Sustainability: Red Sea Global launches new agricultural cooperative

(Image: Sourced from Red Sea Global Media Centre)

Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind the upcoming regenerative tourism destinations of The Red Sea and Amaala, has launched The Red Sea Farm Cooperative, also known as Tamala.

Under the cooperative, RSG will enable farmers to sell their produce directly to its resorts.

It will also help introduce new farming technologies to increase production while prioritising sustainability.

Bringing together over 3,000 farms, many of which are growing citrus fruits, olives and dates in the Tabuk region of Saudi Arabia, Tamala will support the farming community surrounding The Red Sea and Amaala destinations.

RSG partnered with public as well as private sector entities to establish Tamala. These included the likes of Ethmar Alriyadah and Ghoroos Charitable Foundation.

A board of directors has been formed to oversee the cooperative and respond to the needs of the farmers involved in this project.

The board comprises 29 agricultural experts and local farmers who will work with local farmers to generate maximum returns from their produce.

The farmers will also be guided by the experts to increase efficiency and drive a transition to more sustainable farming methods by way of education on modern approaches to issues such as irrigation.

Dr Abdullah Al-Dubaikhi has been appointed as the chairman of Tamala. He said, “Tamala represents a significant opportunity for Saudi agriculture. Our strategic plan has been developed through extensive research of Tabuk’s environmental ecosystems, identifying the opportunities and challenges for local farmers as well as natural and human resources.”

Red Sea Global aims to support communities

John Pagano, group CEO at Red Sea Global, added, “Empowering and supporting regional agriculture allows Red Sea Global to bring fresh and sustainable produce to our guests while delivering on our targets to source food responsibly and support the local economy. Moreover, the cooperative ensures that local farmers share knowledge and best practices and implement fair prices for produce. It supports local farmers in learning new approaches and how to implement new technologies, and by working cohesively with Red Sea Global, our goal is to ensure they maximise their business in line with the growth of inbound tourism to the region.”

In a bid to connect with local communities near its projects, RSG also launched Amerah Souq in December 2022. Amerah Souq saw a pilot series of market days hosted for the towns and villages neighbouring The Red Sea. RSG added that it intends to launch the souq permanently and is exploring ways to make it more sustainable with the help of government and non-government entities in the region.

RSG recently confirmed that it has opened its first mangrove nursery. The project will support the delivery of RSG’s aim to plant 50 million mangrove trees by 2030.

Read: Red Sea Global partners with Equinox for Amaala hotel

This article originally appeared on Business Traveller Middle East