Riyadh: The National Research and Development Center for Sustainable Agriculture (Estidamah) participated in a workshop focused on enhancing coffee production and building partnerships in Saudi Arabia. This event was organized by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Riyadh, and it brought together specialists, researchers, and representatives of relevant organizations.

According to Saudi Press Agency, Estidamah showcased its research efforts to develop Saudi coffee cultivation and production from the laboratory to the farm. These efforts encompass tissue culture, water and fertilization requirements, shading and greenhouse techniques, genetic research, and the use of coffee byproducts to develop value-added products.

Estidamah highlighted its key achievements during the workshop. These include the development of four tissue culture protocols for major Saudi coffee varieties and the production and distribution of 19,000 tissue-culture seedlings to farmers in the Al-Baha Region. Additionally, the center is advancing the registration of a new plant variety while initiating another.

The workshop also addressed the current state of coffee cultivation in the Kingdom, discussing opportunities and challenges, research priorities, partnership mechanisms, and areas of cooperation among sector stakeholders.