King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and the National Agricultural Development Company (NADEC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to unite scientific research with large-scale agricultural practice.
The partnership aims to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s food systems by advancing applied innovation, technology development, and national talent development across the agriculture and food value chain.
KAUST and NADEC have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) establishing a long-term partnership in agricultural research, technology development, and professional training to strengthen the resilience of Saudi Arabia’s food sector.
Signed by KAUST President Sir Edward Byrne AC and NADEC CEO Dr. Solaiman bin Abdulaziz Al-Twaijri, the agreement links KAUST’s research capabilities with NADEC’s operational scale, enabling innovations to be tested, refined, and deployed rapidly in real agricultural settings.
The work will be led by KAUST’s Center of Excellence for Sustainable Food Security, which was established to drive delivery of research across multiple technologies to food systems in Saudi Arabia.
Through the agreement, KAUST researchers will gain access to NADEC field sites, operational data, and production environments, allowing research and technology validation to take place in real agricultural contexts.
Prof. Sir Edward Byrne President – KAUST
“Food security is one of the most critical challenges facing the global scientific community today, in Saudi Arabia and far beyond. Partnerships between science and industry are essential, particularly in complex food systems. While the urgency is real, this is also an exciting moment — an opportunity to think differently and develop smarter ways to deliver healthy, sustainable food in the face of mounting environmental pressures, especially water scarcity and rising temperatures. We are extremely excited, and hopeful, about this collaboration with NADEC, Saudi Arabia’s leading agricultural company, and we believe it represents a clear pathway to real-world impact.”
Dr. Solaiman bin Abdulaziz Al-Twaijri, Chief Executive Officer at NADEC, said, “The memorandum represents a strategic step toward the integration of scientific research with real-world agricultural application. Cooperation with KAUST, given its advanced research ecosystem and scientific contributions in agriculture, food systems, and biotechnology, opens opportunities to apply cutting-edge research in operational settings while supporting national capacity-building and talent development.”
Mark Tester, Chair of the Center of Excellence for Sustainable Food Security, said that improving food systems requires scientific research to be tested in real production environments. He noted that collaboration with NADEC enables KAUST to translate research into practical, resilient solutions tailored to Saudi Arabia’s long-term food security needs.
Image credits: KAUST | Cropped by GBN
National talent and workforce development will also be a key focus of the collaboration, along with its support to student training, startup engagement, and sponsored research. Through KAUST’s academic and innovation platforms, including its training and professional development programs, the partnership aims to support skills development alongside technological progress.
The partnership underscores the University’s role as a national platform for applied science, connecting discovery, innovation, and deployment to deliver real-world impact for Saudi Arabia.
