As Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 program transforms the nation into a nexus of cultural riches and scientific innovation, one key player, the Saudi Food & Drug Authority (SFDA), is leveraging advanced technologies and ideas to benefit the population in the region and worldwide.
By integrating advanced artificial intelligence into its practices and strengthening international safety standards, this comprehensive regulatory and scientific authority demonstrates its increasing influence as a research hub and leader domestically, regionally, and globally.
“As an evidence-based authority, all our regulations are grounded in scientific data, which informs our decision-making processes,” says His Excellency Dr. Hisham Saad Aljadhey, CEO of the SFDA.
“By harnessing the potential of emerging technologies, including AI, we are creating a collaborative environment that supports research and innovation,” he says. “We are proud of our team of scientists and researchers, whose expertise drives meaningful improvements in health care. Through these efforts, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring the safety and integrity of our food supply, a cornerstone of public health.”
The Multimethod Approach
To safeguard food integrity and authenticity, the SFDA has emerged as a pioneer in detecting and preventing food fraud—the misrepresentation of food products’ origins, ingredients, or purity that threatens consumers’ safety and producers’ and distributors’ reputations and revenue.
The SFDA’s initiative against fraud is rooted in conventional chemical analysis for testing food quality and composition. In 2021, the authority established specialized laboratories to introduce more scientifically precise fingerprinting. Having introduced these parallel operations into this category-leading multimethod approach, scientists can now more effectively evaluate authenticity and prevent food fraud.
The parallel practices of the multimethod approach now protect some of the most visible—and vulnerable—Saudi food sectors, including honey, milk, olive oil, coffee, and tea.
Milk and Honey
Few foods have such deep importance to Saudi history, culture, and public health as honey. Saudis consume 320 grams a year per person—double the global rate. The kingdom protects the bees that produce two priz