The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Riyadh organized a workshop on “Seaweed as an alternative protein source for alfalfa” at ARASCO Head Quarters in Riyadh. The workshop was organised in close collaboration with ARASCO, Wageningen University & Research and Royal IHC in the Netherlands. The aim of the workshop was to discuss the development and cultivation of seaweed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as a protein source for animal feed and as a promising alternative for the local growing of alfalfa. The Saudi government took measures to phase out alfalfa production in the Kingdom in the nearby future. The need for an alternative protein source for animal feed therefor is urgent to prevent the Kingdom of becoming to much depending on protein import. Seaweed is such an alternative. The 120,000 ha alfalfa that was planted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the year 2015 required the use of large quantities of non-renewable underground water. The benefit of seaweed is that it does not require fresh water for its production at all. This can be explained by the fact that seaweed is grown in saline water, in the open sea, and, depending on the area where they are cultivated, plant nutrients are freely available. The interest by different partners was significant. A working group will be formed between Dutch and Saudi partners to carry this interesting topic further in KSA.
The workshop aimed to bring together experts on this topic, coming not only from ARASCO, Wageningen University and Royal IHC, but also from the Saudi private, public and knowledge sector, to speak about the potential of seaweed as an alternative for alfalfa, the general discussion was led by Dr. Hans van der Beek, agricultural counsellor at the Embassy of the Netherlands in KSA. During the seminar innovative knowledge was shared that is required on growing seaweed as a crop in the sea and to learn how to extract proteins from it. This is in line with the strategic objective of the Saudi Vision 2030. It is envisioned to start a demonstration project as soon as possible in the Kingdom, with Saudi partners, in order to do preparatory work for a successful follow up.