Experts at Saudi Agriculture 2026 Highlight Agricultural Transformation Achievements, Growth Indicators, and Promising Investment Opportunities

Officials, experts, and specialists participating in the Saudi International Conference on the Future of Agriculture, held in conjunction with Saudi Agriculture 2026 in Riyadh, highlighted key achievements in the strategic transformation of Saudi Arabia’s agricultural sector. Discussions focused on growth in agricultural production, increased economic contributions, and improved self-sufficiency rates, alongside efforts to enhance water-use efficiency, localize advanced technologies, expand investment opportunities, and promote sustainable management of natural resources in support of food security and the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

In his keynote address, Dr. Sulaiman bin Ali Al-Khatib, Deputy Minister for Agriculture at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, emphasized the importance of strengthening local and international partnerships and adopting sustainable solutions to address agricultural challenges. He stressed the need to bridge the gap between scientific research and practical applications, localize technologies, diversify supply sources, and stimulate agricultural investment.

Eng. Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Houtan, General Supervisor of the Ministry’s Assistant Deputy Ministry for Agriculture, presented key indicators reflecting the sector’s growth. He noted that the agricultural sector’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) increased from SAR 74 billion in 2016 to SAR 124 billion in 2025. Crop production reached approximately 11.6 million tons in 2025, including nearly 3 million tons of fruit, including dates, while milk production amounted to 2.7 million tons.

A panel discussion titled “Vision 2030 and the Future of Agriculture in the Kingdom” explored the private sector’s role in strengthening food security, developing supply chains, localizing agricultural industries, and improving the efficiency of protected agriculture. During the session, Mohammed Sadiq Al-Ramadan, CEO of Al-Yaseen Agricultural Company, highlighted ongoing efforts to develop fruit cultivation using modern agricultural systems. He also outlined the company’s plans to establish a specialized irrigation systems factory and another facility to manufacture prestressed concrete columns used in greenhouse construction.

During a presentation titled “The Strategic Transformation Journey of the Agricultural Sector,” figures showed significant growth in organic agriculture. Organic production increased from 45,630 tons in 2018 to 86,980 tons in 2025, representing a 90% increase. The number of organic farms rose from 175 to 527, marking growth of 201%, while the number of retail outlets selling organic products increased from 190 to 433, a rise of 128%.

The beekeeping sector also recorded notable growth, with the number of beehives rising from 1,582 to 27,996 over the same period. Honey production increased from 1,600 tons in 2016 to 7,800 tons in 2025.

In the fruit sector, total domestic production exceeded one million tons in 2025, excluding dates, compared with imports of approximately 1.9 million tons, bringing total domestic demand to nearly 2.9 million tons. Citrus fruits, olives, grapes, and mangoes accounted for more than 90% of total fruit production. Despite the expansion of domestic production, imports increased by 2% between 2016 and 2025, while exports declined amid growing domestic demand.

In the red meat sector, domestic production reached approximately 293,000 tons, compared with net imports of 281,000 tons. Imports recorded a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7% between 2016 and 2025, while exports declined by 1%, reflecting increasing domestic demand.

In the poultry sector, domestic production exceeded 1.3 million tons, compared with net imports of approximately 483,000 tons, while total consumption surpassed 1.79 million tons. The expansion of domestic production contributed to import substitution, resulting in a compound annual decline of 5% in imports between 2016 and 2025, alongside an 8% increase in exports.

In the fisheries sector, domestic production reached approximately 290,000 tons in 2025, compared with net imports of 131,000 tons, while total consumption amounted to 421,000 tons. The expansion of domestic production helped stabilize imports and supported export growth at a compound annual rate of 1% between 2016 and 2025. As a result, the Kingdom’s fish self-sufficiency rate reached 69% in 2025.

The conference sessions underscored the importance of strengthening collaboration among government entities, the private sector, and research institutions, while expanding investment and localizing advanced technologies. These efforts aim to reinforce food security, ensure the long-term sustainability of the agricultural sector, and support the achievement of Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.