Egypt announces ambitious agricultural project for future food security

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi inaugurated the first phase of a sprawling agricultural development project on Monday, aiming to boost Egypt's food security and reduce its reliance on imports.

The Future of Egypt project seeks to reclaim 4.5 million acres of land by 2030, in addition to modernising irrigation systems, and increasing agricultural production.

The project, led by the state’s Future of Egypt Authority, was launched at a Monday ceremony marking the start of the 2024 wheat harvest season.

Col Bahaa El Ghanam, the executive director of the authority, outlined plans to replace imports of 2 million tons of wheat, 180,000 tonnes of corn, and 360,000 tonnes of sugar annually, saving $3.7 billion in foreign currency. He also set a goal of increasing Egypt's agricultural exports by 20-25 per cent over the next five years.