Muscat:The 2026 Food Security Lab has successfully concluded with the approval of strategic initiatives and projects aimed at achieving the second billion localization targets and bolstering food security in Oman. The lab has introduced 16 enabling initiatives and 111 investment projects valued at more than RO 100 million, alongside the signing of 10 agreements supporting various food security sectors.
According to Oman News Agency, the closing ceremony was held under the patronage of Dr. Abdulsalam Mohammed Al Murshidi, President of Oman Investment Authority. Dr. Masoud Sulaiman Al Azri, General Supervisor of the 2026 Food Security Lab, emphasized the lab's contributions towards enhancing local production and localizing food industries by linking investment opportunities with enabling initiatives. He highlighted the importance of preparing the investment environment and improving value chain efficiency to achieve the "second billion localization" target and boost the contribution of food security sectors to the national economy.
Eng. Asma Hamoud Al Hinai, Director of Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Office at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, stated that the lab helped establish a roadmap for implementing food security programs under the Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). These programs, overseen by the ministry, focus on enhancing food and water security, enabling the blue economy, sustainable management and development of agricultural and fisheries wealth, advancing research, innovation and food safety, and maximizing economic returns of related sectors.
The total projects of the food security investment program have reached 376, valued at approximately RO 899 million, distributed across four sectors. The plant wealth sector includes 158 projects worth RO 77 million, the livestock sector 75 projects worth RO 261 million, the fisheries sector 98 projects worth RO 178 million, and the water resources sector 45 projects worth RO 383 million.
The lab also identified 25 targeted commodities under the "second billion localization" directions, including vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, vegetable oils, meat, dairy, fish, and water. The aim is to channel investments towards opportunities that increase local production and raise self-sufficiency levels by 2030.
During the closing ceremony, several investment agreements were signed between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources and companies implementing the projects. Notable agreements included the establishment of a factory to produce omega-3 from refined fish oil by "Omega Arabia" company, with an investment of RO 28 million, and an integrated factory by "Al Taj Al Jadeed Investment" company for producing mineral water, soft drinks, and dairy products, with an investment of RO 1.554 million. Additionally, "Al Ataa Food Industries" company will establish a factory for producing frozen and semi-fried potatoes, with an investment of RO 600,000.
The lab's sessions and workshops were dedicated to developing investment opportunities, addressing challenges in project implementation, fostering public-private sector partnerships, and utilizing innovation and modern technologies to enhance production efficiency and supply chain sustainability, in line with the goals of Oman Vision 2040.