Japan Saudi partnership plan circular farming with agri tech

Universal Materials Incubator Co., Ltd. (UMI), a Tokyo-based venture capital firm specialising in the materials and chemical industries, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Agricultural Development Company (NADEC) of Saudi Arabia to introduce advanced Japanese technologies into the Saudi agricultural sector. The signing ceremony took place during the Saudi Japan Ministerial Investment Forum held in Saudi Arabia last month.

The partnership focuses on technology scouting and due diligence to leverage Japanese expertise for the advancement of agriculture across Saudi Arabia and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The two entities intend to scale laboratory-level research into global industrial applications by leveraging on Japan’s history in materials science.

A “localisation-first” strategy serves as a model for the Saudi-Japan Vision 2030. It makes shift away from traditional import-dependent models by integrating Japanese intellectual property with Saudi Arabian resources. The partners will conduct tests to adapt innovations to specific soil and climatic conditions to ensure the technologies are effective in the region’s unique environment.

The collaboration also prioritises the establishment of a circular economy within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Plans are underway to construct local manufacturing facilities that utilise regional organic waste, such as olive skins, as raw materials. This conversion of waste into valuable agricultural inputs aims to build a sustainable industrial foundation.

To further support this transition, UMI is collaborating with Forming Future, a Saudi Arabian incubator and accelerator. This partnership seeks to maximise the potential of the local start-up ecosystem and foster innovation in sustainable materials.