Al-deer: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) to enhance scientific cooperation on improving climate-resilient crops in the Kingdom.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the collaboration aligns with national efforts to strengthen food security amid challenges to global food systems such as climate change, the spread of pests and diseases, and rising food demand.
The partnership supports the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Agriculture Strategy, which focus on improving sector efficiency and developing innovative solutions to ensure sustainable food supplies, particularly in arid and high-temperature environments.
The MoU aims to combine CIMMYT's expertise in developing maize and wheat varieties with KAUST's advanced research capabilities in genomics, bioinformatics, and computational agriculture. This collaboration seeks to accelerate the development of high-yield, climate-adapted varieties capable of withstanding harsh conditions.