Regional summit in Riyadh aims to unlock finance and innovation for regenerative agriculture in drylands

Riyadh, 15 May 2025 – An event aimed at accelerating science-based, regenerative solutions to transform food and land systems in arid and semi-arid regions is taking place today in Riyadh.

The inaugural MENAT (Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey) Regional Regenerative Agriculture Summit, supported by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) is being organized by UAE-based social enterprise, and Food Systems Call to Action endorser, Goumbook, 

The Summit, the first dedicated platform of its kind in the region, brings together researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers to work out how to scale regenerative practices, shape supportive policy, and unlock catalytic finance to enable climate-resilient agriculture.

The event will feature live pitches from the Top 10 finalists of Goumbook’s MENAT Regenerative Agriculture Venture Building Programme. Three grant winners will be selected to develop proof-of-concept solutions aimed at improving food and water security across the region.

Launched in 2023, the Venture Building Programme is the first regional platform focused on supporting regenerative agriculture solutions in dryland climates. It has already attracted more than 660 registrations of interest from 65 countries and includes participation from over 80 research and academic institutions. The initiative is run in partnership with Saudi Awwal Bank and HSBC Bank Middle East, and supported by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) and the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions.

In 2023 at COP28, the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions launched the Food Systems Call to Action, a global campaign endorsed by over 200 organisations to accelerate fair, nature-positive, and resilient food systems. As an official endorser, Goumbook’s work helps channel research and innovation into tangible solutions for regions most vulnerable to climate and food insecurity.

“Through its vast heritage, ancestral wisdom and expertise, matched by the groundbreaking research and innovation lead by our region, these insights lay before us the true potential the region could offer to tackle its own challenges and become a seedbed of innovation and centre of excellence for arid, desert and  climate resilient agriculture, from the MENAT to the world,” said Samantha Kayruz, Goumbook’s Director of Strategy and Sustainability Impact. 

Regenerative agriculture is increasingly recognized as a key nature-based solution to address the interconnected challenges of food insecurity, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, and land degradation. Unlike conventional farming, it restores soil health, strengthens ecosystems, improves water cycles, and sequesters carbon. A Rodale Institute study has estimated that if adopted globally, regenerative agriculture could potentially sequester 100% of current global carbon emissions. Regenerative Agriculture practices also advance the three Rio Conventions: the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

While awareness of regenerative agriculture remains in relatively early stages across MENAT, many of its core principles are rooted in longstanding local practices that reflect harmony with nature. The Venture Building Programme aims to revive and scale these practices through science-driven innovation, entrepreneurial development, and private sector engagement.

For more information, visit:https://goumbook.com/regenerative-agriculture/