The Saudi government is stepping up efforts to attract investors to its agriculture sector after identifying a funding gap of SAR37 billion ($9.8 billion). The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture says there are investment opportunities in plant and animal production, as well as fisheries, processing, manufacture of agricultural products, and infrastructure development.
Controlled-environment agriculture, which Malas describes as "flavor of the month" for investors, though costly , has increased by 58 percent over the past five years, from 257,000 tonnes to around 407,000 tonnes.
Private equity funds are looking for opportunities, "particularly businesses that are cash flow positive and established and have good, strong growth characteristics".
Saudi Arabia imports 80 percent of its food at the moment but is working to increase domestic production as part of its Vision 2030 plans for food security.
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