Muscat – Food Security Lab 2025 concluded on Thursday outlining key initiatives and projects worth RO37.2mn aimed at boosting Oman’s self-sufficiency and investment capacity in the food sector.

Organised under Oman Vision 2040, the lab resulted in 31 enabling initiatives and 27 investment projects, in addition to identifying 62 new opportunities across plant production, livestock, fisheries and water resources.

According to the final report, the plant production sector accounted for 21 projects valued at RO5.6mn, while the livestock sector registered one project worth RO270,000. Four fisheries projects were approved of total value RO31.3mn, and one project in water resources was valued at RO50,000.

The closing ceremony was held under the patronage of Dr Khamis Saif al Jabri, Head of the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit.

During the event, 13 usufruct contracts were signed with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning to support agricultural and food production investments across the sultanate.

In Dhofar, projects included the cultivation of local garlic and lemons in Thumrait, valued at RO648,000 and RO134,000 respectively, and frankincense cultivation worth RO153,000. In North Batinah, agreements were signed for wild truffle production in Saham, and bean and potato farming in Suwaiq with a combined value of over RO131,000.

Other projects include vegetable farming in Barka (RO115,000); olive cultivation in Jebel Shams (RO71,000); and fig and lemon farming (RO60,000), and livestock breeding and fodder production projects in Al Sunaina worth RO287,000 .

Additional projects include millet cultivation in Dhank (RO123,000) and potato farming in Ja’alan Bani Bu Hasan (RO66,000).

In Muscat, an agri tourism project in Amerat worth RO956,000 and a nursery project in Al Khoudh valued at RO213,000 were approved.

Several larger investments were also confirmed to expand sustainable food production. These include a RO2.2mn integrated market for fish, vegetables, fruits, meat and poultry in Al Amerat; a RO10.2mn aquaculture farm in Al Khuwaimah; and a RO6.3mn shrimp farming project in Awrab.

An agreement for RO8mn was also signed with Musandam Global Investment to develop and operate the fishing port in Khasab, supporting fisheries sustainability and local value addition.

In the natural resources sector, a RO50,000 project was approved for the utilisation of dredged materials from Wadi Masaylik dam in Mahdha, Buraimi.

Officials said the lab’s outcomes reflect Oman’s long-term commitment to enhancing food security, encouraging private investment, and building resilience in key agricultural and marine sectors.