The Role of Precision Coffee Farming in Mitigating the Biotic and Abiotic Stresses Related to Climate Change in Saudi Arabia: A Review

In Saudi Arabia, coffee (Coffea arabica L.) has been grown for centuries on the mountain terraces of the southwestern regions. Jazan region accounts for about 80% of the total production. The acreage allocated to coffee is comparatively small but it is expanding rapidly thanks to a strong government-supported drive to increase local coffee production. Despite the initial success, the effort is hampered by the limited water supply available for irrigating the new plantings and the increased incidence of pests and diseases. The magnitude of these natural handicaps appears to have increased as of late, apparently due to climate change (CC). This review examines strategies to mitigate the consequences of CC on the coffee sector through the implementation of precision agriculture (PA) techniques, with the focus on addressing the challenges posed by biotic and abiotic stresses. The impact of CC is both direct by rendering present growing regions unsuitable and indirect by amplifying the severity of biotic and abiotic tree stressors. Precision agriculture (PA) techniques can play a key role in tackling these challenges through data-driven tools like sensors, GIS, remote sensing, machine learning and smart equipment. By monitoring soil, climate, and crop conditions, PA enables targeted irrigation, fertilization, and pest control thus improving efficiency and sustainability. This approach reduces costs, conserves resources, and minimizes environmental impact, making PA essential for building climate-resilient and sustainable coffee production systems. The review synthesizes insights from case studies, research papers, and other scientific literature concerned with precision farming practices and their effectiveness in alleviating biotic and abiotic pressures on coffee trees. Additionally, it evaluates technological advances, identifies existing knowledge gaps, and suggests areas for future research. Ultimately, this study seeks to contribute to enhancing the resilience of coffee farming in Saudi Arabia amidst ongoing CC challenges by educating farmers about the potential of PA technologies.