Saudi Arabia's Push for Controlled Environment Agriculture: Recent Developments and Challenges

Exploring the growth, challenges, and future prospects of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) in Saudi Arabia.

Photo by Devi Puspita Amartha Yahya on Unsplash

Good morning readers, Saudi Arabia has recently seen a significant push in the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) sector, with private and public companies announcing new projects, funding, and partnerships. The country's government has also announced a plan to invest over $1Bn in expanding the country's plant resources and greenhouses by 2025, with a goal to reach a production output of over 1 million tons of fresh produce annually.

However, the CEA sector may face disruptions in the future, such as issues related to cooling facilities in the scorching summer temperatures, competition with imported produce from other countries with lower operational expenditures, limited crop range, and access to quality seeds and fertilizers. Despite these potential challenges, the country's focus on CEA development is part of its larger efforts to become self-reliant on food production and ensure food security in the future.