Jazan:Coffee cultivation in the mountain highlands of the Jazan Region is experiencing a transformation, with Jazan University leading efforts in research, variety development, and farmer training to enhance production and expand investment opportunities for Saudi coffee.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the university's initiatives have resulted in the registration of four plant patents for innovative Saudi coffee varieties: "Jazan Light," "Jazan Premium," "Jazan Mocha," and "JU2030." These developments aim to broaden the study of plant resources and encourage further innovation in coffee cultivation.
The Environmental and Nature Research Center at Jazan University is actively monitoring the biodiversity of more than 70 local and international coffee strains, bolstered by over SAR6.8 million in research funding. This funding supports various areas such as irrigation, fertilization, genetic resource mapping, and the selection of disease-resistant varieties.
These initiatives have produced 35 peer-reviewed scientific papers, three specialized coffee manuals, and the establishment of a coffee research and technology laboratory. Additionally, the university has organized 10 workshops and nine field courses, directly imparting modern cultivation techniques to farmers.
Jazan University has also formed strategic partnerships with the Saudi Coffee Company to develop joint research, support seedling production, and promote agricultural innovation. Furthermore, the university organized the Jazan International Conference on Coffee Research, which gathered researchers and stakeholders to address production sustainability and challenges faced by farmers.