Innovation Mission to Saudi Arabia and the UAE: Cold Chain and Post-Harvest Technology
Is your organisation developing innovative, sustainable solutions in agrologistics, cold storage, or post-harvest technology? Interested in collaborating with partners in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. Join this innovation mission focused on innovation and product development.
Attendee information
Attendee information- Participation costs: €350 per person, excluding VAT, travel and accommodation expenses, and all individual costs.
- Register before 14 March 2026.
Organiser
Organiser- Netherlands Enterprise Agency
Central to this agri-food innovation mission is exploring equal collaboration in research and development for both researchers and companies. The focus is on collaboration and innovation within the supply chain.
Gulf States: Momentum in Growing Agrologistics
The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia combine major investments in food security and innovation with an urgent need for efficient cold-chain systems. This makes both countries strategic partners for Dutch knowledge and technology.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are rapidly investing in agrologistics, cold chain infrastructure and post-harvest systems as part of their national food security strategies (KSA Vision 2030 and UAE Food Security Strategy 2051). Due to their arid climate, water scarcity and strong dependence on food imports, efficient and resilient food logistics systems are essential to guarantee access to fresh, safe and high-quality food.
In both countries, up to 30–35% of food is lost along the supply chain, mainly due to insufficient post-harvest handling, limited cold storage capacity, inconsistent temperature management across the supply chain and weak coordination between logistics actors. Reducing these losses is a priority for improving food security, sustainability and economic efficiency.
In 2025, the Netherlands Agricultural Network commissioned a desk study on cold chain and post-harvest systems in the Gulf region, followed by a fact-finding mission to the UAE and Saudi Arabia. These confirmed the scale of food losses across the value chain and demonstrated strong interest among public and private stakeholders in collaborating with Dutch partners on scalable solutions. Both reports are available on Golfstaten | Agroberichten Buitenland.
Major investments linked to large-scale events such as Expo 2030 in Riyadh and the FIFA World Cup 2034 are accelerating demand for modern, scalable and internationally compliant cold chain systems. In parallel, both countries are building strong innovation ecosystems that connect government, industry, startups and research institutions, such as the Saudi AgriFood Tech Alliance (SAFTA) in Saudi Arabia and Hub71 and the Dubai Future Foundation in the UAE.
The mission builds on existing institutional cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN) and the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) that signed a Memorandum of Understanding at GreenTech in 2025, establishing a formal framework for cooperation on agri-food innovation, including cold chain and post-harvest technologies. In addition, concrete public-private collaboration is already underway, for example, through the Cold Chain Working Group established under the Saudi AgriFood Tech Alliance (SAFTA), in which the Netherlands Agricultural Network actively participates.
Key challenges in the UAE and Saudi Arabia include:
- Insufficient temperature control during storage, transport and cross-docking;
- Limited shelf life due to suboptimal post-harvest handling.
- High energy consumption and sustainability challenges of cooling systems;
- Lack of digital monitoring, traceability and data-driven decision-making;
- Fragmented and poorly coordinated logistics networks;
- High levels of food loss at the retail level due to limited shelf-life extension technologies and suboptimal in-store handling.
There is strong demand for solutions such as:
- Vacuum cooling, controlled atmosphere storage and smart packaging to extend shelf life;
- Energy- and water-efficient refrigeration systems adapted to extreme climatic conditions;
- Sensor-based monitoring systems to ensure cold chain integrity;
- AI-driven logistics planning, route optimisation and predictive maintenance;
- Integrated supply chain design connecting production, storage, transport and retail;
- Retail-level technologies that extend shelf life and reduce waste, such as liquid sealing or spray coatings, smart refrigeration and digital quality monitoring to optimise stock rotation and demand planning.
Dutch companies and knowledge institutions offer precisely these capabilities. Their solutions contribute directly reduce food loss, improve food safety, lower environmental impact and build more resilient and sustainable food systems in the Gulf region.
For whom?
This innovation mission is intended for the Dutch:
- Companies active in cold chain logistics, refrigeration, packaging and post-harvest technology;
- Providers of digital and AI-based logistics solutions;
- Knowledge institutes and applied research organisations;
- Startups and scale-ups in agri-food technology and logistics.
The mission is particularly relevant for organisations seeking:
- Market entry or expansion in the Gulf region;
- Partners for pilot projects and proof-of-concept development;
- Long-term public-private collaboration and R&D opportunities
Mission Objectives
The objectives of this mission are:
- Gain insight into the cold chain logistics, post-harvest ecosystems and innovative developments of Saudi Arabia and the UAE;
- To explore and exchange best practices within policy, industry, and the agri-logistics supply chain;
- Identify opportunities for Dutch expertise and explore potential collaboration in advanced logistics, food preservation, packaging and sustainability;
- To explore trends and opportunities for multi-year (public-private) collaborations between knowledge institutions and companies in the field of research and development;
- Obtain insights into market entry requirements, regulatory frameworks, and investment climate for Dutch companies;
- To link innovative knowledge and technology from the Netherlands to market opportunities in the Gulf States.
Concept Program
The mission program is currently being developed. We strive to incorporate participants' specific wishes as much as possible when determining the final program.
The mission runs 4 days: 17 & 18 May in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) and 19 & 20 May in Dubai (United Arab Emirates). An additional day in the UAE may be added.
The program will combine:
- Seminars and briefings with government authorities, sector experts and leading market players;
- Meetings with key stakeholders across the agrologistics and food innovation ecosystem;
- Site visits to cold storage facilities, logistics hubs, food processing and packaging operations and innovation centres;
- Networking events and matchmaking with companies, startups, investors and public institutions.
Costs
The cost of participating in the innovation mission is €350 excl. VAT per persona. This includes:
• Participation in the collective program;
• Transfers to and from program components;
• Lunch and dinners, if mentioned in the program.
Participation does not include:
• Travel and accommodation costs (intercontinental and domestic flights and hotels);
• All individual costs, such as lunches and dinners outside the program.
Participation
If you are interested in joining this innovation mission, please complete the registration form by Friday, March 13th, 2026.
After registering, your participation will be confirmed based on the number of available places and an assessment of how well your technology aligns with the mission's scope and objectives. You will be informed after the review process.
Want to know more?
Looking for financial support for your plans?
- The Knowledge and Innovation Agenda for Agriculture, Water and Food (KIA-LWV) offers annual funding opportunities for public-private R&D collaborations through the SMP (Seed Money Project) and PPP (Public-Private Partnership) instruments.
- Various other instruments, such as SIB, DHI and PIB, are also available within the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
For more information or specific questions about joining the innovation mission, contact Bob Hengeveld, Innovation Missions Advisor by e-mailing bob.hengeveld@rvo.nl.
- Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature
