Driving Innovation in Arid Agriculture
The MENAT Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme (MENAT RAVP) is transforming the future of farming in the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey. Designed to address the urgent need for sustainable food systems, the programme supports entrepreneurs developing innovative, climate-resilient solutions tailored for arid and semi-arid regions.
Now in its second year, the 2024–25 cohort was selected from more than 50 high-quality applications across the MENAT region. The five winning ventures reflect the diversity and ingenuity of regional approaches to regenerative agriculture.
Empowering Startups, Cultivating Change
This year, MENAT RAVP brought together early-stage ventures working in carbon sequestration, alternative proteins, sustainable fertilisers, organic waste upcycling, and hydroponics. These areas are critical to addressing the region’s challenges in food security, water scarcity, and desertification.
The programme culminated in a live pitch session during the inaugural MENAT Regenerative Agriculture Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event brought visibility to regional innovations and fostered connections between investors, researchers, and corporate sustainability leaders.
Meet the Winning Ventures
- Tadweer (Jordan): Converts organic waste into nutrient-rich compost using black soldier flies. This reduces landfill use and generates natural fertiliser.
- SoilBiom (Turkey): A bio-based technology that strengthens soil microbiomes, improving plant health and restoring degraded land.
- BlueGrub (UAE): Transforms food and green waste into animal feed through anaerobic digestion, promoting circularity.
- Kumulus (Tunisia): A solar-powered water generator that provides sustainable irrigation for remote farming communities.
- Aeva (Lebanon): A closed-loop hydroponic system designed to increase food yield while conserving water.
Investing in Impact and Scale
Each venture received tailored mentorship, regional exposure, and the opportunity to pitch to an audience of global stakeholders. The programme focused on helping founders refine their business models and develop go-to-market strategies for scaling.
Key partners of MENAT RAVP include Goumbook, HSBC, PepsiCo, and the PepsiCo Foundation. Strategic support was also provided by the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), The Zayed Sustainability Prize, the University of Leeds, Berytech, and Emirates Nature-WWF.
What’s Next?
MENAT RAVP continues to grow its regional community of innovators and knowledge partners. The goal is to strengthen the MENAT region’s role in shaping the future of regenerative agriculture globally.
If you are a researcher, entrepreneur, or organisation working on sustainable agriculture in arid environments, we’d love to hear from you.
Get Involved
To learn more or express interest in the 2025 cohort, visit www.RegenerativeAgricultureVenture.com or email us at ask@goumbook.com. Let’s build climate-resilient food systems—together.