The National Center for Research and Development of Sustainable Agriculture “Estidamah" achieved a significant milestone in developing Saudi saffron production. Laboratory analyses conducted on first-grade Saudi saffron threads in accredited international laboratories confirmed compliance with global standards according to ISO 3632, affirming the quality of the national product and its competitiveness in global markets.
This achievement comes ضمن a saffron localization project launched by the center in 2024 in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and King Saud University, as part of its efforts to enhance applied research and implement high-quality agricultural projects.
The project included research and field experiments across 10 regions in the Kingdom, focusing on evaluating agricultural environments, selecting suitable varieties, and applying best agricultural practices based on field study results to ensure product quality and sustainability.
More than 500,000 saffron corms were distributed to over 43 farmers, and research outcomes were applied in more than 40 farms covering an area exceeding 364,000 square meters, contributing to increased local production and high-quality standards.
The center adopted an integrated approach combining scientific research with field application by training farmers in specialized saffron cultivation practices, from planting and crop management to flower harvesting, processing, drying, and storage, ensuring preservation of product quality.
This achievement represents the outcomes of applied research and high-quality projects implemented by Estidamah and marks a strategic step toward localizing saffron production in the Kingdom according to internationally recognized standards, enhancing the reliability of first-grade Saudi products, strengthening their market presence, and supporting the development of agricultural value chains for high-value crops.