The Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Swiss agritech company Syngenta Crop Protection AG to collaborate on strengthening the resilience of the agrifood sector in Saudi Arabia and internationally.
The LOI outlines a framework for exploring joint projects in areas such as sustainable farming, digital agriculture, soil health, and crop protection solutions. According to SALIC, the collaboration aims to strengthen global food security by leveraging strategic partnerships, advanced technologies, and responsible agricultural practices.
Scaling Sustainable Food Systems
The potential areas of collaboration include climate-resilient farming methods, improved soil management, and the development of crop and seed systems suited to local conditions. These efforts are expected to cover areas such as water conservation, soil regeneration techniques, and the use of digital tools to improve day-to-day farm operations.
Together, we aim to help transform agriculture by integrating technology, knowledge, and responsible practices – empowering farmers, conserving resources, and building resilient food systems that strengthen Saudi Arabia’s food security and support future generations worldwide
The two parties also plan to support knowledge-sharing through training programs, technical support, and the establishment of learning centers. Both parties plan to form working groups to identify and prioritize specific projects aligned with Saudi Arabia’s food security goals, while also supporting the development of sustainable food systems with long-term global relevance.
SALIC-Syngenta Synergy
SALIC’s core mission is to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s food security by investing in agriculture and livestock projects at home and abroad. This approach supports the broader goals of Vision 2030, the country’s national plan to reduce economic dependence on oil and build more resilient supply chains.
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This new partnership aligns with that mission by focusing on practical solutions, such as resilient farming practices and knowledge exchange that can strengthen domestic production while contributing to broader efforts in building sustainable agrifood systems.
The company invests across the global agrifood supply chain, focusing on essential commodities such as grains, oilseeds, rice, sugar, edible oils, and red meat. With operations spanning several continents, SALIC works through partnerships with both international and local players to secure long-term access to food resources.
Through this collaboration, we will help agriculture transform – exploring innovative and sustainable solutions, infrastructure, education and training to equip farmers for success to ensure enough safe, nutritious, affordable food for all
Syngenta is an agritech company based in Basel, Switzerland, specializing in crop protection products, seeds, and digital farming tools. The company is focused on developing new technologies and solutions that support farmers to grow healthier plants in healthier soil with a higher yield.
The collaboration can offer Syngenta an opportunity to apply its resources in crop protection, seeds, and digital agriculture to practical, high-impact projects in a region facing unique agricultural challenges. Syngenta has decades of research and development experience in plant science, pest management, and precision agriculture. These capabilities align with SALIC’s focus on improving productivity, resource use, and climate resilience across farming systems.
Building Resilient Food Future
The collaboration between SALIC and Syngenta signals a broader shift in how nations like Saudi Arabia are approaching food security, not just as a supply issue, but as a systems challenge that requires innovation, sustainability, and global cooperation. By combining investment capacity with deep agronomic expertise, the two parties are well-positioned to move beyond LOI and towards facilitating scalable global impact.
The focus on local adaptability, through climate-smart methods, soil health, and technology reflects an understanding that resilient food systems must be both globally informed and locally grounded. If successful, this partnership could serve as a model for future agritech diplomacy and transnational collaboration.