Thursday 16 / October / 2025
Muscat: The Food Security Lab 2025 concluded its proceedings on Thursday with a number of qualitative outcomes reflecting the strategic approaches of the Sultanate of Oman in boosting food security. These included the implementation of 31 enabling initiatives and 27 investment projects valued at OMR37.2 million, alongside the identification of 62 promising investment opportunities distributed across a number of vital sectors.
The lab's proceedings revealed that the plant production sector accounted for 21 projects with a value of OMR5.6 million, while the livestock sector registered one project valued at OMR270,000. Four projects were approved in the fisheries sector with a value reaching OMR31.3 million, and one project in the water resources sector valued at OMR50,000.
The closing ceremony was held under the patronage of Dr. Khamis Saif Al Jabri, Head of the Oman Vision 2040 Follow-up Unit.
During the lab, 13 usufruct contracts were inked in cooperation with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, distributed across several governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, aimed at supporting food security investments. They were as follows:
· In Dhofar Governorate, a project for cultivating local garlic in the Wilayat of Thumrait was signed with Al Najd for Agricultural and Animal Development on an area of 1,000 acres at a cost of OMR648,000. A project for cultivating and producing lemons in the same wilayat on an area of 52.3 acres was signed with Global Quality Window Company at a value of OMR134,000. Additionally, a project for cultivating frankincense on an area of 128 acres was signed with Saud Al Sheibani Global Company at a value of OMR153,107.
· In North Al Batinah Governorate, a project for producing and cultivating wild truffles in the Wilayat of Saham was signed on an area of 10 acres at a cost of OMR43,498 and a project for cultivating beans in greenhouses and potatoes in open fields in the Wilayat of A’Suwaiq on an area of 10.1 acres at a cost of OMR87,669.
· In South Al Batinah Governorate, a project was inked for cultivating and producing vegetables in the Wilayat of Barka with Al Rawd for Agricultural and Animal Products on an area of 6.7 acres valued at OMR115,353.
· In A’Dakhiliyah Governorate, a contract was signed for cultivating and producing olives on Jebel Shams on an area of 6.2 acres valued at OMR71,454 with the National Academy for Management and Technology.
· In Al Buraimi Governorate, a project for cultivating and producing figs and lemons in the Wilayat of Al Sunaina was signed on an area of 9.75 acres at a cost of OMR60,678. A project for breeding local goats and sheep and producing fodder in the same wilayat was signed on an area of 100 acres with Naseem Reef Al Bawadi Company at a value of OMR287,170.
· In Muscat Governorate, the contracts included a tourism agriculture project in the Wilayat of Al Amerat on an area of 24.73 acres at a cost of OMR956,723 with Al Nasr Al Khaled Projects Company, in addition to a project for nurseries and mother plants in Al Khoudh village on an area of 4.9 acres with United Majan Generations Company at a value of OMR213,996.
· In A’Dhahirah Governorate, a project for cultivating millet in the Wilayat of Dhank was signed on an area of 60.5 acres at a cost of OMR123,844 with Riyad Al Amani Trading Solidarity Company.
· In South A’Sharqiyah Governorate, a project for cultivating and producing potatoes in the Wilayat of Ja'alan Bani Bu Hasan was signed on an area of 10 acres at a cost of OMR66,633 with Al Jadarah for Works Company.
Within the framework of enhancing self-sufficiency and developing the local production system, the import substitution initiative "Localising the Second Billion" emerged as one of the strategic pillars aimed at localising industries and maximising the benefit from high-value exports. The initiative focuses on boosting national production, particularly in areas of the national food basket and high-value imported goods, contributing to reducing dependence on external sources and enhancing the economic efficiency of the food sector in the Sultanate of Oman.
On another front, the Food Security Investment Programme stemming from the Food Security Lab for the period from 2021 to 2025 saw the approval of 436 investment projects with a total value of OMR1.757 billion, distributed across various sectors related to food security. The number of projects in the plant production sector reached 71 projects valued at OMR367 million, while the livestock wealth sector witnessed the implementation of 63 projects valued at OMR311 million. The fisheries sector recorded 63 other projects with a value of OMR632.6 million, while 25 projects were approved in the water resources sector with a total value of OMR368.4 million. This reflects an integrated approach towards sustainable and comprehensive development of the vital food and water sectors in Oman.
The lab's proceedings also included the signing of a number of investment projects in sustainable food production:
· A contract was signed to establish, manage, and operate an integrated market for fish, vegetables, fruits, meat, and poultry in the Wilayat of Al Amerat, Muscat Governorate, on an area of ten thousand square meters, with an investment cost of RO 2.2 million, to be implemented by United Majan Generations Company.
· A contract was signed for an intensive aquaculture fish farming project using ponds with Al Arabia for Aquaculture Development Company in Al Khuwaimah village, Wilayat of Ja'alan Bani Bu Ali, South A’Sharqiyah Governorate, on an estimated area of 340 hectares, with an investment cost of RO 10,238,000.
· Additionally, a contract was signed for a white-legged shrimp farming project with Fakhr Al Bihar Company in the Awrab area of the same wilayat, on an area of 101 hectares, with an investment reaching RO 6,335,000.
· An agreement was signed with Musandam Global Investment to develop and operate the fishing port in the Wilayat of Khasab, Musandam Governorate, with an investment value of RO 8 million, supporting efforts for fisheries sustainability and enhancing added value.
Regarding projects for investing in natural resources, a contract was signed for a project to utilize dredged materials from the Wadi Masaylik dam in the Wilayat of Mahdha, Al Buraimi Governorate, with Ronq Al Khaleej for Golden Projects, at an investment cost of RO 50,000 and an implementation period of six months. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources also signed a cooperation memorandum with Nama Water Services aiming to train small and medium enterprises in modern irrigation systems and domestic pipe connections, to empower 80 beneficiaries from entrepreneurs and enhance the efficiency of water resource use.
In a related context, the lab witnessed the launch of a set of institutional and developmental initiatives focusing on empowerment and building national capacities. These included an initiative to enhance national competencies in the food security sector, an initiative for functional replacement and knowledge transfer for Omani veterinarians, alongside initiatives for qualifying second-tier leaders, preparing a guide for job rotation, an electronic training platform, the "Get to Know Us" initiative, in addition to training programs in areas such as household leak detection, modern irrigation systems, and the qualification of Omani fishermen.
At the sustainability level, the lab came up with a number of financing initiatives, such as enhancing the partnership between the banking sector and the food security sector, financing desalination units for salinity-affected wells, and a number of energy initiatives.
Regarding the digital transformation pillar, it included the launch of initiatives such as the "Tharwat Plus" project, the food tracking initiative, providing self-service devices, and launching an open data platform for sustainable food.
The lab's activities also included the announcement of a project to develop the subsidiary and economic accounts system for the agriculture, fisheries and water resources sector in cooperation with the National Centre for Statistics and Information. The project aims to assess the current situation of the statistical system and identify gaps, inventory, update, and produce basic data, and re-evaluate the subsidiary national account tables, thereby enhancing the accuracy of developmental decision-making and serving national policies based on data.
