The project enhances food security efforts by increasing wheat production, addressing price fluctuations, and improving human capital.
Dr. Rania Al-Mashat: Supporting food security efforts through mobilizing international partnerships, providing technical support, and developing evidence-based policies to bridge development gaps.
The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, and the British Embassy in Egypt have launched the project: "Enhancing Food Security and Achieving Economic Stability in Egypt by Supporting Small Wheat Farmers." This project represents the first practical implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Egypt and the United Kingdom on food security, which aims to establish a strategic partnership between the two countries for sustainable food security, signed last October.
The project, which will be implemented over two years, seeks to achieve positive outcomes at multiple levels. It aims to improve soil fertility for small wheat farmers, particularly by enhancing agricultural productivity through soil fertility improvements and efficiency gains. In terms of economic stability, the project supports the resilience of local wheat production to global price fluctuations. It also aims to enhance human capital and boost economic productivity by improving general nutrition, which in turn promotes individual health, increases workforce efficiency, and positively impacts national economic productivity, contributing to comprehensive development.
Furthermore, the project will be reinforced through efforts of mitigating and adapting to climate change by reducing carbon emissions and improving soil fertility practices, as the improper agricultural practices, including excessive use of chemical fertilizers. The project will be implemented through strategic partnerships with agricultural input manufacturers and companies that purchase crops (such as exporters and manufacturers), providing support to these companies to offer essential products and services to small farmers. It is anticipated that improving soil fertility will reduce the need for wheat imports by 20-25%.
In H.E.’s remarks on the launch of the project, Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, and International Cooperation emphasized that the Egyptian government places high priority on food security. Therefore, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development works to mobilize international partnerships, technical support, and financing to strengthen these efforts. The ministry is committed to developing sustainable agricultural practices, supporting agricultural business incubators for small and medium-sized enterprises, adapting crop production and management processes, updating irrigation systems, and adapting to climate change—all of which contribute to driving economic development.
H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat noted that the Ministry is working on formulating evidence-based economic policies to close development gaps across various sectors, mobilizing local and external financing, and encouraging private sector investments in priority areas.
Following the signing, Mr. Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Egypt’s looking forward to a strategic partnership with the UK in the field of sustainable food security, including the exchange of technical expertise and agricultural research. He indicated that areas of cooperation with the British side also include enhancing soil fertility, increasing agricultural productivity, and promoting the efficient use of fertilizers, especially nitrogen fertilizers, for small farmers and owners with small holdings, as well as cooperation in sustainable food security, particularly in the wheat crop.
For her part, Catherine Carr,Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy Cairo, said: "I am pleased with the cooperation between the United Kingdom and Egypt in the area of food security, which is a critical global challenge. The Sustainable Wheat Program will bring together public and private sector collaboration to increase local wheat production and reduce the wheat import requirement by 20-25%. This is a great outcome for consumers, farmers, and the country. We have seen many investments in agricultural infrastructure, but this will be Egypt's first targeted initiative to expand wheat production. We are proud to help make this happen."
It is worth mentioning that last year, the United Kingdom hosted the Global Food Security Summit, representing a significant boost to global efforts in food security and innovation in this field. The relations between Egypt and the United Kingdom are diverse and extensive across various sectors, with numerous British companies investing in Egypt. In 2020, the Ministry of International Cooperation and the UK Department for International Development issued a joint statement to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries as part of the UK-Africa Investment Summit.