Saudi Arabia – April 2025,
Saudi Arabia’s Agricultural Development Fund (ADF) is expected to approve SAR 7.4 billion ($2 billion) in loans in 2025, continuing its upward trajectory from SAR 7.17 billion in 2024. The loans will target projects aimed at transforming traditional farming into a more technologically advanced, resilient sector.
This increase is part of a broader push to ensure food security, reduce import dependency, and improve sustainability in agricultural practices. Loan recipients include producers, agribusinesses, and entrepreneurs who are applying new technologies such as precision irrigation, AI-powered monitoring, and climate-adaptive infrastructure.
The ADF has also increased its contribution rate for agri-tech loans, now covering up to 70% of the total project value (up from 50%). This change is designed to lower barriers to innovation for small and mid-sized operations and encourage more experimental or high-impact projects to move forward.
The 2025 loan portfolio will focus on initiatives that align with Vision 2030, particularly those that integrate automation, data systems, or sustainable production methods. It also supports rural development by ensuring that capital is accessible beyond major urban centers, enabling more equitable growth across the Kingdom’s food system.
Commenting on the expansion, Mohammed AlQurashi, Founder of Saudi FoodTech, said:
“The ADF’s expanded loan program is a major step forward. It helps farmers and innovators move faster and take on projects that would otherwise be out of reach. It’s a key part of building the kind of food system we need for the future.”
At Saudi FoodTech, the ADF’s role is seen as foundational. Its financial support allows startups and SMEs to experiment, test, and scale new solutions that can have an outsized impact on food production, resource management, and system resilience. These loans don’t just provide funding—they enable momentum.
As Saudi Arabia continues investing in its food systems, institutions like the ADF will remain vital to unlocking growth. By enabling modern tools to reach the field, the Fund is helping build an agricultural sector ready for the next decade of change.
