المملكة: To meet food security needs, the Kingdom invests in algae biostimulants
Biostimulants are natural products produced by algae that are expected to improve agricultural crop production at a lower cost. They enhance plant growth, root growth and nutrient uptake without spoiling the soil, contaminating water supplies or releasing greenhouse gases, which distinguishes them from chemical products such as fertilizers.
Sustainable agriculture
It also enhances plants’ tolerance to poor soil conditions, such as the arid lands common in Saudi Arabia.
Given the restrictions on the use of chemical fertilizers in many countries, it is estimated that the biostimulants market will witness significant growth, as it is expected to rise from US$3 billion in 2022 to more than US$9 billion by 2032.
This trend is part of the quest towards sustainable agriculture that allows achieving food production equal to or superior to what is produced using chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
This collaboration builds on the existing operation of an industrial-sized commercial algae production plant at KAUST that serves several purposes, including producing biocatalysts for commercial use for the first time in the Kingdom, and is strategically designed to reduce dependence on imports of commodities needed for food production.
KAUST’s algae plant is expected to produce several tons of algae per month, with one kilogram of algae providing 20 liters of biostimulant, enough to treat several hectares of farmland.
Improving food security
Dr. Yousef Al-Hafiz, Research Partnerships Advisor at the National Livestock and Fisheries Sector Development Program, said: “Biostimulants are an innovative way to address soil fertility and improve food security in desert areas. KAUST has a large algae factory already operating, and we are excited to see the results.”
For his part, Director General of the Sustainability Center, Dr. Khaled Al-Ruhaili, pointed out that KAUST has proven itself as a leader in algae science in the Kingdom, and we seek to benefit from the knowledge it produces in this field.
Meanwhile, KAUST President Professor Edward Byrne explained that biostimulants represent another area that KAUST is exploring to provide innovative solutions that place the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in a leadership position in food science.
The project aims to produce a wide range of biostimulants on a commercial scale by studying several strains of algae, including new formulations that replace fungicides and chemical pesticides.
The biostimulants produced by the cooperating parties have shown noticeable positive effects on several agricultural crops in the Kingdom.
- For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and Twitter
