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HORTICULTURE

The Netherlands and Saudi Arabia Certhon takes

are taking major steps toward sustainable

food security steps with new
construction
project for

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This$ summer$ Certhon$ proudly$ started$
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new$ construction$ project.$ This$ project,$
located$ on$ Waellandweg,$ marks$ an$ im:
portant$ step$ towards$ a$ sustainable$ fu:
The$ Netherlands$ and$ Saudi$ Arabia$ ance (SAFTA) and Dutch Greenhouse Delta ture$for$the$horticultural$sector.
share$ a$ crucial$ ambition:$ to$ advance$ (DGD), representing public and private
food$ security$ as$ outlined$ in$ Saudi$ Vi: partners from the Netherlands, dedicated During the "rst phase, the focus was on
sion$ 2030.$ Dutch$ expertise$ in$ sustain: to enhancing cooperation for food security. the underground installation work for the
able$agriculture$and$water$management$ 32,790 m² greenhouse complex. From WKO
FDQ SOD\ D VLJQL¿FDQW UROH LQ KHOSLQJ WR This roadshow will highlight "The Future of wells to kilometers of piping, all of it was the
achieve$this$goal. Farming" in Saudi Arabia and explore how foundation for what will soon be a state-
international partnerships can contribute
Next week, a large Dutch delegation of to the kingdom’s agrifood development. of-the-art greenhouse. While this essential
companies, educational institutions, and Experts will share insights on Controlled work will become virtually invisible, it is
government representatives will travel to critical to the future success of the complex.
Riyadh to participate in events surround- Environment Agriculture (CEA), water man-
ing the Saudi Agriculture exhibition from agement in horticulture, and innovations Meanwhile, the innovative greenhouse
October 21 to 24. These events will focus on tailored to the Saudi market. builder has begun the next phase, in which
strengthening Saudi-Dutch collaboration to KAUST Center of Excellence for Sustain- they will continue to build above ground on
bring food security closer to reality. this ambitious project. The steel is up in the
able Food Security & Dutch Greenhouse air and with it, big steps are now visibly be-
The Dutch water and horticulture sectors Delta Formalize Partnership
o!er an integrated approach to realizing ing made.
Saudi Arabia’s food security strategy. By Recognizing the importance of sustain- “The new greenhouse is fully in line with
combining smart greenhouses with smart able food production in arid climates, Dutch Opti-$or’s vision of innovation and envi-
water technologies, fresh food can be sus- Greenhouse Delta and the KAUST Center of
tainably and pro"tably produced, address- Excellence for Sustainable Food Security ronmental awareness,” says Jim van Zeijl,
ing climate challenges and promoting re- will formalize their collaboration during the project manager at Certhon. Equipped with
sponsible business conduct. opening ceremony of Saudi Agriculture on advanced facilities such as 100% LED light-
An engaging series of events around Monday, October 21. The Memorandum of ing, heat pumps, cold and heat sources, and
energy-saving glass where and Low-E coat-
the Saudi Agriculture exhibition, aimed at Understanding (MoU) will be signed in the
strengthening partnerships and driving in- presence of H.E. Abdulrahman bin Abdul- ing is incorporated, this greenhouse will be
novation in sustainable agriculture, will be mohsen Al-Fadhli, Minister of Environment, an outstanding example of sustainability.
led by Dutch Greenhouse Delta, Nether- Water & Agriculture and H.E. Mr. Hans Peter This high-performance greenhouse is ex-
lands Water Partnership, the Dutch Enter- van der Woude, Ambassador of the King- pected to be ready for production in the fall
prise Agency and Embassy in Saudi Arabia. of 2025.
dom of the Netherlands to The Kingdom of
SAFTA & DGD Roadshow Saudi Arabia. This marks a signi"cant step “Together with Opti-$or and the con-
The week will kick o! with a public event toward developing technology-driven solu- struction partners, we are building the
on Sunday 20 October, at the Ministry of En- tions that maximize sustainable food pro- greenhouse of the future, where innovation
vironment, Water, and Agriculture (MEWA), duction while minimizing environmental and sustainability go hand in hand,” said
organized by the Saudi AgriFood Tech Alli- impact. Circle 21 on enquiry card Van Zeijl. Circle 22 on enquiry card
Vol. 40 No. 8 17