Business Enquirer Issue 115 | ARASCO | July 2023

THE KEY TO FOOD SECURITY IN SAUDI ARABIA ARASCO

THE KEY TO FOOD SECURITY IN SAUDI ARABIA

Celebrating its 40th year in business this year, ARASCO (Arabian Agricultural Services Company) is one of the leading organisations specialising in food supply and food security in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Leading the business’ continued growth, in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, is ARASCO COO, Yusuf Wazirzada.

Diversity, Trust and Servitude

“There are lots of opinions on and strategies for leadership, but “servant leadership” resonates with me the most,” said Yusuf when speaking to Business Enquirer.

Yusuf’s vision of leadership is, in part, formed by his decades of experience working around the world, and the opportunities he has been afforded by his own mentors.

From Pakistan to Minneapolis, Shanghai to Saudi Arabia, Yusuf has spent a majority of his career working in commercial and management roles for the likes of ICI Pakistan and Cargill, before being invited to take on his current role at ARASCO in October 2022.

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ARASCO PROJECT

DIRECTED BY: JAMIE WAITE ARTICLE

WRITTEN BY: LAURA WATLING

The customer we care most about

To feed 9.7 billion people by 2050, sustainably and responsibly, and within our planet’s finite resources, the time to change is now.

At DSM, we’re focusing our passion and expertise on 6 key areas to support the livestock and aquaculture value chain and address the challenges facing our planet:

• Improving lifetime performance of farm animals

• Making efficient use of natural resources

• Reducing emissions from livestock and aquaculture

• Helping tackle antimicrobial resistance

• Reducing our reliance on marine resources

• Improving the quality of meat, milk, fish and eggs, while reducing food loss and waste

We strongly believe in sustainable food systems and that the livestock and aquaculture industry can transform itself from within to be a part of the solution. We want to play a key role in this transformation and work at species and country level, with our partners, to provide tangible and actionable solutions to create brighter lives for all.

If not us, who? If not now, when?

WE MAKE IT POSSIBLE

“I had some fantastic opportunities during my 25 years at Cargill, for example working in the strategy and business development group, leading a food ingredients business in Asia, working in China for 5 years, including becoming the first hire and then as President of its biobased polyurethanes start up,” he said.

It is through his long career with Cargill that Yusuf was seconded to MEFSCO, a joint venture between Cargill and ARASCO, and from there, ARASCO itself.

“I believe in embracing diversity, and enabling colleagues to feel empowered to disagree. This is how I can support future leaders to grow,” shared Yusuf.

He also bases his leadership vision on building trust with colleagues by showing his authentic self.

“You must build credibility with your

team and show clarity of direction, as they’re taking a risk in following you,” he continued.

“Finally, people need to see you servingit's not about you, and it’s not completely about results. At the highest level it is about the people. I believe in coaching, mentoring and helping to develop people into their best selves - it’s my duty to pay back”.

Enabling Food Security

In its very essence, ARASCO is about people. The business’ purpose is to be a key enabler of food security in Saudi Arabia.

“Each segment of the business plugs into the bigger picture of enabling growth through feed,” explained Yusuf.

To support its vision, ARASCO is underpinned by six business units.

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ARASCO Feed produces compound feeds, which combines ARASCO’s own milled grains and protein-rich pellets with highly specific additives sourced from a robust supply chain.

Undertaking thorough research and development, and implementing sustainability and technology measures has enabled ARASCO Feed to become number one in the sector in Saudia Arabia, producing more than 4 million tons of compound feeds per year.

Meanwhile, supplying 600,000 fresh poultry to retail per day, ARASCO Foods (via its brand Entaj) is one of the most prominent chicken producers in Saudi Arabia.

With quality at the forefront of ARASCO Foods, Entaj has invested in state-of-theart equipment and world-class facilities, along with its highly qualified staff, for each stage of the production process. Adding to ARASCO’s accolades, its Foods enterprise is considered within the top four poultry producers in Saudi Arabia.

In addition, MEFSCO is the number one producer of starch, glucose syrup, and glucose-fructose syrup in the region.

Enabling the business to provide valueadded service to agriculture, ALEMAR International is the leading distributor of agricultural and veterinary products in the Kingdom.

IDAC Merieux is ARASCO’s pioneering provider of integrated food analytical services and solutions. IDAC works in partnership with the public and private sector, including national retailers, supporting them in food safety and quality testing.

Finally, the business’ logistics arm, ARASCO Logistics, handles and transports over five million metric tons of agri-bulk commodities and 180 million chickens per year, with a fleet of 550 trucks and 150 railcars.

As part of its joint venture with Bahri, the

National Shipping Flag Carrier, ARASCO has a fleet of Panamax vessels, each capable of carrying 70,000 tons of grains to and from South America (or other origins), supported by its stevedoring and storage capabilities in Dammam.

With its wealth of activities, ARASCO’s divisions are supported by 2300 employees across its various facilities in Riyadh, Dammam, and Kharj.

Feeding the National Vision

Each of ARASCO’s business units are actively playing a role within Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy.

The Kingdom’s strategic framework aims to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy, reduce its dependence on oil, and develop key sectors such as agriculture.

Between now and 2030 ARASCO plans to triple its growth. It will do so by expanding ARASCO Feeds and IDAC. Its ARASCO Logistics division also has a fiveyear growth strategy in place.

“Each sector of the business will grow organically and through investment,” explained Yusuf.

In addition, the business is partnering with Cargill and NEOM to incubate a new aquafeed business, supporting Vision 2030’s aim to become self-sufficient in the aquaculture sector.

“This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in the sustainable production of feed to support fisheries,” said Yusuf.

Formulating the Future

Yusuf highlighted three challenges that are being faced across industries around the world, which, of course, ARASCO are not immune to.

“Firstly, there is a war for talent. If you can acquire, nurture, and retain the talent, you can win the war,” explained Yusuf, “there is also an increasing demand from customers for businesses to meet their rising standards”.

And, like every organisation, ARASCO is developing an understanding of how AI and digitisation will affect and align with the business.

Whilst the challenges are apparent, Yusuf can see how they also offer clear opportunity, and strategies are being formulated to tackle them.

“The Kingdom’s vision is being executed flawlessly with clear leadership, and we are proud to align with that vision. When it comes to investment I see no better place than in Saudi Arabia,” said Yusuf.

www.arasco.com