Coffee at the Climatic Edge: Saudi Arabica as a Model of Climate-Resilient, High-Value Specialty Production
Year: 2026
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: As climate change erodes the growing conditions of established Arabica origins, Saudi Arabia offers a striking counter-example: Arabica that already thrives at the climatic edge, in the cooler highlands on the fringes of a desert. Grown for centuries on the terraced Sarawat escarpment (1,000-2,400 m), it develops under conditions most Arabica could not tolerate [1]. Annual rainfall is just 200-500 mm, against the ideal 1,500-2,000 mm; summer temperatures reach 35-40 °C, far above the 18-22 °C optimum; and the soils are shallow and rocky. At its core is the Khawlani landrace and related Saudi selections, heat- and drought-adapted over generations [2]. On-farm demonstration and pilot trials show how the sector turns hardship into value. Better agronomy has doubled per-tree yield, while improved post-harvest handling raised green-bean outturn from 36% to 46% and lifted the share reaching specialty grade from 38% to 93% in a single season. Modified drip irrigation makes each drop about 50% more productive than conventional systems, and agroforestry is being introduced to buffer canopy temperature. Genetic characterisation has identified drought-tolerant genotypes, some also resistant to heat-loving pests such as mealybug and leaf miner. Underpinned by strong domestic demand and its heritage status [3], Saudi green coffee commands among the highest producer prices anywhere, averaging 150 SAR/kg (about US$40) and reaching 300-400 SAR/kg (US$80-107) for premium lots [4]. Saudi Arabica thus serves as a living laboratory for climate-resilient coffee, yielding transferable lessons in resilient germplasm, water-smart agronomy and quality under stress for origins facing similar pressures.
Language: English
Subfield: Agronomy and Crop Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Climate action, Zero hunger
Open Access status: gold
Funder: Ministry of Environment
OpenAlex ID: W7204199784