Abstract: Climate change is radically transforming global food production. In Southern Europe, water scarcity is increasing the risk of food security and sustainability of traditional crops. In this context, international cooperation becomes a key element. The Gulf countries (GCC), which have been facing extreme arid conditions for decades, have developed advanced agricultural technologies to cultivate in the near absence of water. These innovations, particularly in the field of hydroponics, can offer new solutions for the European Union as well, facilitating strategic collaboration.

Key Words: Hydroponics, Climate Crisis, Food Security, International Cooperation, EU, Gulf Countries.

The six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates–have historically faced an environment hostile to agriculture: low rainfall, high temperatures, desertification. Despite their high levels of food quality assurance, these nations have heavily invested in innovative technologies including hydroponics, to enhance their food security in the face of climatic and environmental limitations. Hydroponics is a growing technique distinguished by the absence of soil use. Plants are in fact grown in a controlled environment, where the roots are fed with a complete nutrient solution containing all the minerals essential for plant development. This system allows cultivation even in confined spaces, such as urban settings or areas with soils unsuitable for conventional agriculture.

Hydroponics offers concrete solutions to both the climate crisis and food insecurity. It allows efficient use of water resources by recirculating the nutrient solution, reduces environmental impact by eliminating the need for pesticides and soil tillage, and increases productivity per unit area by controlling the growing environment. In addition, it can be practised in urban areas or territories unsuitable for traditional agriculture, thus reducing distances between production and consumption, limiting transport emissions and ensuring a stable food supply even in adverse weather conditions. This technology not only improves efficiency, but also expands the variety of crops available, making possible the local production of tropical fruits and vegetables with high nutritional value.  

Although the GCC agri-food sector is among the most established in the world, accounting for 17.2% of total global production in 2021, it is the actual food production that limits the region’s ability to be self-sufficient With approximately 85% of its food supply reliant on imports, the region remains exposed to global market fluctuations and geopolitical shocks For this reason, hydroponic agriculture not only aligns with the GCC’s water scarcity, but also has numerous advantages for the Gulf countries. 

Compared to traditional agriculture, hydroponics requires up to 60% less fertiliser, substantially lowering the risk of water pollution and ecosystem degradation. It also circumvents problems such as soil erosion and depletion. Controlled systems optimise light, temperature and humidity, improving the nutritional efficiency of crops. In addition, by operating indoors, it allows continuous production throughout the year, promoting food self-sufficiency, the development of local agriculture and the reduction of imports to Gulf countries. European countries, especially the southern countries, are also facing climatic conditions similar to those in the Gulf countries. Taking Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal as examples, drought is now a constant in these countries, compromising agricultural yields and putting water reserves under pressure. In Norway, on the other hand, climatic conditions can be a major obstacle to traditional agriculture, with long winters and low temperatures for much of the year. In this case hydroponic systems in controlled environments allows a year-round cultivation. Finally, the Netherlands, with its high population density and limited arable land, has already embraced hydroponics as a way to maximise production in small spaces. In this broader context, the Gulf countries’ know-how in hydroponic technologies becomes a strategic asset for enhancing agricultural resilience within the EU.

Recently, the EU has expressed a growing interest in closer cooperation with the Gulf countries, especially in areas related to innovation and sustainability. Indeed, during the last EU-GCC summit, held on 16 October 2024, agriculture was officially recognised as a strategic domain for partnership, with shared potential to address climate change and stimulate sustainable trade. The EU is already engaged in other research projects concerning the sustainable use of water resources and resilient agriculture, one example being PRIMA (Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area). This 10-year initiative (2018-2028), partly funded by the EU research and innovation programmes Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, is a joint research programme with the aim of building a structured, long-term partnership. The project is characterised by a specific focus on the Mediterranean area, with the aim of overcoming the fragmentation of existing actions and stimulating research and innovation projects in three thematic areas considered strategic: water resource management; sustainable agriculture; food and agri-food supply chain.

Nonetheless, advancing EU-GCC cooperation in the agri-food sector entails challenges. Regulatory differences, trade constraints and cultural barriers can slow down the exchange of technology and expertise. However, the potential mutual benefits—enhanced food security, resilience to climate shocks, and the promotion of sustainable agricultural innovation—far outweigh the difficulties. To make this collaboration more effective, appropriate policy instruments, incentives for joint research, technical training and exchange of best practices will be needed. Climate diplomacy will also play an important role in facilitating technology sharing and dialogue between the parties. 

The global agricultural landscape is rapidly changing due to the climate crisis and both Europe and the Gulf, although with historical and environmental differences, now share the need to face a common imperative: to reimagine food production in a water-constrained, uncertain world. The convergence on water-efficient solutions, such as hydroponics, represents not only a technical answer, but also a political, economic and geopolitical opportunity. In particular, such cooperation can serve as a stabilising factor for the Mediterranean region, fostering long-term resilience in the face of growing global uncertainties. If the EU succeeds in cultivating a structured and sustained partnership with the Gulf countries, it will be better positioned to confront future food system challenges. Such cooperation could also reinforce the EU’s geopolitical influence while contributing to the emergence of a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive global agri-food model—particularly across the increasingly vulnerable Mediterranean region.