Three breakthrough solutions from Morocco, KSA, and the UK receive $20,000 grants and entry into a support ecosystem.
Goumbook, a leading social enterprise driving sustainability and climate action in the region, has announced the winners of the second cohort of the MENAT Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme 2024/2025.
The programme concluded with a high-impact live pitch session at the inaugural MENAT Regenerative Agriculture Summit in Riyadh, highlighting the region’s growing role as a hub of agricultural innovation in arid environments.
A Platform for Climate-Resilient Agriculture in Arid Regions
The MENAT Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme aims to empower researchers, scientists, and entrepreneurs tackling key agricultural challenges in the MENAT (Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Turkey) region. Solutions focused on:
- Food security
- Soil health and salinity
- Water scarcity
- Climate resilience and carbon sequestration
- Biodiversity loss and desertification
- Socioeconomic well-being in rural communities
This year, the programme received over 510 applications from 65 countries, reflecting the urgent need and rising interest in regenerative, climate-resilient agricultural solutions.
“This year’s programme was not just a celebration of innovation; it was a rallying point for regional action,” said Tatiana Antonelli Abella, Founder and Managing Director of Goumbook. “Our winners show what’s possible when science, sustainability, and collaboration unite.”
Meet the Winners
🇲🇦 Actinobacteria (Morocco) Omaima Marhane, Ibn Zohr University
Isolation and characterisation of water stress-tolerant actinobacteria to improve soil health
in arid regions.
🇸🇦 Farm to 2Fs – Fuel and Fertiliser (KSA)
Dr. Budour A. Alghamdi, Eng. Wafa A. Alrasheed, Dr. Adil E. Abdelnour,
Estidamah Research Centre
Utilising anaerobic digestion to convert animal waste into bioenergy and organic fertiliser.
🇬🇧 RedDot (UK)
Teodoro Garcia-Millan, Fran Robson, Veronica Greco
RNA-based solution offering selective control of the Red Palm Weevil pest,
a major agricultural threat in the MENAT region
Each winner received a $20,000 grant, access to mentorship, incubation opportunities, and inclusion in a supportive stakeholder network. This support aims to help scale their innovations and foster real-world impact across MENAT agriculture.
MENAT as a Global Innovation Hub
The MENAT Summit positioned the region as a centre of excellence for regenerative food systems. Themes included combating desertification, enhancing biodiversity, improving water management, and driving climate adaptation in agriculture.
The next cycle of the programme will launch in Fall 2025, continuing to support entrepreneurs innovating for regenerative agriculture in arid landscapes.
Want to Get Involved?
If you’re working on a regenerative agriculture solution or want to support innovation in arid regions, learn more at:
🔗 www.RegenerativeAgricultureVenture.com
Follow us on LinkedIn: @Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme
📧 Interested in partnering or mentoring? Contact us