In a strategic move aimed at transforming the agricultural sector in the Kingdom, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture launched a comprehensive national awareness campaign under the slogan "Your Local Guarantee." This campaign aims to promote the Saudi Good Agricultural Practices (Saudi GAP) program and seeks to enhance the sustainability of the agricultural sector and raise the standards of quality and safety of locally produced food, in line with the ambitious goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.
Strategic context and future vision
This campaign comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is undergoing a major transformation in its food security strategy, with Vision 2030 prioritizing the achievement of relative self-sufficiency in several strategic crops. The focus is no longer solely on increasing production quantities, but has shifted to include production quality and safety, ensuring consumer health and minimizing waste of natural resources, particularly water. The Saudi GAP certification serves as the implementation tool for translating these objectives into tangible reality within Saudi farms, transitioning them from traditional methods to modern and regulated agricultural practices.
Campaign goals and support for national products
The “Your Local Guarantee” campaign is the latest in a series of integrated initiatives led by the Ministry to support national products. The campaign highlights the importance of adopting good agricultural practices at all stages of production, from sowing to harvesting and packaging. Through this, the Ministry aims to:
- Establishing the concepts of sustainable agriculture to enhance consumer confidence.
- To achieve tangible added value for the national agricultural economy.
- Ensuring the safety of food crops and their freedom from harmful pesticide residues.
- Improving the efficiency of operational processes on farms and reducing costs in the long term.
Saudi GAP standards and their economic impact
The Saudi GAP program is based on a set of rigorous national technical standards applied to agricultural production. It serves as a genuine guarantee of food safety and environmental protection, effectively contributing to the regulation of farm management and the implementation of advanced pest and risk control systems, while strictly adhering to the protection of workers' health and rights.
On the economic front, these standards aim to open up broad marketing opportunities for local products. Obtaining this certification enhances the competitiveness of Saudi products not only in domestic markets but also opens export doors to international markets that demand high safety standards. This makes local products the first choice for consumers seeking quality and safety, resulting in direct financial benefits for committed farmers.
Continued awareness efforts
The initiative focuses directly on supporting farmers and technicians by developing their professional skills, thus contributing to strengthening the sustainability of the national food security system. This campaign complements the Ministry's previous awareness efforts, such as the "Our Winter is Healthy" and "Environmental Lens" campaigns, underscoring the commitment of stakeholders to empowering farmers, protecting natural resources for future generations, and ensuring access to safe and healthy food for every table in the Kingdom.
