The Saudi Industry Forum 2026 in Jeddah discussed the future of the food industries in the Kingdom and the opportunities to enhance their contribution to food security and sustainability, alongside the expansion of advanced technologies and improvement in production efficiency and supply chains.

This was during a session titled “The Future of Food Industries: Enhancing Food Security and Sustainability in the Light of Vision 2030”, as part of the second edition of the forum, where participants addressed various issues related to the development of national factories and enhancing their capacity to meet market needs and boost the competitiveness of Saudi products.

The session also shed light on the role played by national factories and Saudi mills in providing basic goods and enhancing storage capacities, as well as the importance of building a cohesive system for supply chains and logistics services, linking them to ports and vital facilities, to support the continuity of raw material supply and the flow of products.

Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies Enter Food Factories

The technological transformation was one of the key discussion points, as the session reviewed the trend of food factories adopting Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, including automation of production lines and the use of smart solutions in industrial processes.

This transformation contributes to increased operational efficiency and improved quality and safety of food products, while participants discussed the programs and financing options that help industrial facilities adopt advanced technologies and update production lines.

The session also explored investment opportunities in the food industries, the importance of diversifying products and increasing local content, which enhances the ability of factories to meet domestic demand and opens up greater opportunities for national products to access foreign markets.

Environmental sustainability also received attention in the discussions, focusing on improving energy consumption efficiency and reducing waste along the value chain, achieving a balance between industrial growth and efficient resource use.

The discussions highlighted the importance of expanding public-private partnerships and enhancing communication between relevant parties and investors to address challenges facing food factories and create an environment that supports the growth and sustainability of the sector.

The session is part of the Saudi Industry Forum SIF 2026, which is held in Jeddah Super Dome from September 14 to 16, 2026, under the theme “Innovation for Industrial Sustainability”, to discuss the future of the industry, investment, and modern technologies and opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of the Saudi industrial sector.