Content

Agriculture Cluster Conference

Participants at the Agriculture Cluster conference
© DAAD Cairo

The German Academic Exchange Service’s (DAAD) ‘Clusters of Scientific Innovation in the Middle East and North Africa’ (COSIMENA) brought together a fine line-up of experts in agriculture from Egypt, Germany, and Sudan for the official launch of its new Cluster on Agriculture on 21 and 22 February 2018.

While this isn’t DAAD’s first conference on food production and agriculture in Egypt, this cluster is envisioned as a long-lasting policy and research hub. Its members, each equipped with specific sets of skills that range from pest control, soil enrichment, politics, economics, veterinary medicine to climate change effects on crops and innovative technologies, will be meeting regularly in an attempt to strengthen and streamline Egypt’s food production, and ensure its sustainability.

On the evening of 21 February, Dr. Roman Luckscheiter, Director of the DAAD in Egypt, opened the conference together with Rauia Toama, the German Embassy’s Science Attaché, and Dr. Shireen Assem, Head of Egypt’s Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute (AGERI), which is a part of the Agricultural Research Center (ARC). The opening remarks were followed by an hour-long panel discussion identifying the gaps between research and implementation for better food production and management, moderated by Dr. Clemens Breisinger, Director of the International Food Production Research Institute (IFPRI) in Egypt.

“This Agriculture Cluster is one of COSIMENA’s seven issue-driven clusters that cover water, economy, energy, health, urbanism and cultural heritage,” stated Luckscheiter who pointed out that food systems can become engines of development in both rural and urban settings. Scientific innovation, he added, is a driver for inclusive growth and sustainable development as well as an important tool in reducing inequalities. Toama stressed that climate change, diseases and pests are some of the most urgent challenges to tackle and believes that accrued collaboration between researchers from various disciplines is key to surmounting them. Assem mentioned that countless ARC researchers received their education in Germany and that collaboration with the DAAD has been sustainable and fruitful. ARC scientists work on the adoption of innovative technologies, the development of new crop varieties with improved traits, the establishment of better food processing techniques and the introduction of new crop and animal breeds.

The following panel brought together Dr. Kerstin Dorothee Wydra from University of Applied Sciences Erfurt, Karlheinz Weinfurtner from Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Prof. Hany El Kateb from the Technical University of Munich who advises President Sisi on agricultural matters, Racha Ramadan from Cairo University and Dr. Mohamed Yousri Hashem, Head of Heliopolis University.

They discussed ways to reduce the gap that currently exists between research activities and policy implementation and whether research systematically addresses the pressing needs defined by the government. Since this isn’t always the case, research can be largely ignored by policy makers and its chances of application in the field limited. However, the panellists agreed that research should be a key component of the country’s overall strategy to tackle food production, waste reduction and water conservation while ensuring better crop yields. For this, scientists need to increasingly engage in multidisciplinary research and bring together agronomists, economists, gender and social researchers as well as the private sector, specifically SMEs. The need for additional data and surveys was also noted as well as an evaluation of previous large agricultural projects to ensure the viability of the 1.5 Million Feddan Project spearheaded by President Sisi.

On the following day, experts in water, agriculture, policy, economics, agroforestry and aquaponics all presented their vision on how to ensure the sustainability of Egypt’s food production. Some underlined the merits of soilless agriculture in Egypt, particularly aquaculture; others explained why agroforestry needs to expand alongside desert agriculture. Yet other experts looked into soil fertility improvement and the future of desalinated water for agricultural use.

Overall, they believe in the merits of organising and pooling their skills together within this cluster, not just to identify challenges and hurdles related to food production in Egypt but specifically to come up with efficient solutions to improve the sector through innovation and collaboration.

Report by Ms. Louise Sarant

For more information on the Agriculture Cluster Conference read the detailed report here:

Advertisements by German Universities

1/16

Boost your career with the International Master‘s in Project Managemen...

Boost your career. Acquire a German Master’s degree in Data Science & Project Management. Join us at HTW Berlin – On Campus or Online!

More
Aalen University of Applied Sciences

Welcome to Aalen University of Applied Sciences!

Foreign students are guaranteed the chance to gain excellent practical experience in the industry, which commonly is the start of a successful career.

More
Coburg University (Bavaria) - Financial Management

Kick-start your future career in Financial Management

If you are interested in management and finance our premium MBA program Financial Management with an optional Dual Degree from UniSC Australia and a Bloomberg Lab could be just right for you!

More
Karlsruhe School of Optics & Photonics

Brighten your future with a Master’s in Optics & Photonics at KSOP

2-year M.Sc. program taught in English. Graduates excel in Ph.D. studies or industry. Apply by September 30 for intake 2023!

More

MBA & Engineering in Life Science Management Programme

Internationally accredited MBA&E providing life science expertise required in leaders of the future combining comprehensive, industry-specific knowledge and management skills.

More
TH OWL

Creative, Innovative, Sustainable – Study in English at TH OWL

Where distances are short and networks are wide – TH OWL offers strong commitment to practical relevance and cutting-edge research.

More

English-taught Master Programmes in Green and Information Technologies

Study innovative, future- and practice-oriented engineering Master’s programmes in central Germany!

More

Unlock Your Potential at THM University of Applied Sciences!

Are you ready to step into leading positions in the global job market? Pursue a Master of Science in Control, Computer and Communications Engineering (CCCE) at THM University of Applied Sciences!

More

Study in Berlin - MBA & International Master’s Programmes

Study management in English. Improve your leadership skills. Gain digital know-how. Become part of an international student body. Benefit from many corporate activities, valuable career consultation a...

More
RheinMain University of Applied Sciences

PreStudyING@HSRM: Your Pathway to an Engineering Degree!

Ready to get your engineering degree? You can get started with us, even if you don’t meet the usual admission requirements for German universities!

More
TU Darmstadt

Get Ready for Engineering Studies: PreBachelor at TU Darmstadt!

Ihr kostenloses Rund-um-Programm mit Deutschkurs, Mathevorkurs, Studienkompetenztraining und mehr. Bewerben Sie sich JETZT für PreBachelor Sommersemester 2025!

More
TU Dortmund

“Master of Science in Manufacturing Technology” (M.Sc.)

Boost your engineering career by studying Manufacturing in Germany, one of the top Manufacturing nations worldwide! Apply from Feb 1st – Mar 15th at TU Dortmund University. No tuition fees.

More

Professional IT Business & Digitalization Master

Looking to boost your IT career? Discover the international Master’s program in Professional IT Business & Digitalization at HTW Berlin!

More

Technical Engineering (B.Eng.): Start your career by studying at OTH A...

Would you like to pursue a career as an engineer? OTH Amberg-Weiden offers you the best opportunity to obtain a Bachelor of Engineering degree at a leading German university.

More

Enhance your career in the field of International Cooperation!

Apply until 9 March 2025 to Kehl University for our English-language and career-integrated Master Programme Public Management in International Cooperation – Designing African-European and Intra-Afri...

More

Advance your career with an MBA from Pforzheim University, one of the ...

The full-time MBA in International Management at Pforzheim University combines a classical management education with the most relevant future topics: Innovation & Digital Business, Sustainable Global...

More

Contact

Screenshot of map with location of DAAD-office marked