NEOM is Turning Itself Into the World’s Most Food Self-Sufficient City

NEOM has just unveiled plans to train a generation of Saudi chefs to make the $500 billion mega-city the “world’s most food sustainable self-sufficient city.” The city has partnered with CARE’s, a global ethical food project founded by Italian chefs Norbert Niederkofler and Paolo Ferretti, to drive this new initiative to ensure the food supply at the Red Sea project is treated responsibly from the planet to the plate.

NEOM and CARE’s will develop a manifesto for food-industry professionals, outlining the principles for sustainable gastronomy and food security, alongside educational initiatives and content to broaden understanding of healthy eating.

“In an era marked by the challenges of climate change and food insecurity, NEOM is committed to developing groundbreaking food solutions, with the support of our industry partners and specialists,” Dr. Juan Carlos Motamayor, Executive Director of NEOM Food Sector, tells SceneNowSaudi. “Working with Norbert and the CARE’s program gives us the opportunity to demonstrate, develop and implement locally adapted modern food practices that both meet the nutritional needs of consumers in NEOM and the Kingdom and preserve our planet.”

The partnership fosters the opportunity to not only create a foundation for a more ethical and sustainable approach to gastronomy in the kingdom, but also to help nurture Saudi talent to drive innovation in food by facilitating training opportunities and chef camps for local Saudi chefs, as well as launching an award series to recognize leading examples of innovation in food systems. This project will make NEOM the first integrated system aiming for food self-sufficiency in a desert environment.