Faced with a blistering climate and a rapidly growing population, Saudi Arabia is turning to Africa to secure its food supply. The Kingdom currently imports 80% of its food, but a strategic shift is underway to transform Africa’s vast, uncultivated breadbaskets into a reliable supply chain. After early land-buying deals sparked accusations of neo-colonialism, Saudi Arabia has shifted tactics. Now, Riyadh’s sovereign wealth fund is pouring billions into “networked access”—investing in fertilizer plants in Togo, green ammonia in Kenya, and massive stakes in global agribusiness giants like Olam Agri. This evolution marks a win-win for the continent. By focusing on industrial infrastructure rather than just soil, Saudi Arabia is helping build the very systems Africa needs to scale its own agricultural exports.
African Business
