Capacity Development
The aim of the Capacity Development theme is to support the delivery of innovations to increase
sustainable food security in arid environments. We currently have two main foci:
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To provide training and outreach initiatives, aimed at students and workers from primary school
to postdoctoral researchers and workers in the field, ensuring that the next generation of
scientists and industry leaders are well-equipped to tackle the challenges of sustainable
agriculture. The main project, led by Prof. Rod Wing and Dalia Alshahrani, focuses on grade 12
education through the Edible Education Program.
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To develop infrastructure to serve as a testing ground for government and industry partners.
KAUST and NCVC are establishing a 10-hectare field station, KNESEO (KAUST-NCVC Experiment
Station & Ecological Observatory), located about 20 km east of the KAUST campus in Wadi Qadid
National Park. This facility is designed to test and pilot innovations on a large scale, making
them visible and accessible to stakeholders within the Kingdom and beyond.