The MENA Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme is an initiative designed to support researchers, scientists, students, and innovators who are developing practical solutions to some of the most urgent agricultural and environmental challenges facing the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The programme focuses on regenerative agriculture, climate resilience, food security, soil health, water security, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, desertification, salinity, and rural social welfare. It provides an opportunity for individuals working on research-based agricultural solutions to strengthen their entrepreneurial capabilities and develop their ideas toward proof-of-concept and potential future scaling.
The programme is presented by Goumbook, a social enterprise dedicated to accelerating sustainability and climate action in the MENA region since 2009. Applicants with innovative research, scientific, technological, process-driven, or nature-based solutions addressing agricultural challenges relevant to the MENA region are encouraged to apply.
What Is the MENA Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme?
The MENA Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme is described as a transformative journey aimed at empowering and upskilling scientists, researchers, and students who are working to address fundamental agricultural challenges in the MENA region.
Rather than focusing solely on conventional agricultural practices, the programme seeks innovative approaches that can contribute to more sustainable and resilient food systems.
According to the programme, applicants are invited to develop solutions addressing major challenges such as:
- Food security
- Soil health
- Water scarcity
- Climate resilience
- Carbon sequestration
- Salinity
- Biodiversity loss
- Desertification
- Rural social welfare
The programme specifically encourages research-based agricultural solutions that combine scientific knowledge and innovation with practical opportunities for creating sustainable impact.
For researchers and innovators, this means that an agricultural idea does not necessarily have to be limited to academic research. The programme is also focused on helping participants develop the business and entrepreneurial capabilities needed to move their solutions toward proof of concept, scaling, and funding opportunities.
Why Regenerative Agriculture Matters
Agriculture is closely connected to food security, water availability, soil quality, biodiversity, climate resilience, and rural livelihoods. Challenges affecting one part of the agricultural system can therefore have consequences across the wider food system.
Regenerative agriculture seeks to advance farming approaches that support healthier and more sustainable agricultural systems.
The MENA Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme is particularly interested in solutions that can contribute to addressing agricultural conditions and opportunities within the MENA region.
This regional focus is important because agricultural systems in the region face challenges related to water scarcity, soil degradation, desertification, salinity, climate change, food security, and other environmental and socioeconomic pressures.
The programme therefore provides a platform for researchers and innovators whose work can contribute to addressing these challenges through scientific, technological, process-based, or nature-based approaches.
What Types of Solutions Are Being Sought?
The programme is looking for impactful research, science, and nature-based solutions within the field of regenerative agriculture.
Eligible solutions can be either process-driven or technological, giving applicants flexibility in how they approach agricultural challenges.
The programme identifies a broad range of regenerative agriculture themes and potential solution areas.
These include:
1. Healthy Soil Regeneration
Solutions that contribute to restoring and improving soil health are relevant to the programme. Healthy soils are an important component of sustainable agricultural systems and long-term food production.
2. Diversified Crops
Crop diversification is another area identified by the programme. Innovative approaches that support diversified agricultural production can contribute to more sustainable farming systems.
3. Organic and Bio-Fertilisers
The programme includes solutions involving organic and biological fertilisation approaches as part of its broader interest in regenerative agriculture.
4. Biodiversity Enhancement
Innovations that help develop or enhance biodiversity are also among the areas identified by the programme.
5. Sustainable Food Security
The programme seeks solutions that can contribute to sustainable food security and address food-system challenges affecting the MENA region.
6. Reduced Use of Chemicals
Solutions designed to reduce reliance on chemicals in agricultural production can also fall within the programme’s identified areas.
7. Water Security
Water security is a significant focus of the programme, particularly given the agricultural importance of water availability.
8. Organic Waste Utilisation
The programme identifies the use of organic waste as another potential regenerative agriculture solution area.
9. Livestock and Agroforestry Integration
Applicants can also explore approaches that integrate livestock and agroforestry, including silvopasture systems.
10. Carbon Capture and Sequestration
The programme welcomes approaches that reinforce carbon capture and contribute to carbon sequestration.
11. Rural and Social Welfare
Solutions that enhance rural and social welfare are also relevant, connecting agricultural innovation with the livelihoods and wellbeing of communities.
12. Desertification and Salinity Reduction
The programme specifically identifies solutions that can reduce desertification and salinity as relevant areas of regenerative agriculture.
13. Sustainable Disease Control
Solutions focused on reducing the use of synthetic pesticides for disease control are also included among the programme’s areas of interest.
14. Technological Solutions
Technology-based innovations are explicitly eligible, meaning applicants do not have to rely exclusively on traditional or purely biological approaches.
The broad range of themes allows researchers and innovators from different backgrounds to approach regenerative agriculture through scientific, technological, environmental, or process-based solutions.
Who Is the Programme Designed For?
The MENA Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme is intended for people developing impactful agricultural solutions based on research, science, or nature-based innovation.
The programme’s overall description specifically identifies scientists, researchers, and students as part of its intended audience.
Its eligibility criteria further describe applicants as researchers and innovators seeking to develop their work to proof-of-concept stage, particularly those who want to build the business and entrepreneurship capabilities required to scale their solutions and secure funding.
This makes the programme particularly relevant to individuals who have developed an agricultural idea, research project, scientific innovation, technological solution, or nature-based approach but want to take that work further toward practical implementation and potential scaling.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants should carefully consider the programme’s eligibility requirements before applying.
Regenerative Agriculture Focus
The proposed solution must operate within the field of regenerative agriculture and should advance climate-resilient and sustainable farming practices.
Research, Science, or Nature-Based Innovation
The proposed solution must be grounded in research, science, or nature-based innovation.
Both process innovations and technological innovations are eligible, allowing applicants to present different types of approaches to agricultural challenges.
Proof-of-Concept Development
The programme is aimed at researchers and innovators seeking to develop their work toward the proof-of-concept stage.
An important aspect of the programme is therefore not simply having an academic or scientific idea, but developing the capabilities necessary to turn that work into a solution with potential for further development.
Business and Entrepreneurship Development
Applicants should have an interest in developing the business and entrepreneurial capabilities needed to scale their solutions and secure funding.
This makes the programme relevant to innovators who want to understand how research-based agricultural solutions can move beyond research and toward broader implementation.
MENA Regional Relevance
One of the most important eligibility requirements is the relationship between the proposed solution and the Middle East and North Africa region.
The programme states that applications must directly address food-system challenges within MENA.
Relevant areas include:
- Climate change adaptation and mitigation
- Soil health restoration
- Combating desertification
- Carbon farming and sequestration
- Biodiversity enhancement
- Food security
- Water security
- Farmer support
- Rural livelihoods
Therefore, applicants from outside the MENA region can still be eligible, provided that their proposed solution has a clear connection to agricultural conditions and opportunities within MENA.
Can Applicants From Outside the MENA Region Apply?
Yes.
The programme states that it is open to applicants worldwide.
However, worldwide eligibility does not mean that the proposed project can address any agricultural problem anywhere in the world without a MENA connection. Eligibility is determined partly by whether the proposed solution can address agricultural conditions and opportunities within the MENA region.
There are also specific countries from which applications are currently not being accepted.
These are:
- Afghanistan
- Iraq
- Iran
- Israel
- Sudan
- Libya
- Yemen
- Syria
Applicants from other countries may apply if their proposed solution meets the programme’s requirements and has relevance to agricultural challenges and opportunities in the MENA region.
Programme Benefits and Development Opportunities
The programme is designed as a transformative development journey rather than simply an application opportunity.
Its stated purpose includes empowering and upskilling participants working on research-based agricultural solutions. In particular, it seeks to help researchers and innovators develop the business and entrepreneurship capabilities needed to advance their work toward proof of concept, scaling, and funding.
For participants, the programme can therefore represent an opportunity to connect scientific and agricultural innovation with entrepreneurial development.
This is particularly relevant for researchers who have strong technical or scientific knowledge but want to strengthen their understanding of how an innovation can be developed into a scalable solution.
Important Agricultural Challenges Addressed by the Programme
The programme’s focus reflects several major areas of agricultural and environmental concern.
Climate Change
Climate change adaptation and mitigation are among the programme’s key areas of interest. Solutions that help agriculture become more resilient to changing environmental conditions are therefore relevant.
Soil Degradation
Soil health restoration is another major priority. Innovations that improve soil conditions and support sustainable agricultural production can contribute to regenerative farming.
Water Scarcity
Water security is explicitly included among the programme’s focus areas. This is particularly important for agricultural systems operating under water constraints.
Food Security
The programme seeks innovations that contribute to sustainable food security and strengthen food systems.
Biodiversity Loss
Biodiversity enhancement is identified as another area where regenerative agricultural solutions can contribute to environmental sustainability.
Desertification and Salinity
The programme is also interested in approaches that help reduce desertification and salinity, two challenges that can significantly affect agricultural productivity and land sustainability.
Farmer Livelihoods
Agricultural innovation is not limited to environmental outcomes. The programme also highlights farmer support, livelihoods, and rural social welfare as important areas of impact.
Who Could Consider Applying?
The programme may be particularly relevant to:
- Researchers developing agricultural innovations
- Scientists working on sustainable agriculture
- Students involved in agricultural research or innovation
- Entrepreneurs developing research-based agricultural solutions
- Innovators working on nature-based agricultural solutions
- Technology developers creating agricultural technologies
- Researchers working on soil health and restoration
- Innovators addressing water security
- Researchers working on climate-resilient agriculture
- Teams developing solutions for biodiversity and ecosystem restoration
- Innovators addressing food security
- Researchers working on carbon farming and sequestration
- Individuals developing solutions related to desertification and salinity
- Innovators developing approaches to support farmers and rural communities
The central requirement is that the proposed solution fits the programme’s regenerative agriculture focus and addresses relevant agricultural challenges in the MENA region.
Programme Partners and Supporting Organisations
The MENA Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme is supported by a network of partners.
The programme identifies HSBC as a supporting partner and ICARDA as its scientific partner.
It also lists a number of impact partners, including:
- Growtech
- C3
- Emirates Bio Farm
- Global Shapers Community
- Aura
- Healthy Path
- Sekem
- Soma Mater
- Thought For Food
- Common Source
The programme also identifies memberships and affiliations with organisations and initiatives including Aim for Climate, 4per1000, Regeneration International, Sandooq Al Watan, Saudi Agri Food Alliance, Agroecology Coalition, Medae, and the Alliance for Mediterranean Nature & Culture.
2026/2027 Cohort
The programme page currently identifies the Cohort 2026/2027 and provides an application pathway for interested applicants.
The programme’s application page directs prospective applicants to the official MENA Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme platform.
Interested researchers and innovators should review the official application information carefully and ensure that their proposed solution satisfies the regenerative agriculture, innovation, and MENA relevance requirements before submitting an application.
Click here to know more about MENA Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme 2026/2027: Empowering Researchers and Innovators to Build Sustainable Agricultural Solutions
Application Information
Applicants interested in the MENA Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme can access the programme’s official application platform through the Apply Now option provided by the organisers.
The programme page also identifies the 2026/2027 cohort and provides an application link for prospective participants.
Application deadline: The provided programme information does not specify a deadline. Applicants should therefore check the official application platform for the latest deadline or closing-date information before applying.
How to Prepare a Strong Application
Although the source does not provide a detailed application-writing guide, prospective applicants can use the published eligibility criteria to ensure that their proposed solution clearly fits the programme.
A strong application should clearly demonstrate the relationship between the proposed solution and regenerative agriculture.
Applicants should be prepared to explain:
- What agricultural problem does the solution address?
- How does the solution contribute to regenerative agriculture?
- Is the solution based on research, science, or nature-based innovation?
- Is it a process innovation, technological innovation, or another eligible approach?
- Which MENA agricultural challenge does it address?
- How could the solution contribute to climate resilience, food security, soil health, water security, biodiversity, or another relevant area?
- What stage of development has the solution reached?
- How could the solution move toward proof of concept?
- What business or entrepreneurial capabilities are needed to scale the solution?
- How could the solution eventually contribute to agricultural systems and communities in the MENA region?
These questions follow the core themes identified by the programme and can help applicants assess whether their project is aligned with its objectives.
Why This Opportunity Could Be Valuable for Agricultural Innovators
Agricultural innovation increasingly requires collaboration between scientific research, technology, entrepreneurship, environmental sustainability, and practical implementation.
A researcher may have a scientifically promising solution but still face challenges when attempting to develop it into a scalable innovation. Similarly, an entrepreneur may identify a major agricultural problem but need stronger scientific foundations to develop an effective solution.
The MENA Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme sits at this intersection by seeking research-, science-, and nature-based solutions while emphasizing the development of entrepreneurial capabilities.
Its focus on proof of concept, scaling, and funding is particularly relevant for innovators who want their research or agricultural solution to progress beyond the initial development stage.
Conclusion
The MENA Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme offers a platform for researchers, scientists, students, and innovators working on solutions to critical agricultural and environmental challenges.
Its focus extends across regenerative agriculture, soil health, water security, climate resilience, food security, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, desertification, salinity, farmer livelihoods, and rural social welfare.
One of the programme’s distinctive features is its international geographic scope. Applicants can come from around the world, while their proposed solutions must demonstrate relevance to agricultural conditions and opportunities in the MENA region. However, applications are currently not accepted from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Sudan, Libya, Yemen, and Syria.
For researchers and innovators with a promising agricultural idea, the programme provides an opportunity to develop research-based solutions while strengthening the entrepreneurial capabilities needed to move toward proof of concept, scaling, and potential funding.
The 2026/2027 cohort is currently highlighted on the programme platform, and interested applicants should review the official application information carefully. Since no application deadline is stated in the provided source, prospective applicants should check the official application platform for the current closing date and any additional requirements before submitting their application.
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