By: Kanto
Kai Okanta
Egypt’s Agricultural
Research Centre (ARC) and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate the translation of
agricultural research into scalable, market-ready solutions. The signing took
place at the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation in the New
Administrative Capital, in the presence of H.E. Prof. Alaa Farouk, Minister of
Agriculture and Land Reclamation.

The partnership aims to
leverage ARC’s national expertise in agricultural research, extension, and
technology development alongside the Alliance’s global research capabilities.
The collaboration will focus on applied research in agrobiodiversity, climate-smart
agriculture, and resilient food systems, as well as technology transfer, pilot
projects, and private-sector engagement. Capacity-building initiatives,
including training, knowledge exchange, and collaboration with universities and
research institutions, will also be prioritized.
Prof. Adel Abdelazim,
President of ARC, and Dr. Stephanie Speck, Global Director of Strategic
Partnerships, Engagement, and Communications at the Alliance, signed the
agreement. Minister Farouk emphasized the importance of linking research to
practical applications to strengthen Egypt’s agricultural innovation system and
promote sustainable food security across the Middle East and North Africa
region.

The first initiative under
the MoU, AgriTech4Egypt: Technological Innovation in the Agri-Food Sector, is a
three-year project led by the Alliance and funded by the Italian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. ARC will provide technical
expertise, infrastructure, and field engagement to support the adoption of
technology-driven solutions across Egypt’s agricultural sector.
The collaboration marks a
significant step in advancing Egypt’s Vision 2030 for sustainable agriculture
and resilient food systems.