Saudi Firm Using Arizona Water To Grow Alfalfa

A rancher of 40 years says he’s running out of water because of Saudi Arabia. But he isn’t blaming the company that moved next door to him; he’s blaming the state of Arizona for allowing the Saudis to use the precious resource unchecked, Ali Bradley reported for NewsNation.

Photo Insert: For nearly a decade, Fondomonte Arizona, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia-based Almarai Co., has been growing alfalfa — one of the most water-intensive crops — for livestock in the Gulf kingdom on land it purchased in La Paz County.

At least two foreign-owned firms are using the land for a crop that needs a lot of water to survive: Al Dahra, which is based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Saudi-owned Fondomonte.

The crop uses so much water that Saudi Arabia banned it from being grown there, which is why Fondomonte is growing the crop on acquired land in Arizona.

For nearly a decade, Fondomonte Arizona, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia-based Almarai Co., has been growing alfalfa — one of the most water-intensive crops — for livestock in the Gulf kingdom on land it purchased in La Paz County.

The company is estimated to use enough water for more than 50,000 homes on the state-owned land. The issue of water rights has been fraught with controversy for decades.

The belief in La Paz County is clear: Our land, our water. Many are worried about what tomorrow holds as they watch this valuable resource start to disappear — and in many cases — literally leave the country.

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