The General Authority for Statistics in Saudi Arabia has released the results of its 2024 Food Security Statistics Bulletin, which shows significant progress and a notable increase in self-sufficiency levels for a wide range of food products, both plant-based and animal-based, compared to previous years. These figures confirm the success of the Kingdom's strategic plans to strengthen its national food security system.
Context of the vision and agricultural transformation
These figures cannot be read in isolation from the general context of economic transformations in the Kingdom, as the agricultural sector represents one of the main pillars of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. Over the past years, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has worked to support farmers, encourage investment in modern agricultural technologies, and improve the efficiency of water resource use, which has directly contributed to increasing local production and reducing dependence on imports for many vital commodities.
Record numbers in plant-based products
Returning to the details of the report, vegetables have made significant strides, with several varieties exceeding self-sufficiency. Eggplant topped the list at 105%, followed by okra at 102%, cucumbers at 101%, and zucchini at 100%. Other crops are nearing the same goal, such as watermelon (98%), squash (94%), and potatoes (93%). However, there are still investment opportunities to increase the self-sufficiency of other products, such as tomatoes (83%) and onions (72%).
In the fruit sector, the Kingdom maintained its global leadership in date production, achieving a self-sufficiency rate of 121%, thus reinforcing its position as a major exporter of this strategic product. Figs also recorded an excellent rate of 99%, while rates varied for other fruits such as grapes (65%), mangoes (55%), and lemons and pomegranates (lower rates).
Leadership in animal products
In the animal products sector, aquaculture emerged as a remarkable success story, with shrimp achieving 149% self-sufficiency, making it a prime export commodity. The dairy sector also demonstrated its strength, achieving 131% self-sufficiency, while table eggs recorded a surplus of 103%. As for meat, poultry reached 72% self-sufficiency, red meat 62%, and fish 52%, all sectors experiencing continuous growth thanks to substantial investments.
Consumption patterns and strategic importance
Statistics also revealed food consumption patterns in the Kingdom, with rice topping the list of plant-based products at an average per capita consumption of 52.1 kilograms annually, followed by dates at 35.8 kilograms. Among animal products, per capita consumption of milk reached 70.3 liters, and poultry 46.9 kilograms.
This increase in self-sufficiency rates is of paramount strategic importance, not only locally but also regionally. In light of recent geopolitical tensions and global supply chain volatility, achieving food security is a safeguard for the national economy, reducing vulnerability to external shocks and global food price inflation, thereby strengthening the stability of local markets and bolstering non-oil GDP.
