RIYADH, December 4, 2025 – The World AgriFood Innovation (WAFI) Conference today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Forward Fooding Ltd, a global pioneer in FoodTech data and innovation at the EWAx event by the Ministry of Environment Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This strategic partnership establishes a collaborative framework aimed at accelerating sustainable development and fostering cross-border innovation within the global agrifood sector, with a particular emphasis on enhancing connectivity with the Middle East region.

Figure 1. MOU Signed between
Dr. Andrew Yip, Chief Representative for the Middle East of WAFI, and Max Leveau, Founding Partner & COO of Forward Fooding, Witnessed by Hadi Saeed Alshakhori, Program Director of MEWA

The agreement underscores a shared commitment to bridging innovation ecosystems across continents. By combining WAFI’s extensive platform and convening power in key growth markets with Forward Fooding’s world-renowned network of FoodTech startups and data-driven insights, the partnership seeks to unlock new opportunities for entrepreneurs, investors, and industry stakeholders.

“We are thrilled to formalize this collaborative pathway with Forward Fooding,” said Dr. Andrew Yip, Chief Representative for the Middle East at WAFI. “This partnership is a testament to our mission of catalyzing actionable innovation on a global scale. Connecting Forward Fooding’s exceptional pipeline of FoodTech pioneers with WAFI’s global innovation ecosystem, which is designed to catalyze and scale solutions through its convening power, knowledge networks, and targeted market pathways in regions like the Middle East, will create powerful synergies and drive tangible progress towards a more sustainable and resilient agrifood future.”

Figure 2. Dr. Andrew Yip attended and delivered a speech at the EWAx Conference

The MOU outlines a framework for the two organizations to explore synergistic collaborations. Key areas of mutual interest include connecting global innovation pipelines, facilitating knowledge exchange and joint thought leadership initiatives, and enhancing strategic visibility across their respective networks. This cooperation aims to build bridges for startups, insights, and best practices between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

About the World AgriFood Innovation Conference:

The World AgriFood Innovation (WAFI) Conference is a global platform dedicated to fostering innovation, investment, and sustainable solutions across the entire agrifood value chain. Co-organized by China Agricultural University, the People’s Government of Pinggu District, the Beijing Municipal Rural Affairs Bureau, and the CGIAR, WAFI connects governments, industry leaders, research institutions, and innovators to address pressing global challenges. The last WAFI2025 was held in Beijing from October 12-15 under the theme “Resilient Food Supply For Agrifood Systems Transformation,” where over 500 speakers and 7000 delegates attended.

About Forward Fooding:

Forward Fooding is the world’s premier collaborative platform for the agri and food industries,offering FoodTech data intelligence, corporate innovation services, and startup acceleration programs. Known for its flagship FoodTech 500 ranking, Forward Fooding connects large corporations with innovative startups to drive the transition toward a more sustainable and efficient food system. Learn more at Foward Fooding.