In a landmark move for the 71-year-old Japan-Saudi corridor, Universal Materials Incubator (UMI) and the National Agricultural Development Company (NADEC) have signed a Strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to localize cutting-edge “Deep Tech” for the Kingdom’s agricultural sector. The signing took place during the Saudi-Japanese Ministerial Roundtable, at the Saudi-Japan Ministerial Investment Forum, attended by Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), who assumed office on October 21, 2025 in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. His presence underscores the significant government-to-government (G2G) support for this industrial evolution.
This partnership focuses on technology scouting and due diligence support, primarily leveraging Japanese innovation to advance the agricultural sector across Saudi Arabia and the MENA region. By merging Japan’s material science heritage with the Kingdom’s industrial ambitions, the alliance aims to translate laboratory breakthroughs into global industrial standards.
A “Localization-First” Strategy
The UMI-NADEC collaboration serves as a blueprint for the “Saudi-Japan Vision 2030,” moving beyond traditional import models toward a strategy that integrates Japanese intellectual property with Saudi resources. This includes expanding active field trials for strategic crops to calibrate technology for the Kingdom’s specific thermal and soil profiles.
Furthermore, plans are underway to establish local manufacturing facilities utilizing GCC-specific organic feedstock (such as olive waste), aiming to create a circular domestic economy with the potential of export of yield and technology. This ecosystem integration extends to partnerships with Saudi incubators like Forming Future to ensure that next-generation materials — from semiconductors to renewable energy — are co-developed by Japanese and Saudi engineers.
Ian Michell, NADEC Vice President of Agriculture said: “Broadacre agriculture today demands a long-term commitment to soil health and natural environmental resources. NADEC is at the forefront of this shift towards regenerative practices that restore rather than deplete our natural capital. By diversifying our crop portfolio and investing in closed-loop nutrient management, we are protecting our operations from global price volatility and environmental changes. We employ AI-driven agriculture management systems and satellite-based crop monitoring to optimize every drop of water, as part of our 'more crop per drop' program across our crop portfolio."
Dr. Shosuke Kiba, CEO and Managing Partner of UMI, added: “Material science is the invisible foundation of every major technological leap. At UMI, we believe that sovereignty in the 21st century is defined by material innovation. We are strategically investing in 'deep-tech' solutions that solve the fundamental challenges of resource scarcity and industrial efficiency. Japanese startup companies have the capacity to plant a bright future; Saudi Arabia is a gateway to the world."
UMI operates under the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment (UNPRI), ensuring all technologies meet elite global ESG standards. As a cornerstone of the Middle East’s agri-food sector, NADEC is transitioning toward a high-precision, resource-efficient model that aligns with Saudi Vision 2030.
About Universal Materials Incubator
UMI invests in outstanding new technologies and businesses in the fields of materials and chemicals that form the foundations for future industry, originating from both Japanese companies and academia, based on the vision of strengthening Japan’s engineering capabilities and cultivating an industry structure that can compete globally, by fostering outstanding material and chemical companies. For more information, visit www.umi.co.jp/en.
About National Agricultural Development Company
The National Agricultural Development Company (NADEC) is one of the largest agricultural and food-processing companies in the Middle East and North Africa, established in 1981 to promote food security in Saudi Arabia. Listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) since 1993, the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC) owns approximately 38.6% of NADEC’s shares, with the remaining shares publicly traded, and has a market capitalization of SAR 5.78 billion (USD 1.54 billion). For more information, visit www.nadec.com.
