Minister of Agriculture Alaa Farouk affirmed that the proactive vision of the political leadership transformed the crisis into an opportunity. The efforts to clean lakes and canals and develop irrigation systems proved effective in absorbing the unregulated water flows during the past days following the recent Renaissance Dam events, which occurred without prior notification or coordination.

Farouk added during his speech at the third session of the “Agriculture and Food” conference titled “The Road to the Future.. Sustainable Development and Competitive Exports” that the Egyptian agricultural sector represents one of the most important pillars of food security and a fundamental support for the national economy.

He pointed out that the state pays great attention to this sector, based on the national sustainable development strategy “Egypt Vision 2030,” which set clear goals to enhance agricultural production, develop value chains, and improve water resource management efficiency.

He noted that the private sector is a key partner in driving agricultural investment, developing food industries, and value-added chains due to its vital role in reducing waste, maximizing economic returns, and creating job opportunities for youth.

He highlighted that Egypt places enhancing international cooperation in agriculture and food at the top of its priorities through effective partnerships with international and regional organizations to exchange expertise and modern technologies in smart agriculture, water resource management, and addressing climate change impacts.

The Minister confirmed that Egypt has witnessed an unprecedented boom in national agricultural projects in recent years, such as the New Delta project and Egypt’s Future for Sustainable Development, alongside expansion in smart agriculture and greenhouses, and rehabilitation of canals and irrigation networks relying on modern water-saving systems. This reflects the state’s commitment to achieving sustainable food security despite geopolitical and environmental challenges.

Farouk revealed that the sector achieved a leap in competitiveness, with total Egyptian agricultural exports reaching about 7.5 million tons since the beginning of 2025, an increase of 650,000 tons compared to the same period last year, surpassing the geopolitical challenges that imposed deep changes on global supply chains. Citrus led the exports with quantities exceeding 1.9 million tons, followed by potatoes.

He added that Egyptian agricultural exports also diversified to include grapes, mangoes, tomatoes, and pomegranates, with medicinal and aromatic plant exports alone representing 17% of total crop exports for the first time.

He explained that success extended to opening new export markets for Egyptian products, the latest being South Africa for pomegranates, the Philippines for onions and garlic, Mexico for hibiscus, and Venezuela for citrus.