Joining the session were prominent leaders and experts from the agricultural sector, including Mohsen El Beltagy, head of the Association for the Development and Promotion of Horticultural Exports, Moustafa El Naggari, head of the Agriculture and Irrigation Committee at the Egyptian Businessmen's Association, Abdel Hamid El Demerdash, head of the Agricultural Export Council and a member of parliament, and Gustavo Palerosi, senior vice president of BASF Agricultural Solutions for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Minister Farouk said the government is pursuing a
comprehensive strategy to balance food security needs with enhanced global
market competitiveness, in line with Egypt's 2030 Vision and sustainable
development goals. He emphasized improving the efficiency of natural resource use,
particularly water and land, and boosting added value through smart
agricultural processing and marketing. He also highlighted empowering farmers
and producers with advanced support, financing, and guidance systems.
He noted that the Ministry of Agriculture is focused on
supporting Egyptian farmers with modern technology and continuous training
while opening new markets for Egyptian agricultural products. He also stressed
the importance of supporting research centers to develop crop varieties suitable
for Egyptian conditions and encouraging innovation in digital smart farming and
the use of artificial intelligence in field management.
The Minister underscored the need for a national plan that
links agricultural production, processing, and marketing, along with providing
tax and customs incentives for investors in the agricultural processing sector.
He also called for a national platform to coordinate agricultural exports, the
expansion of training and capacity-building programs for farmers and youth, and
regular performance evaluations of key metrics such as self-sufficiency and
exports.
Farouk also mentioned the importance of establishing
Egyptian regional centers to transfer agricultural expertise to Africa and
signing bilateral and multilateral trade agreements to increase market access.
He urged expanding modern logistics hubs and export centers near ports and
airports, and emphasized strengthening partnerships between the public and
private sectors in agricultural production, marketing, and processing.
Gustavo Palerosi of BASF stated that his company, with more
than 160 years of global experience and over 70 years in the Egyptian market,
believes that modern technologies and smart solutions can bring about a
qualitative leap in agricultural productivity. He added that the company
integrates innovation and sustainability to support Egyptian farmers and
improve crop quality to meet global standards.
Mohsen El Beltagy, head of the Association for the
Development and Promotion of Horticultural Exports, said that training farmers
to use modern technologies and addressing challenges like climate change are
essential for sustainable agricultural development. He noted that the
association prioritizes this to boost productivity and improve export quality.
Abdel Hamid El Demerdash, head of the Agricultural Export
Council, highlighted a significant surge in Egyptian agricultural exports in
recent years, which has solidified the country's competitive position globally.
He noted that Egypt is now the world’s top exporter of oranges and a major
supplier of potatoes to European and Asian markets, with exports of grapes,
sweet potatoes, and white beans also seeing significant growth.
Moustafa El Naggari of the Egyptian Businessmen's
Association said the private sector is encouraging the adoption of technologies
like agrivoltaics, which reflects an integrated vision to achieve multiple
goals simultaneously—improving agricultural productivity, combating climate
change, conserving water, and generating clean energy. He stressed that this
technology, which creates a better working environment for field workers under
solar panels, is at the core of smart agriculture and highlights the
public-private partnership as a key driver for turning these innovations into
practical tools that enhance food security and support the national economy.
The event concluded by affirming that the food security dialogue represents a unified vision among government leaders, private sector pioneers, and international partners to develop Egypt's agricultural sector. By integrating innovation, investment, and comprehensive solutions, the event marks a milestone toward achieving food security and fostering economic growth for Egypt and the wider region.