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Crops for the Future

Crops for the Future


Our focus in this theme, led by Professor Brande Wulff, is on improving plant genetics, which is another essential component for creating sustainable agriculture in Saudi Arabia. We are working on two main areas: enhancing traditional crops such as wheat and date palms, and developing new crops that can thrive in the Kingdom's challenging conditions. By using advanced technologies such as genome editing, robotics and nanotechnology, we are making crops more resilient, increasing their yields and reducing the need for water and nutrients. Additionally, our ambitious Native Genome Project aims to unlock the potential of Saudi Arabia's native plants, turning them into valuable crops for the future. These efforts are not just about boosting food production but also about ensuring that agriculture in Saudi Arabia is sustainable and capable of meeting the demands of tomorrow.

Areas of Focus

  • Ongoing

    Advanced Breeding Technologies for Crop Improvement in Saudi Arabia

    Lead PI: Jesse Poland
    Co-PI: Brande Wulff, Simon Krattinger

  • Ongoing

    A Multiplex CRISPR/Cas9 Platform for Rapid Conversion of Elite Wheat Cultivars into One Health Super Lines

    Lead PI: Brande Wulff
    Co-PIs: Jesse Poland:, Simon Krattinger

  • Ongoing

    Increasing production and efficiency of date palm in Saudi Arabia

    Lead PI: Jesse Poland

  • Ongoing

    Robotics for date palms

    Lead PI: Shinkyu Park

  • Ongoing

    Early detection of date palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) using modern techniques

    Lead PI: Boon Ooi

  • Ongoing

    Rootstocks to increase yield in marginal conditions

    Lead PI: Mark Tester

  • Ongoing

    The Native Genome Project

    Lead PI: Rod Wing

Contact Us

Email: info.SFS@kaust.edu.sa

For media inquiries, please contact global.pr@kaust.edu.sa