RIYADH: The International Monetary Fund is predicting a growth in gross domestic product of 4.7 percent for Saudi Arabia’s economy in 2025. This projection is well above the global growth average of 3.2 percent, and a major contributor to this exceptional growth is the agricultural sector.
Saudi Agriculture 2024, the premier agricultural event in the Kingdom, which opened on Monday, announced that the sector will contribute over $31 billion in 2024, while its future growth will be driven by investments of $70 billion by 2030.
Held under the patronage of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the event in Riyadh was opened by its minister, Abdulrahman Al-Fadli.
The largest agricultural exhibition and summit in the region, Saudi Agriculture 2024 is being held until Oct. 24 at Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center.
The exhibition and concurrent conference outline the national economic priorities of the Kingdom for the 41st year and focus on food security, sustainability, and the latest technologies.
The international event has attracted over 370 companies and organizations from the Kingdom and 28 other countries, and about 27,000 professionals are expected to visit during the four-day event.
The exhibition covers innovations, technologies, products and services in a wide range of agricultural sub-sectors, including poultry, livestock, dairy, mills, animal feeds, agro foods, organic foods, aquaculture, food processing and packaging, animal health, and veterinary services.
The exhibition showcases the latest advances in agricultural technology, innovative solutions and sustainable practices in the Kingdom’s expanding agricultural sector, which is aligned with national policy priorities outlined in Saudi Vision 2030.
The event saw the inauguration of the Center of Excellence for Sustainable Food Security and the signing of several agreements during its opening ceremony.
The event also features a diverse range of activities, including the Future of Agriculture International Summit, with keynote speeches from industry experts, an array of panel discussions, and workshops covering topics such as food security, precision agriculture, water management, and organic farming.
Those attending have the opportunity to see a wide range of innovations, technologies, products and services in fields which include greenhouses, vertical farming, automation, artificial intelligence, and agricultural drones.
As part of its commitment to sustainability, Saudi Agriculture 2024 will also highlight initiatives aimed at promoting eco-friendly practices and reducing the environmental impact of agriculture.
Source: www.arabnews.com