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Soma Mater
January 26, 2026
Welcome to the SOMA MATER weekly newsletter.
At SOMA MATER, we specialize in delivering comprehensive research and advisory services with a focus on Food & Water Security and Net Zero Transition in the MENA Region. In order to support our subscribing clients in navigating these topics and understanding the regional narrative, we produce monthly Food and Water Security and Net Zero Transition Intelligence Reports, along with our in-depth analysis and insights.
This weekly newsletter highlights the top 3 stories from the past week in Food and Water Security and Net Zero transition, along with SOMA MATER's analysis and perspective.
What major trends are predicted to shape the global climate conversation in 2026?
How is the UAE addressing its water security challenges through financial investment and strategic partnerships?
What innovations and partnerships could help Saudi Arabia address its agricultural water challenges?
Sustainably yours,
The SOMA team
Climate's 2026 Plot Twist: When "Green" Becomes "Grid"
#NetZeroTransition
The landscape of global sustainability is changing in 2026, marked by fragmentation. As the U.S. and China diverge on climate policy, the world is moving toward a multi-regional approach where adaptation takes precedence over mitigation. With global natural disaster losses hitting $320 billion in 2024 and water stress poised to cost companies $265 billion annually by 2050, organizations are reframing climate investments as "infrastructure" and "security" to avoid political division. Meanwhile, the growth of AI-driven data centers could consume the equivalent of India's total power usage by 2030, creating strain on both energy grids and water resources.
Amid these challenges, critical gaps widen. Solar additions are projected to decline for the first time year-over-year, sustainable aviation fuel capacity awaits investment decisions, and only 8% of companies globally assessed in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment have committed to biodiversity protection. Regulatory uncertainty is reshaping compliance landscapes as legal challenges mount against climate disclosure rules, while the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism could add $15 billion in import costs for carbon-intensive goods.
Lastly, is the demographic shift unfolding: with the global population aged 65+ surpassing 10.5% in 2026, profoundly impacting economic growth and financial markets, creating challenges that neither AI productivity gains nor migration can address.
SOMA’s Perspective:
In 2026, climate risk is manifesting as a tangible pressure on corporate balance sheets and operational continuity. Climate is moving from the sustainability department to the risk register. What was once framed as environmental responsibility is now recognized as infrastructure vulnerability, supply chain fragility, and financial exposure. As physical manifestations of water stress and climate volatility intensify, companies are being forced to confront the reality that adaptation is no longer optional.
Sources:
Making Waves: The UAE Is Betting on the World's Thirstiest Problem
#FoodandWaterSecurity
The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development launched the Abu Dhabi Global Water Platform to mobilize $2 billion in financing and drive water sector innovation, with ADFD committing $1 billion through tools like development financing and equity investments. The World Bank estimates a $7 trillion funding gap by 2030 for SDG6, with investments falling short by hundreds of billions annually. Water scarcity costs some regions up to 6% of GDP, yet water remains chronically underpriced, a legacy mindset deterring private capital and leaving governments overburdened.
The UAE has allocated nearly $2 billion to new desalination facilities and imported over 94 million liters of bottled water in 2023. Abu Dhabi is set to invest over $300 billion in capital expenditure over the next decade to modernize its energy and water systems. Regionally, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is also providing a €6.4 million loan to an Egypt-based company to build new desalination plants and upgrade facilities for the Egyptian tourism and industry sectors that lack municipal water access due to the regulatory regime.
The UAE's food security is defined as relative, as it leverages strategic imports and can be vulnerable to supply chain fluctuations. Partnerships like Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) are critical for expanding supply network resilience. A recent CEPA agreement was signed with Nigeria to reduce tariffs and strengthen supply chains across technology, agriculture, and energy. With non-oil trade at a record $810 billion in 2024—up 14% year-on-year—the UAE targets $1.1 trillion by 2031.
SOMA’s Perspective:
CEPA agreements have emerged as a strategic tool for the UAE to reduce structural dependencies, by diversifying supply routes and building resilience into its trade framework. Globally, utility companies struggle to break even as the true cost of water delivery and aging infrastructure maintenance continues to rise. SOMA believes that the way we perceive and manage water globally will change significantly over the next few years.
Sources:
The Kingdom’s Soil Battery: Squeezing Water Out of Fruit Waste
#FoodandWaterSecurity
NADEC and EF Polymer have partnered to launch field trials of EF Polymer, an absorbent polymer that transforms fruit residues into a soil enhancement technology. This organic powder acts as a "soil battery"—absorbing up to 50 times its weight in water and releasing it gradually to roots. This could reduce irrigation needs by up to 40% while boosting crop yields. After a year, it biodegrades completely. Given that Saudi agriculture consumes around 11.4 billion cubic meters of water annually, these technologies are critical.
The Kingdom is strengthening its foundations for agricultural resilience. It recently signed its first formal agreement with Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), backed by $5 million from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, to advance collaborative research. This initiative recognizes a critical reality: Saudi Arabia faces transient food insecurity driven by trade disruptions, geopolitical instability, and climate extremes like flooding. Addressing these requires both immediate interventions and long-term investment in sustainable practices.
While Saudi Arabia's legislative frameworks for soil conservation align with global benchmarks, significant gaps remain between what is written and what is enforced. Closing this gap will require stronger awareness of legal penalties, greater transparency in environmental data, and improved coordination across institutions.
SOMA’s Perspective:
Saudi Arabia is advancing within its agriculture and food security sectors. Technologies like EF Polymer may offer immediate relief in water-scarce environments, but they remain interventions—not systems. True resilience will require moving beyond additives and toward systemic frameworks: pioneering species, soil microbiology, and biodiversity infrastructure that function without continuous input in the long-term.
Sources:
SOMA MATER is writing Intelligence Reports on the topics of Food and Water Security and Net Zero Transition. If you’d like to know more, contact us through the link below: