The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has focused on agriculture and is working to increase its food security. In its reform agenda called Vision2030, the country has formulated important plans on how to increase the use of technology, promote organic farming and increase the use of water-saving methods.

Food security is a priority in all Gulf countries, and sustainable agriculture is attracting enormous attention. Locals do not save money and buy the Dutch experience in the field of horticulture, poultry farming, aquaculture and agro-logistics.

After a year in which domestic wheat production nearly doubled to 1.18 million tonnes, Saudi Arabia expects a similar output in the 2023-24 marketing year, according to a report by the Global Agricultural Information Network from the Foreign Agriculture Office (FAS) of the Ministry of US agriculture.

"The main reason for this dramatic increase in domestic wheat production is the high government purchase price ($466 per ton) offered to local farmers," FAS said, adding that "while government purchase prices remain high, domestic wheat production is projected to remain close to 1.2 million tonnes'.

The General Food Security Authority (GFSA), an agency under the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, is mandated to purchase up to 1.5 million tonnes of locally produced wheat per year, the report noted.

Wheat imports are also projected to increase in 2023-24 to 4.8 million tonnes, a 3% increase from the previous season, the same increase is projected for domestic wheat consumption, which is estimated at 4.5 million the ton.

In contrast, Saudi Arabia's barley imports are forecast to fall by 28% to 3 million tonnes "due to significant reductions in the domestic livestock sector", FAS said.

Maize imports are expected to rise 33% in 2023-24 to 4.8 million tonnes due to the expansion of the poultry sector, the report said.