Dr. Saif Alharbi is a distinguished soil scientist and research leader with extensive experience spanning sustainable agriculture, corporate governance, and strategic planning. He currently serves as Head of Research Planning and Implementation at the National Research and Development Center for Sustainable Agriculture (Estidamah) and sits on the Board of Directors of the Saudi Cable Company, where he also chairs the Nomination and Remuneration Committee and contributes to executive strategic decision-making. He earned his Ph.D. in Soil Science from Oklahoma State University, following a Master’s from King Saud University and a Bachelor’s from Qassim University, all focused on soil chemistry, fertility, and plant nutrition. Previously, he spent over a decade as an Academic Researcher at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), where he led national and international research collaborations, particularly with the International Atomic Energy Agency on climate-smart agriculture. His roles have included Acting Director of Research and Innovation at Estidamah, research consultant to private and governmental bodies, and advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Widely published in high-impact journals, his work spans nutrient management, biochar applications, desalination in agriculture, and genome editing technologies. He is an invited speaker at global conferences, an active reviewer for numerous international scientific journals, and a member of prominent professional societies including the Soil Science Society of America, Crop Science Society of America, and American Society of Agronomy. His career reflects a strong commitment to advancing agricultural sustainability through science, innovation, and leadership.
Featured Publications
Abdelaziz, M. E., Qaryouti, M., Al-Sahly, S., Osman, M., Babiker, O., Felemban, A., Alharbi, S., & Aljhi, A. (2024). Effect of the root endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica on strawberry growth, fruit quality and physiological traits under elevated electrical conductivity. Horticulturae, 10, 1174.
Osman, M., Qaryouti, M., Alharbi, S., Alghamdi, B., Al-Soqeer, A., Alharbi, A., Almutairi, K., & Abdelaziz, M. E. (2024). Impact of CO₂ enrichment on growth, yield and fruit quality of F1 hybrid strawberry grown under controlled greenhouse condition. Horticulturae, 10, 941.
Alharbi, S., Aldakil, M., Felemban, A., & Abdelrahim, A. (2024). Agricultural and technology-based strategies to improve water use efficiency in arid and semiarid areas. Journal of Water, 1–17.
Alharbi, S., Al-Dakhil, M., & Alotaibi, F. S. (2024). Precise genome editing of plants through base and prime editor. In OMICs-Based Techniques for Global Food Security.
Alotaibi, F., Alrajhi, A., Alharbi, S., & Beecham, S. (2024). Regulation of root growth and elongation in wheat. Frontiers in Plant Science, 15, 1397337.