The NEOM Investment Fund (NIF) has entered into a strategic partnership with Liberation Labs, a leader in precision fermentation biomanufacturing. This collaboration will support the development of a precision-fermentation facility in Saudi Arabia, designed to advance food production capabilities in the region. The project aligns with NEOM’s broader goals of establishing itself as a global hub for sustainable, industrial-scale food production.
“Liberation Labs’ expertise […] will help position NEOM as a key player in sustainable food production”
The new facility will be integral to Topian, NEOM’s food-focused company, which is dedicated to innovating food systems to meet global demands while addressing sustainability challenges. The partnership involves the construction of a biomanufacturing plant utilizing precision fermentation, a method that produces essential food ingredients, including high-value proteins, without the need for animal agriculture.
Liberation Labs specializes in building purpose-designed facilities for producing basic food ingredients via precision fermentation. The approach offers an environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional food production methods, with the potential for scalability.
Addressing food security & economic growth
The new facility in Saudi Arabia will play a key role in enhancing the local food production infrastructure, which currently faces significant challenges due to the Kingdom’s reliance on food imports. Saudi Arabia imports 80% of its food, and over 90% of its land is unsuitable for traditional agriculture.
The establishment of this biomanufacturing site will not only help address food security concerns but also reduce dependency on food imports. Dr. Juan Carlos Motamayor, CEO of Topian, noted that the new facility would contribute to the production of alternative proteins and other food ingredients that meet the growing demands of a changing climate. He also highlighted the economic benefits, stating, “This investment will create high-skilled jobs and new economic opportunities, positioning Saudi Arabia as a leader in the novel-food sector.”
Majid Mufti, CEO of NIF, explained, “Liberation Labs’ expertise in precision fermentation will help position NEOM as a key player in sustainable food production, supporting the Kingdom’s vision of reshaping global food systems.”
Mark Warner, CEO of Liberation Labs, was also enthusiastic about the opportunity to collaborate with NIF and Topian, calling it an “incredible opportunity” to merge biomanufacturing expertise with purpose-driven organizations in the region.
Agronomics backs the project’s potential
Liberation Labs’ parent company, Agronomics, which has already invested in the company, also views the partnership as an important step in addressing the capacity constraints currently faced by fermentation-based food production. Jim Mellon, executive chairman of Agronomics, noted that such investments in clean food infrastructure would bolster food security while supporting the Kingdom’s broader economic and environmental goals.
The partnership comes on the heels of NIF’s participation in Liberation Labs’ $50.5 million fundraising round earlier this year. Liberation Labs has already begun work on a similar facility in Richmond, Indiana, and plans to complete its first biomanufacturing site by the end of 2025.
