In early November the Minister of Agriculture of Saudi Arabia, Dr Fahad Abdulrahman S. Balghunaim, visited Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture together with a delegation of government representatives. Strengthening of the cooperation with the Netherlands in the field of horticulture was the reason for the visit.
Water is scarce in the Gulf region. Until now, local growers of vegetables and fruit are using water from deeper soil layers. This source, however, is becoming exhausted and polluted. Reverse osmosis is currently used to purify water but this is a very expensive solution. This means that many growers will in the period ahead have to stop their holding if no solution for the poor water situation will be forthcoming.
Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture conducted a desk study into the perspectives of a closed greenhouse for the region. Water demand in such a greenhouse is considerably lower than in a greenhouse with the usual ‘pad-and-fan’ system. In addition, a closed greenhouse enables better optimisation of crop growing conditions while the CO2 concentration can be kept at a higher level. The desk study showed that such a greenhouse is economically viable in this area.
Together with LEI, DLV and PTC+, Wageningen UR Greenhouse gave a presentation about the application of Dutch knowledge and technology in solving the water problems in this area. The Arabian delegation visited the Netherlands upon invitation of the Agricultural Counsellor in Abu Dhabi against the background of a wish for further intensification of the cooperation between the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia in the field of horticulture.