Nadec has always been a pioneer in the agricultural development sector in the Middle East. As it works to achieve the Kingdom's 2030 vision, through economic development projects that aim to improve self-sufficiency by decreasing imports and increasing dependence on the national economy while encouraging participation in the agricultural sector to secure a bright future for Saudis.
Nadec olive oil project in Al-Jouf
Nadec offers a variety of products such as olives, wheat, clover that are grown around the Kingdom in Hail, Haradh, Al-Jawf and Wadi Al-Dawasir. Today’s blog will be dedicated to the olive oil journey that starts in Al-Jawf.
Nadec olive oil project in Al-Jawf is the largest farm for organic olive oil in the world! So far it’s a home for more than 4 million trees, and the fifth million currently being planted. Nadec is considered the first company to introduce the modern intensive cultivation system for olives in the Middle East in 2007. The process begins by planting olive oil seedlings for a two-years breeding period. During these two years, trees are being raised on mechanization, meaning adjusting their size to be ideal for pruning and harvesting machines. At the end of the third year, trees begin to bloom flowers that eventually turn into olives.
Olive trees may be subjected to technical care in case they don't bear enough fruit, resulting in severe pruning. Since olive trees only produce once a year, where the harvest season would be in the 10th and 12th months. Each tree produces approximately one liter and 200ml of olive oil.
Moreover, it consumes only 10% of water compared to the traditional farming method. Nadec uses advanced systems like the DACOM system to save on irrigation water. Which helps measuring the percentage of humidity and temperature in the soil to monitor and control the amount of water that irrigates crops and minimize water waste. Nadec also only uses 100% organic fertilizer without any pesticides or harmful chemicals.
Once Nadec is done with planting and breeding, they start harvesting that is done by using machines equipped with vibration systems. With the fruit being collected, the first phase ends. The second phase begins with cleaning, pressing and filling. The crop is then filiterd of any branches and leaves via high air pressure to be used later as an organic fertilizer.
During olives move to the next phase that consist of cleaning and scaling to calculate an estimate of expected produced quantities. Nadec experts take some samples to test the pH and acidity level to ensure it doesn't exceed 0.8% to proceed with the production. Olives then undergo milling and kneading to prepare for the pressing phase. Nadec proudly produces virgin olive oil from the first cold press, to preserve it’s valuable ingredients.
After the pressing stage, Nadec separates liquid and solid materials from each other. The solid materials are used to produce natural coal, while the oil proceeds to the last production stages. Each tank can fill up more than 60.000 liters of extra virgin olive first press. During storage and packaging three main factors are taken into consideration, temperature, oxygen percentage and light. That's why we see Nadec's olive oil bottles and cans specifically designed to protect and block the light and its effect on the quality. Finally, the product is distributed to the domestic and international markets.
This national product competed with well-known Italian and Greek products to win BIOL prize for eleven years in a row for the best quality and taste of organic olive oil in Saudi Arabia, along with many certificates of best agricultural practices.