3:02 pm - February 14, 2026
**MENAT region**: Goumbook reveals ten finalists in its Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme, showcasing innovative projects from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey. The initiative aims to address agricultural sustainability challenges and support scalable solutions through mentorship and competitive grants for development.
Goumbook, a social enterprise focused on advancing sustainability initiatives, has announced the top ten finalists of its Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme, aimed at revolutionising agricultural practices in the MENAT region. This programme aspires to address various sustainability challenges in agriculture while integrating research, science, and entrepreneurial efforts.
The competition, which invited submissions from 18 countries, showcased a diverse array of innovative projects from finalists based in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey. The initiative received considerable attention, necessitating a rigorous selection process carried out by an esteemed Judge Evaluation Committee composed of experts in regenerative agriculture, innovation, and entrepreneurship. “The selection process was designed to identify the most promising solutions that could bring measurable improvements in sustainability within the region,” a representative from the committee stated.
The final projects encompass a range of approaches, including both technological innovations and organic practices aimed at improving soil health, conserving water, and enhancing crop resilience. Here is a summary of the projects selected:
In the United Arab Emirates, the finalists include:
– More Drop, More Crop: This project focuses on sustainable water conservation technologies.
– Systemic Farming Method: Aims to enhance carbon sequestration for improved food security in the future.
– Food Waste Rescue, Compost Production: This initiative converts food waste into valuable compost to enhance soil health.
From the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the selected projects are:
– Farm as an Ecosystem: This project creates resilient farm ecosystems that enhance soil microbiomes.
– Smart Encapsulation of Plant Growth Factors: This innovation seeks to reduce the use of chemicals while increasing wheat germination rates.
– Sesame Breeding: Focused on developing improved sesame varieties suited for arid climates.
In Egypt, the projects include:
– MicroFert: This initiative develops tailored bio-products to enhance crop productivity and soil fertility.
– Cyanoboost: Aims to enhance plant growth and microbial diversity, particularly in the cultivation of medicinal plants.
– Egrobots: Utilises AI-driven robots to improve crop protection strategies effectively.
Turkey’s finalist project is:
– Conservation & Organic Agriculture of Olive Trees: This initiative promotes diversified and organic farming practices specifically for olive trees.
Upon selection, Samantha Kayruz, Goumbook’s Strategy & Sustainability Impact Director, remarked, “These projects will now move into a crucial phase where they will develop their concepts further and prepare for scalability and real-world application.” She emphasised that “the diversity and ingenuity of these solutions demonstrate the MENAT region’s capacity for research and innovation in tackling significant agricultural challenges.”
All ten finalists will have access to further developmental sessions and mentorship. The programme will culminate in a competitive pitch, where the participants will have the opportunity to contend for one of three grants of $10,000 each. These grants are designed to facilitate the scaling of their solutions, aiming for broader application in addressing the pressing issues faced by the agricultural sector in the MENAT region.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://mid-east.info/goumbook-announces-semi-finalists-for-the-menat-regenerative-agriculture-venture-programme/ – This URL corroborates Goumbook’s involvement in the Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme, which aims to address sustainability challenges in the MENAT region by integrating research and entrepreneurial efforts. It also highlights the program’s focus on innovating solutions for agricultural and environmental challenges.
- https://www.arabnews.com/node/2583161/corporate-news – This URL supports the claim that the Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme is a collaborative effort between various organizations, including Goumbook and Saudi Awwal Bank, to advance sustainable innovations in the MENAT region. It emphasizes the program’s goal of empowering researchers and innovators to tackle key agricultural challenges.
- https://igrownews.com/menat-regenerative-agriculture-venture-program-opens-applications-for-2024-2025-cohort/ – This URL provides details about the application process and objectives of the MENAT Regenerative Agriculture Venture Program. It explains how the program aims to develop solutions for food security, water management, and ecosystem restoration in the MENAT region.
- https://www.noahwire.com – Although this URL is not accessible without specific content, it is mentioned as the source for the article details regarding the finalists and the nature of the projects in the Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme.
- https://www.arabnews.com – This URL serves as a general source for news related to sustainability initiatives and agricultural developments in the MENAT region, which could provide context for the types of projects highlighted in the Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme.
- https://www.goumbook.com – This URL would be relevant for understanding Goumbook’s mission and initiatives in promoting sustainability and climate action across the MENAT region, including their role in the Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
No specific date is mentioned in the text; however, the narrative appears to be recent due to its focus on ongoing initiatives and future developmental phases.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
A representative from the Judge Evaluation Committee and Samantha Kayruz, Goumbook’s Strategy & Sustainability Impact Director, are quoted, but no original source of these quotes was found online.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from igrownews.com, which does not appear to be a well-known, major publication; thus, its reliability is less certain compared to established news outlets.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The projects and initiative described seem plausible and align with contemporary sustainability and agricultural innovation trends, although specific outcomes or implementations are not yet verified.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative lacks specific dates and originates from a lesser-known publication, affecting its freshness and source reliability. However, the described projects and initiatives appear plausible within the current context of agricultural innovation.
