Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands: Agricultural and Environmental Cooperation
Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands have recently formalized a significant number of agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) focused on enhancing cooperation in the agricultural, water management, and environmental sectors. These agreements, signed between June 10 and 12, 2025, during a visit by Saudi Vice Minister Eng. Mansour Al-Mushaiti to the Netherlands, represent a substantial investment and a strategic move towards achieving Saudi Vision 2030 goals.
Key Agreements and Investments
The agreements, totaling over SAR428 million (approximately USD 114 million), involve collaborations between Saudi and Dutch entities, aiming to develop and localize modern technologies in the environmental, water, and agricultural fields.
Several key areas of cooperation have been highlighted:
Livestock Disease Control: An MoU between Saudi Arabia’s National Program for Livestock and Fisheries and the Dutch company VigGuard focuses on developing localized livestock disease control technologies.
Greenhouse and Biotechnology Development: Partnerships have been established between the Saudi National Center for Sustainable Agriculture and various Dutch partners, including the Dutch Greenhouse Delta, Hoogendoorn, Hudson River Biotechnology, and Wageningen University, to build capacity in sustainable agriculture and biotechnology.
Crop Protection and Biotechnology: A partnership between Al-Yasin Agricultural Company and the Cobret Experimental Center supports crop protection innovation with an investment of up to EUR 1 million (approx. USD 1.07 million).
Potato Processing and Production: A MoU involving the Lehaa Group, the Dutch Royal HZPC Group, and Gal Sahara Potato Production Company includes investments exceeding SAR76 million (approx. USD 20.3 million) to enhance local potato output and establish a French fries processing facility.
Dafa Agricultural Company Initiatives: Six MoUs signed with companies specializing in vegetables, fertilizers, greenhouse systems, and agricultural software totaled SAR292 million (approx. USD 77.9 million).
Additional Partnerships: Agreements were signed between the Makkah Region Development Authority and Dutch firms Van der Hoeven and Horizon 11 to facilitate biotechnology transfer. The Saudi Greenhouse Management and Agricultural Marketing Company also partnered with Plantae and Certhon to localize agtech innovations.
Strategic Goals and Vision 2030
These agreements are part of Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to promote innovation in the agri-foods sector and build sustainable production systems. The partnerships align with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan, which aims to diversify the economy, modernize agricultural systems, and expand global trade relationships.
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture seeks to advance greenhouse farming, biotechnology, and food security initiatives through these collaborations.
Furthermore, the agreements aim to enhance the global competitiveness of the Saudi agricultural sector, expand the production and export of local agricultural products, and boost bilateral trade with the Netherlands.
Saudi AgriFood Tech Alliance (SAFTA)
In addition to the above-mentioned agreements, Saudi Arabia has signed 11 new agreements with Dutch companies and research institutions to join the Saudi AgriFood Tech Alliance (SAFTA).
SAFTA serves as a national platform to drive research, promote sustainable agriculture technologies, and accelerate the adoption of advanced solutions in smart farming and food production.
A memorandum of understanding was also signed with the Netherlands Water Partnership and the Dutch Water Alliance to join the Saudi Water Innovation Alliance.
The agreements between Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands, with investments exceeding USD 114 million, aim to develop and localize modern technologies in the environmental, water, and agricultural fields, supporting Saudi Vision 2030 goals.