Embrapa and ARC, an Egyptian research institution, sign a scientific cooperation agreement

Embrapa and the Agricultural Research Center (ARC) of Egypt signed this Tuesday, the 10th, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that opens up possibilities for developing research of interest to agriculture in both countries. The institution, linked to the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture, is considered one of the most important in the world. It seeks to adopt increasingly modern and innovative technologies that contribute to the region's agricultural productivity, due to the scarcity of natural resources and population pressure for food. Currently, Egypt has around 107 million inhabitants and uses only 8% of its territory – most of which is desert – for agricultural activities.

“We have a very great potential to contribute to what Brazilian science has already developed over the last few decades”, said the president of Embrapa Celso Moretti, who is part of the Brazilian delegation, led by the minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa) , Marcos Montes. The delegation's objective is to visit countries in the Middle East, Africa and Europe, in search of solutions related mainly to the issue of fertilizers and new opportunities for bilateral agreements and partnerships. 

According to the president of Embrapa, irrigation technologies are among the main areas benefiting from the agreement. “Egyptian producers still use methods considered old to guarantee water supply to producing areas,” he explained. He particularly refers to irrigation through furrows on sandy land, the use of which is insufficient to meet the needs of plantations. The MoU provides for cooperation in the areas of genetic improvement, animal and plant health, biotechnology, digital agriculture, climate change, irrigation and water management and exchange of researchers.

“In November this year, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt will host the next UN Conference on Climate Change (COP27) and there will be a unique opportunity to strengthen the agricultural issue on the agenda of discussions, as a priority factor in the face of scenarios of the future”, commented the president, saying that the meetings made it possible to anticipate the definition of a common agenda.

During the meeting with ARC directors, Moretti was invited to visit the institution and learn about the work carried out by more than 10 employees in 32 research stations across Egypt.