Saudi Arabia and Iraq have signed a joint agreement to boost cooperation in environmental, water, and agricultural sectors, following the fifth session of the Saudi-Iraqi Agricultural Committee in Riyadh. Saudi Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli, and Iraqi Minister of Agriculture, Abbas Jaber Al-Maliki, led the discussions to advance strategic partnerships aimed at sustainable development.
The agreement encompasses several key areas, including expanding efforts to combat desertification, enhance biodiversity, and protect forests, along with collaboration on sand and dust storms. Both sides also agreed to coordinate their environmental positions in international forums.
In the water sector, discussions focused on sustainable water management, water harvesting technologies, desalination, and treated water reuse. Plans are underway to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding to further cooperation in these areas.
On the agricultural front, the two countries agreed to resume live livestock exports from Iraq and improve plant and animal trade. They also committed to sharing expertise on pest control, such as combating desert locusts and red palm weevils, and advancing genetic engineering research for crop development.
Both sides emphasised the importance of public-private partnerships in seed production and storage, and agreed to hold the sixth session of the Agricultural Committee at a mutually determined time and place.
