Partnerships and investment key to sustainable agricultural innovation, says Yafai

Riyadh will host the 43rd edition of the Saudi Agriculture Exhibition from October 19 to 22 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center. The event is held under the patronage of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and organized by Riyadh Exhibitions Company Ltd. The exhibition brings together stakeholders from across the agricultural and food sectors, providing opportunities for knowledge exchange and partnership building among producers, farmers, technology firms, researchers, and investors.

Dr. Yusra Al-Yafai, Senior Business Development Manager – Investment at ARASCO, said the exhibition serves as an important platform uniting the agricultural and food ecosystem. She highlighted its broad scope, which covers the entire value chain, and its ability to move from idea exchange to practical relationships among stakeholders. Al-Yafai added that the main value of such events lies in bridging the gap between market needs and innovative solutions, turning knowledge into tangible development opportunities.

Al-Yafai explained that the exhibition offers a space for direct dialogue between those facing daily field challenges and those with the expertise, technology, or investment capacity to address them. She emphasized that the success of any solution depends not only on its technical advancement, but also on its suitability for beneficiaries, scalability, and economic viability. From a business development perspective, she pointed to the need for partnerships linking producers with research institutions, companies, and solution providers, so that promising ideas can become measurable pilot projects and, eventually, sustainable ventures. She also stressed the importance of integrating operational experience, knowledge, development, and investment to drive sector growth.

Regarding technologies that improve production efficiency and optimize water use, Al-Yafai said priority should be given to solutions that enable more accurate resource management. In crop production, she highlighted smart irrigation systems, soil sensors, remote sensing, and data analysis to tailor irrigation and fertilization to actual needs. For livestock, she noted the growing importance of biotechnology, digital solutions, and smart monitoring systems, along with advances in nutrition, health, and productivity management. Al-Yafai added that reducing waste and improving efficiency throughout the value chain supports resource sustainability, including water. She stressed that each technology should be assessed for its real impact on product quality, cost, and the environment, rather than novelty alone.

Al-Yafai stated that food security is not just about increasing production volume, but also ensuring its continuity, quality, and resilience to climate pressures and supply chain disruptions. Innovation, she said, helps improve resource management, boost plant and animal production efficiency, and develop solutions for health, quality, and waste reduction. She added that biotechnology, when used within appropriate scientific and regulatory frameworks, offers promising opportunities to strengthen the agricultural system's resilience. The true value, she said, emerges when research and development results are translated into scalable economic applications. This underscores the importance of linking R&D, investment, and institutional partnerships. Al-Yafai noted that ARASCO is leveraging innovation to develop solutions that enhance production efficiency and contribute to sustainable food security.

Al-Yafai identified key challenges facing the sector, including limited water resources, harsh climate conditions, the cost of some production inputs, and the ongoing need to improve efficiency and develop specialized talent. She said that large-scale adoption of modern solutions requires reliable data, qualified personnel, and clear business models. The exhibition, she explained, enables participants to benefit from local and international experiences, explore a range of technologies, and build partnerships that localize knowledge and solutions suited to the Saudi environment. She emphasized that investing in people and developing national talent is as important as investing in infrastructure and technology.

Al-Yafai expressed hope that this edition will result in partnerships and practical initiatives with lasting impact beyond the exhibition days, whether by improving production efficiency, developing technical solutions, or enhancing knowledge exchange and investment. She said that success should be measured not just by the number of meetings and agreements, but by the ability of these relationships to yield measurable economic and environmental outcomes.

She added that the support and initiatives provided by government entities, combined with national talent, scientific expertise, and accumulated experience, give the Kingdom strong potential to become a regional and global hub for developing food security solutions. In light of global climate change and increasing pressure on resources and supply chains, Al-Yafai believes Saudi Arabia is well positioned to contribute to food security locally and internationally, acting as a key partner and source of stability and resilience in the food system. She stressed that the desired future depends not only on technology, but on the integration of science, national talent, institutional support, and responsible investment to turn knowledge into sustainable production and real value.

The Saudi Agriculture Exhibition will be open to visitors from October 19 to 22 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center. Those interested can register via the official website.

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