Programme supports research-based agricultural innovations across the MENAT region
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 05 December 2024: Goumbook, a leading social enterprise accelerating sustainability and climate action across the MENAT region, in continued partnership with Saudi Awwal Bank, HSBC Bank Middle East, European Institute of Technology (EIT) Food and the Climate Champions Team, is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the second edition of the MENAT Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme for the 2024/2025 cohort.
The MENAT Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme aims to empower and upskill researchers, students, and innovators with regenerative and entrepreneurial expertise to tackle critical challenges in food systems, biodiversity loss, climate change, and water management across the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey (MENAT). The programme seeks to bridge the gap between academia, research and the business sector, by transforming research, science and nature- based solutions into accessible, scalable, and sustainable outcomes tailored to the needs of small to medium farm holders. This initiative will catalyze a regional regenerative agriculture movement, addressing the unique agricultural challenges posed by the region’s arid climate, saline soils, desert landscapes, and water scarcity.
Innovators, researchers, and students focusing on regenerative agriculture are encouraged to apply by January 6th, 2025 on the programme website. Applicants will be able to present their ideas and receive support to develop their regenerative solutions addressing pressing issues such as food security, water management, and ecosystem restoration.
The programme’s judging committee will select 20 participants for intensive boot camps and mentorship, culminating in a pitch event where three winners will receive $20,000 grants each and additional support to further develop their proof of concepts and scale their projects for environmental and social impact.
Last year’s inaugural cohort attracted 158 registrations from 18 countries, representing 19 universities and research institutes across the MENAT region. Highlighting the importance of local solutions to the MENAT region’s unique agricultural challenges, participants achieved significant milestones, transforming their research into actionable solutions that enhance climate resilience and food security.
Supporting researchers and innovators in our region is essential to advancing solutions for challenges where the MENAT region, with its heritage and expertise in farming in arid, water-scarce, saline, and desertified landscapes, is uniquely positioned to lead in climate-resilient agriculture—an area of growing importance for global climate action efforts.
Samantha Kayruz, Goumbook’s Strategy and Sustainability Impact Director, said: “The programme’s continued support reflects a dedication to empowering regional researchers and innovators to advance impactful solutions that address both local and global environmental priorities. By welcoming a new cohort of change-makers, we aim to further the journey begun last year, where talented researchers laid the groundwork for agricultural solutions that actively combat food, water and climate issues and improve livelihoods across our region. With the continued support of our partners, we are creating pathways for innovators to move from research concept to impact, shaping a regenerative agricultural future for the MENAT region.”
Faten Abalkail, Chief Governance and Corporate Affairs Officer of SAB, stated: “Our support for RAVP is deeply rooted in the belief that regenerative agriculture can lead to substantial environmental and economic benefits. By fostering a culture of innovation and resilience, we aim to support impactful solutions for Saudi Arabia and the broader region’s unique challenges in soil health, water scarcity, and sustainable food production. Our commitment reflects a profound investment in the present and a sustainable, thriving legacy for our communities and the environment that supports us all.”
Sabrin Rahman, Head of Sustainability for HSBC in the Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye region, said: “This initiative is part of our strategy to build global partnerships and support climate-resilient innovations. Last year’s cohort demonstrated the potential for transformative change in regenerative agriculture, and we are excited about the potential these pioneering ideas bring to the table.”
For information on the MENAT Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme, eligibility criteria, and the application process, please visit www.MENATRegenerativeAgriculture.com.
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Notes to the Editors:
Supporting information on regenerative agriculture:
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reports that irrigated agriculture—which increasingly depends on groundwater—consumes around 85% of renewable water resources in the MENAT region. Small-scale family farms, responsible for over 80% of global crop and livestock production, face critical challenges like water scarcity, soil degradation, and limited support, with many proposed innovations remaining inaccessible to them. Approximately 45% of agricultural land is impacted by salinity, nutrient depletion, and erosion, with overall land degradation estimated between 40% and 70% over the past two decades.
Regenerative agriculture, through its fundamental principles and adoption of resilient crop varieties that require less water, fewer pesticides, and reduced chemical inputs, is an approach that translates as a vital component in addressing the region-specific agriculture and climate challenges of the MENAT region. Regenerative agriculture also holds the potential to sequester carbon dioxide, making it a climate change mitigation and adaptation solution.
About Goumbook:
Goumbook is a social enterprise dedicated to accelerating Sustainability and Climate Action in the UAE and beyond since 2009.
Goumbook shapes the global sustainability landscape by offering local solutions to corporates, youth, civil society, and the public sector. Through their programmes and initiatives, Goumbook mobilises cross sectorial stakeholders to drive action. By addressing the unique challenges faced by the MENA region, Goumbook ensures that their region’s priorities are at the forefront of global sustainability efforts.
Goumbook raises awareness, develops and runs initiatives, advise and consult to change mindsets and create impact on the current and future living experience of the people in the MENA region.
For more information, please visit: https://goumbook.com/