Istidama showcases advanced research to boost Saudi coffee farming

The National Center for Research and Development of Sustainable Agriculture (Istidama) participated in a workshop titled "Enhancing Coffee Production and Building Partnerships in Saudi Arabia," organized by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Riyadh. The event was attended by specialists, researchers, and representatives from relevant organizations.

During the workshop, Istidama presented its research initiatives aimed at developing Saudi coffee cultivation and production, from laboratory to farm. Its research program covers tissue culture, studies on water requirements and fertilization programs, agroforestry, shading and greenhouse techniques, as well as genetic research and utilizing coffee residues to develop economic products.

Istidama also highlighted several achievements, including the development and modeling of four tissue culture protocols for key Saudi coffee varieties, the production and distribution of 19,000 tissue-cultured seedlings to farmers in the Al-Baha region, and reaching the final stages of registering a new plant variety, in addition to initiating the registration process for another variety.

Discussing challenges and opportunities

The workshop addressed the current state of coffee cultivation in the Kingdom, the opportunities and challenges facing its development, and related knowledge products. It also discussed research priorities, partnership-building mechanisms, and areas of cooperation among sector stakeholders.

Participants examined major challenges in coffee farming, such as limited water resources, climate impacts, pests and diseases, and variability in seedling quality and agricultural practices. They emphasized the importance of transferring research outputs and technologies into practical application on farms.

Ongoing efforts to enhance sustainability

Istidama's participation reflects its ongoing commitment to developing an integrated research system for the Saudi coffee sector. The center focuses on preserving local genetic resources, advancing propagation and genetic improvement techniques, employing smart agriculture technologies to improve resource management, and supporting farmers in adopting research-based agricultural practices, thereby enhancing the sustainability, quality, and competitiveness of Saudi coffee.