Egypt’s Acting Minister of Environment, Manal Awad, met officials from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to discuss expanding cooperation and launching new projects focused on climate adaptation, sustainable agriculture and ecosystem protection, the environment ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Awad said Egypt’s partnership with the FAO includes several ongoing initiatives, such as the sustainable management of agricultural ecosystems in the New Valley oases, support for development efforts in Al-Farafra, and cooperation with other ministries on modernising irrigation and farming practices, as well as developing climate-resilient crop varieties.
The talks addressed efforts to strengthen climate resilience in coastal and delta governorates through ecosystem restoration programmes financed by the Green Climate Fund. They also covered regional initiatives, including sustainable fisheries management in the Red Sea and the SCALA programme, which aims to boost climate ambition in land use and agriculture.
The meeting further explored expanding the production of organic fertilisers through large-scale biogas units at livestock farms, with the aim of enhancing the competitiveness of Egyptian agricultural exports in line with European standards. Cooperation on sustainable solutions to address stray dog populations without harming ecosystems was also discussed.
Awad said Egypt is seeking FAO support to implement its national climate change strategy and nationally determined contributions in the agriculture and irrigation sectors, promote climate-smart agriculture and the use of renewable energy, and access new international financing, including loss and damage funds.
For his part, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative Abdulhakim Elwaer stressed the importance of the partnership with Egypt in advancing food security and building resilient food systems in the face of climate change, praising Egypt’s regional role and long-standing cooperation with the organisation.
