Saudi venture capitalist Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed called for more investment in budding businesses and technologies that can help address food security challenges that the world faces.
"Governments see the problem, but now they need to adopt the innovative technologies to solve the problem," Prince Khaled said at a panel discussion with company chief executives at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh on Wednesday.
Sky Kurtz of Pure Harvest, Sara Menker of GroIntel, Philippe Rombaut of Agropolychim and David Rosenberg of Aero Farms took part in the session.
Wastefulness and inefficiency of traditional animal agriculture attracted Prince Khaled to alternative protein and food-tech investments, he said.
Vertical farming and AgriTech need more investment, said Prince Khaled said, who is the first venture capitalist from the Middle East to back plant-based food and future food start-ups.
"We are running out of farmland," he said. "Cellular agriculture merits more investment to feed the world."
"We have enough food to feed people ... it's just how do you grow the food and where do you allocate these resources?" Prince Khaled said.
He aims to revolutionise the food service industry by introducing vegan options on menus in the kingdom and across the region.
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War on waste
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Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
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The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
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World Mental Health Day
THE BIO:
Favourite holiday destination: Thailand. I go every year and I’m obsessed with the fitness camps there.
Favourite book: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It’s an amazing story about barefoot running.
Favourite film: A League of their Own. I used to love watching it in my granny’s house when I was seven.
Personal motto: Believe it and you can achieve it.
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Bournemouth 0
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