JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has launched an initiative to increase high-quality coffee seedling production using tissue culture technology as part of the Kingdom’s push to develop its coffee sector and promote sustainable agriculture.
Led by the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, or Saudi Reef, in cooperation with the National Centre for Research and Development of Sustainable Agriculture, also known as Estidamah, the project will plant 50,000 seedlings and boost the productivity of coffee trees by 30 percent by the end of 2025.
Majid Al-Brikan, spokesperson for Saudi Reef, said the initiative began with selecting six elite genetic samples from coffee trees in Jazan, Asir and Baha.
These were supplied to labs, producing 17,000 somatic embryos and 4,000 plants, now undergoing the rooting phase.
So far, 1,200 plants have been transferred to greenhouse facilities for acclimatisation, and another 400 seedlings are in the hardening stage.
A bioreactor growth accelerator has also been installed to speed up production and reduce reliance on manual labor.
According to Al-Brikan, the project has yielded significant scientific breakthroughs, including the re-evaluation of 82 genetic patterns, now grouped into 12 genetic groups based on morphological similarities.
Seedlings are also being produced through cuttings of selected genotypes, with 1,000 rooted cuttings prepared to yield traceable, high-quality plants.
A key focus of the initiative is the development of disease-resistant and drought-tolerant coffee varieties, supporting the Kingdom’s goals for climate-resilient agriculture.
Fourteen knowledge-based agricultural products have also been developed to promote best practices across coffee farms.
The program includes development of a reference book for local farmers on cultivation and post-harvest practices.
To support knowledge transfer, at least 109 farmers have participated in domestic and international study tours, and more than 200 stakeholders have received training through workshops and seminars.
The program has also engaged with global coffee events to promote Saudi Arabia’s growing presence in the international market.
