Agricultural Innovation Center.
With a focus on achieving food security and sustainability, the Saudi Agricultural Exhibition is aimed at advancing the nation's economic priorities by showcasing the newest technologies and innovations in farming and food production. This event underscores the dramatic shift in the agricultural sector and its growing role in stimulating economic growth. The sector's contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached SAR 119 billion in 2024 and is expected to rise to around SAR 140 billion by 2030.
Several other major events will take place alongside the exhibition, like the International Agriculture Future Summit, the International Food Processing and Packaging Exhibition (13th edition), the International Aquaculture Exhibition (7th edition), and the International Food Products and Technologies Exhibition (30th edition).
The exhibition has attracted over 446 participants from 34 countries who are displaying leading-edge technologies in plant, animal, and fish production. This global participation mirrors the significant growth of the Saudi agricultural sector and its success in achieving greater food security and self-sufficiency, promoting sustainable food production in line with Saudi Vision 2030.