Saudi Arabia’s Food Paradox: The Rise of Plant-Based Alternatives Amid Persistent Meat and Dairy Imports
Saudi Arabia is undergoing an agricultural transformation, embracing vertical farming, plant-based protein, and lab-grown meat as part of its push toward sustainability. Yet, despite these advances, the Kingdom remains highly dependent on imported conventional meat and dairy, highlighting a persistent challenge in achieving food sovereignty.
Plant-Based Innovations Are Rising, But Imports Still Dominate
The Kingdom’s agricultural sector has seen rapid growth, fueled by investments in high-protein crops like lentils, quinoa, and chickpeas, which serve as the foundation for vegan alternatives. Companies like SADAFCO have launched oat milk, and Mishkat Agritech is advancing hydroponic farming, reducing water usage by up to 90 percent. Additionally, vertical farming is attracting over $1 billion annually in venture funding, supporting year-round local food production.
However, despite these efforts, Saudi Arabia continues to import massive amounts of conventional meat and dairy. Beef, poultry, milk, and cheese still dominate consumer demand, with foreign suppliers filling the gap where local production falls short. The harsh climate and limited arable land make large-scale livestock farming unsustainable, reinforcing reliance on global imports.
Lab-Grown Meat Faces Obstacles
While lab-grown meat initially gained traction, it has faced setbacks due to high production costs and consumer skepticism over taste and texture. Despite ambitious investment in alternative proteins, the reality is that domestic manufacturing of alt-meat products remains limited, slowing the shift away from traditional animal agriculture.
The Road to Food Sovereignty
Saudi Arabia’s Green Revolution is a step toward a more sustainable future, but its reliance on imported meat and dairy remains a significant challenge—driven in part by consumer preferences that still heavily favor conventional animal products. Despite advancements in plant-based agriculture, local production of alternative proteins has yet to match demand, forcing the Kingdom to depend on foreign suppliers. To achieve true food independence, Saudi Arabia must not only expand its domestic production of plant-based alternatives and develop lab-grown meat infrastructure but also drive a fundamental shift in consumer behavior toward more sustainable food choices.
Until these efforts scale up, Saudi Arabia’s reliance on imported meat and dairy will persist, exposing the country to economic and supply chain risks—even in an era of agricultural innovation.