Egypt, UK launch project to enhance local food security
According to the planning ministry, this project represents the first practical implementation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Egypt and the UK in October to establish a strategic partnership for sustainable food security.
This project aims to improve soil fertility for small wheat farmers, particularly by enhancing agricultural productivity through soil fertility improvements and efficiency gains.
Moreover, it seeks to strengthen human capital and drive economic productivity by improving overall nutrition, which enhances individual health, boosts workforce efficiency, and positively influences national economic growth, thereby supporting broader development.
Furthermore, efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change by reducing carbon emissions and enhancing soil fertility practices, particularly by addressing improper agricultural methods, such as the overuse of chemical fertilizers, will strengthen the project.
The project will be carried out through strategic partnerships with agricultural input manufacturers, including exporters and producers, and crop-buying companies to provide essential products and services to small farmers. Enhancing soil fertility would reduce wheat imports by 20-25 percent.
Annually, Egypt consumes around 20 million tons of wheat. Meanwhile, its wheat imports increased by more than 14.5 percent, going up from 9.6 million tons in 2022 to 11 million tons in 2023.
In October, the Egyptian cabinet approved a 10 percent rise in the reference price for local wheat procurement, increasing it from EGP 2,000 to EGP 2,200 per ardeb (150 kg) for the 2024-2025 harvest season.
During the launch, Minister of Planning and Economic Development Rania Al-Mashat highlighted that the Egyptian government prioritizes food security and works on mobilizing international partnerships, technical support, and financing to strengthen these efforts.
She added that the ministry focuses on advancing sustainable agricultural practices, supporting incubators for small- and medium-sized agricultural businesses, improving crop production and irrigation systems, and adapting to climate change, all of which contribute to driving economic development.
For his side, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk stated that Egypt is eager to establish a strategic partnership with the UK in sustainable food security, focusing on the exchange of technical expertise and agricultural research.
He also noted that this partnership will enhance soil fertility, boost agricultural productivity, promote the efficient use of fertilizers — especially nitrogen fertilizers — for small farmers and landowners, and collaborate on sustainable food security, particularly in wheat production.
In 2020, the planning ministry and the UK released a joint statement as part of the UK-Africa Investment Summit to boost economic cooperation between the two nations.