Assessing Discourses on Sustainability in Public-Private Collaboration for Promoting Coffee Programs in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The research examines sustainable programs aimed at improving coffee production in Saudi Arabia, specifically focusing on policies related to environmental and socio-economic concerns. The overarching objective is to provide recommendations that can enhance coffee production regulations and ultimately contribute to their improvement. Accordingly, two methodologies were utilized to address the research inquiries: stakeholder analysis and discourse analysis employing Dryzek's approach. Relevant data was gathered from official sources, including documents related to coffee production programs as well as speeches delivered by members of relevant organizations. The findings obtained from the initial method stress the importance of a coordinated approach, particularly through collaboration between government and private partners under the leadership of the Saudi Coffee Company, and to identify an entity that can unify efforts among diverse stakeholders. Moreover, the discourse analysis revealed three primary sustainability discourses identified throughout the document analysis, which are: 1. The integration discourse encompasses the three common dimensions of sustainability and ensures the translation of sustainability into actionable measures by leveraging technology; 2. the economic capitalism discourse with the aim of fostering economic growth for the area, including farmers and related sectors, while also targeting local demand and increasing global contribution; and 3. the discourse surrounding water scarcity emerges as a crucial aspect, necessitating investment in water-efficient technologies amidst rising competition for resources. The argumentative structure within the coffee program discourse highlighted the tension between economic development and environmental concerns by shedding light on the necessity of striking a balance to sustain coffee production while also considering environmental conservation and social responsibility. Exploring the challenges surrounding coffee production from multiple discourses' perspectives allows for a deeper understanding of the multifaceted nature of these challenges. Sustainable production programs, aimed at contributing to the economic growth of the country, could be threatened by these challenges. Therefore, the research ends by formulating recommendations to help identify some of the root causes of these challenges and explore possible solutions.