Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman can do the unthinkable, and if the progress of his mega projects, the Neom and Red Sea Projects are testament, he indeed achieves the unachievable. The man who envisioned a mile-long desert city has enlisted a Dutch greenhouse company to grow crops in the desert. Arid landscape and extreme summer no matter, Van der Hoeven Horticultural Projects will turn the ambitious royals’ vision into a blooming reality, pun intended.
For starters, a horticultural area the size of 15 football pitches on the outskirts of Neom will comprise the horticulture oasis. The aim of transforming Neom City into the world’s most self-sufficient region, providing diverse, healthy food while preserving natural resources, will be accomplished first with two test facilities built in different climate zones spread across 110,000 square meters.
Michiel Schoenmaeckers, recently appointed CEO of Van der Hoeven: “A design, build, and operate contract of this scale is unprecedented in the industry, and thus we are very pleased to have been selected. As Van der Hoeven, we have a rich tradition in creating sustainable horticultural solutions to the highest technical and environmental standards. The scope of this contract allows us to realize and demonstrate the latest technologies, with the aim of bringing the horticultural industry forward on a global scale in terms of carbon-neutral climate control, efficient water management, and A.I.-driven crop growing and harvesting.”
The Dutch company’s $120 million contract with the Saudi government includes two pilot greenhouses ready by the end of 2024. The test facilities are equipped with a novel solar and seawater-driven cooling system that does not depend on the use of fossil fuels. Neom City is indeed turning out to be groundbreaking.
How many people will live in Neom City?
Set on 26,500 sq. kilometers on the Red Sea coast, Neom will be divided into ten regions, including Sindalah, The Line, Trojena, and Oxagon. This futuristic address will house 450,000 people by 2026 and a whopping 2 million by 2030. Ultra-ambitious linear project The Line is expected to house nine million residents. The greenhouses mentioned above, along with innovative vertical farming, will help Neom become self-sufficient while remaining environmentally responsible. MBS has installed 750,000 solar panels following the development’s sustainability drive, ensuring all promises of staying green and clean are delivered.
Saudi Arabia has an unfavorable climate for growing crops –
With a desert climate ranging from 43°C (109°F) in the inland areas to 38°C (100°F) in coastal areas during summers, one cannot expect lush green landscapes. Moreover, the average annual rainfall in most parts of the country is below 150 mm throughout the year, which is another deterrent to the growing of crops. The aforementioned explains why Saudi Arabia currently imports about 80 percent of its food.
