MENACW 2023: The future of Saudi Arabia’s algae sector (Arabic)

Side event

" Microalgae represents a sustainable and transformative market alternative for animal feed protein, particularly significant in a nation like Saudi Arabia that currently imports 100% of its livestock feed ingredients due to the challenges posed by the desert environment. By 2030, Saudi Arabia's demand for over 13 million tons of animal feed necessitates an ambitious goal—to replace 100% of these imported raw materials with locally produced microalgae and seaweeds. Notably, this endeavor extends beyond Saudi Arabia, with the potential to address similar challenges faced by nearly all MENA countries and contribute to the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger.

This innovative journey is a testament to collaboration between the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture and KAUST, as they have boldly invested in groundbreaking algae and aquaculture research and development. Successful trials of a 1000 m2 algae plant, developed by KAUST Beacon Development using Red Sea water, have paved the way for the recent inauguration of a sprawling four-hectare algae and aquaculture facility. In a visionary plan to scale up to a 100,000-hectare algae facility, the capacity to sequester an astonishing 6,700,000 tons of CO2 annually, making a substantial contribution to mitigating climate change while advancing sustainable agriculture. UN Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action

As our esteemed speakers will discuss, this emerging industry harnesses Saudi Arabia's abundant natural resources, including abundant sunshine, accessible CO2, the pristine Red Sea, and vast flat land. Beyond addressing food security, microalgae offer a multitude of benefits. The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the potential of Spirulina, a type of microalgae, for promoting good health and wellbeing, given its richness in protein, iron, and essential nutrients.

Join us as we explore the immense potential of microalgae in Saudi Arabia and the broader MENA region, addressing critical UN Sustainable Development Goals along the way, and forging a path towards a sustainable and prosperous future while making a significant impact on global climate action."