Neom Foods opens first climate-resilient greenhouse in Oxagon

Inaugurated in December 2024, the high-tech greenhouse of Topian (Neom Foods) is in the floating industrial city Oxagon, on the Red Sea coast. The opening of the climate-resilient agricultural asset, in northwest Saudi Arabia, aims to pilot sustainable localized production enabled by high-technology solutions. Located in Oxagon’s dedicated innovation district, Oxagon Innovation Bay, the first Topian greenhouse spans four hectares of state-of-the-art facilities. As part of Topian’s mission to redefine food production through innovative, sustainable food systems, the pilot aims to optimize productivity and crop quality, while minimizing inputs, especially the use of natural resources such as water and energy. 

Still under test

The first phase, focused on modulating climate parameters and assessing the suitability of different crops in varied production systems, is texting various configurations and automation. Cooling efficiency is one of the key parameters. Topian’s scientists and technicians are optimizing energy and water use through existing and novel cooling technologies and radiation control, leveraging in the future NEOM’s extensive photovoltaic network.

Eating qualities and shelf-life under scrutiny

Fruit and vegetable trials will identify which produce performs best in local conditions, analyzing taste, color and texture to deliver a superior consumer experience. The goal is to provide consumers with year-round availability of local produce, like lettuce, tomatoes and strawberries, which will be fresher, tastier, and produced more sustainably. Topian will use this pilot to inform optimal crop growing conditions. The investment in high-technology production facilities establishes a testbed for other companies looking to develop diverse products and services to meet global demands.

For more information on Neom Food project, you can write here.