Danish industrial biotechnology company Unibio and its local partner Edhafat signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 1 August with SAGIA, the General Investment Authority of Saudi Arabia, to build a facility in the country which will convert natural gas into high-protein aquatic feed, as well as feed for livestock.

Under the Saudi Arabian 2030 Vision, the plan is to transform the economy using local investment power to create a more diverse and sustainable future, while also using the strategic position of the Kingdom to build a role as an integral driver of international trade bringing Africa, Asia and Europe together. In a region that may be affected by changing weather and without much fertile agricultural land as well as limited water resources, bringing in technology to address future food security challenges is the key. By using local resources such as natural gas, cheap electricity and chemicals, proteins can be produced without adding stress to the agricultural system or fish stock. The Unibio technology allows the decoupling of protein production from farming and fishing and this, coupled with Saudi Arabia’s ambition to increase aqua culture and milk production, makes the location and the Unibio technology a very good match. “We are very pleased to sign an MOU with an important governmental organization such as SAGIA as well as partnering up with Edhafat and other local stakeholders in our effort to participate in the development on the Saudi Arabian economy, bringing investments, jobs and a profitable business opportunity to the Kingdom,” said Unibio Group CEO Henrik Busch-Larsen. Ibrahim Al Omar, Governor of SAGIA said: “With a growing population, this project represents an important step towards achieving food security for the Kingdom.”