BUMPER CROPS WHERE THE GROWING GETS TOUGH
Water. In the tough growing conditions of the Middle East, this essential resource is in short supply.
For farmers with depleted ground reserves, new methods need to be found to grow more food with less water. It’s too important a challenge to put on hold as the world overcomes COVID-19.
SABIC is part of a growing agricultural alliance. It began with farming in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but has global significance.
At Estidamah, an agricultural research center established by the Saudi government, with funding and operations by SABIC, expertise from academia, agribusiness and local growers focuses on food security and water efficiency.
Unprecedented tomato crop levels have already been harvested.
Greenhouses at Estidamah have produced high quality fruit from only 7 liters of water (equal to three large bottles of soda) per kilogram whereas in traditional greenhouses, 1kg of fruit once demanded 200 liters (equal to two giant garden water tanks).
The seed for larger harvests in one of the harshest environments has been planted.