Saudi Arabia and South Korea Launch Smart Agriculture Complex in Riyadh
Riyadh, The Gulf Observer: In a major step towards modernizing agriculture in the Middle East, Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour Al Mushaiti and South Korea’s Vice Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Park Beom-su laid the foundation for a joint smart agriculture complex project in Riyadh on Monday.
The cutting-edge initiative, covering 4,000 square meters at the National Agricultural and Animal Resources Research Center, is designed to enhance agricultural productivity, increase resource efficiency, and deepen bilateral cooperation in smart farming technologies.
“This project marks a pivotal moment in the transformation of modern agriculture,” said Al Mushaiti, describing it as the fruit of collaborative innovation aimed at securing food sustainability in the region. He emphasized that the Saudi-Korean partnership showcases Korea’s advanced technological expertise and reflects a shared commitment to promoting sustainable development through smart farming.
The complex integrates artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and vertical farming technologies to tackle modern agricultural challenges. It features a vertical farm designed to produce leafy greens, strawberries, and mushrooms using container farming techniques, as well as a high-tech greenhouse equipped with the latest Korean innovations.
The greenhouse aims to reduce water usage, optimize fertilizer application, and boost crop yields, contributing to more sustainable agricultural practices. An AI-driven system manages irrigation, collects real-time data, and analyzes it to suggest optimal crops and farming strategies. The project also employs mobile farming systems, capable of doubling production compared to traditional greenhouses.
In addition, AI-powered agricultural robots will play a vital role in data collection, analysis, and automating harvesting processes, streamlining operations for better productivity and efficiency.
Vice Minister Park Beom-su hailed the initiative as a milestone in Saudi-Korean cooperation and a showcase of how smart agriculture can pave the way for future-ready farming solutions.
The smart agriculture complex is set to serve as a model for sustainable, tech-enabled farming in arid regions, further cementing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to achieving food security, innovation, and resilience in its agricultural sector.
