A farmer from Asir is drawing attention at Saudi Agriculture 2026 in Riyadh with a local coffee variety grown through inherited organic practices, as the exhibition devotes a pavilion to organic producers seeking direct contact with visitors and investors. Farhan Al-Qahtani said cultivation in the region has long relied on natural methods passed down through generations, with no industrial inputs or chemical fertilizers, according to a report by Sabq.
Al-Qahtani explained that his farm depends on traditional natural composting inherited across generations, an approach he said preserves the character and quality of the crop. The local coffee he grows is known as «Al-Qatmah», distinguished by a smaller bean than the varieties widely sold in markets, a difference he attributes to the potassium used to enlarge beans elsewhere, which his farm avoids to keep the product natural.
Production on the farm follows a short chain: the beans are picked directly from the tree and then dried, while the husk is used as a popular drink familiar to older generations. Alongside coffee, Al-Qahtani displays other produce from his farm, most notably custard apple and its seeds, which he highlighted for their health benefits.
The organic pavilion is designed to give producers space to present their crops and farming practices and to meet visitors, investors and sector stakeholders directly. The exhibition, now in its 43rd edition, is held under the theme of an integrated agricultural system for a sustainable future and runs from 19 to 22 October at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, with wide local and international participation including government bodies, private companies, investors and decision-makers.
Organizers position the gathering as a platform to strengthen the agricultural sector's role in the Kingdom and its contribution to food security in line with Saudi Vision 2030 goals. The event was inaugurated by Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli.