The Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID) has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Goumbook, a leading social enterprise advancing sustainability and climate action across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), to strengthen cooperation in food security, regenerative agriculture, and sustainable agricultural innovation.

The agreement reflects a shared commitment to advancing sustainable development and building more resilient food systems across the region through the adoption of innovative approaches that address some of the most pressing challenges facing the agricultural sector, including land degradation, water scarcity, desertification, and climate change.

The MoU was signed on Monday, 8 June 2026, at AAAID’s headquarters in Dubai. The agreement was signed on behalf of AAAID by His Excellency Dr. Obaid Saif Hamad Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Board of AAAID, and on behalf of Goumbook by Tatiana Antonelli Abella, Founder and Managing Director of Goumbook, who also launched and leads the MENA Regenerative Agriculture Initiative.

Under the agreement, both organizations will collaborate on the development and implementation of joint programmes and initiatives aimed at strengthening food security, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and accelerating agricultural innovation. The partnership will also support startups and entrepreneurs working in regenerative agriculture and nature-based solutions, while expanding cooperation with international organizations, universities, and research institutions to facilitate knowledge exchange and advance scientific and practical solutions that enhance agricultural productivity and improve the sustainable management of natural resources.

The collaboration will further support the expansion of the MENA Regenerative Agriculture Initiative, launched by Goumbook to accelerate the adoption of regenerative agriculture across the region through awareness-building, stakeholder engagement, scientific research, and the promotion of innovative nature-based solutions that contribute to the long-term sustainability of agricultural systems.

His Excellency Dr. Obaid Saif Hamad Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of AAAID, said: “Food security remains one of the foremost development priorities for the Arab region. Achieving sustainable food security requires effective partnerships and innovative solutions that bring together responsible investment, advanced technologies, and sustainable agricultural practices. This partnership with Goumbook represents a model for collaboration that connects knowledge, innovation, and investment to develop more efficient, resilient, and sustainable food systems. Through this cooperation, we look forward to supporting transformative initiatives and scaling sustainable agricultural solutions that contribute to food security and sustainable development across the Arab region”.

For her part, Tatiana Antonelli Abella, Founder and Managing Director of Goumbook and Chair of the Board of the MENA Regenerative Agriculture Initiative, said: “True food system transformation cannot rest on a single lever. It demands the integration of time-tested traditional practices, cutting-edge technologies, and regenerative approaches that restore rather than deplete. This MoU with AAAID marks a pivotal step in translating that ambition into action across the MENA region, combining our collective expertise to accelerate pathways that strengthen food self-sufficiency, serve local economies, and put communities and ecosystems at the heart of progress”.

The MoU establishes a long-term strategic framework for cooperation between the two organizations, aimed at delivering measurable impact across the agricultural and food sectors while supporting the transition towards more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive food systems that respond to the region’s evolving environmental and development priorities.