Egypt’s territory, which is predominantly desert, has most of its fertile areas concentrated along the Nile Valley and in the Delta, where agriculture and its related value chains are developing in competition with ever-expanding urban settlements. The agricultural sector is of strategic importance to the country, employing around 19% of the total working population (World Bank).
Despite its importance, the sector still faces significant structural challenges. Notable among these is the high degree of land fragmentation, particularly in Upper Egypt – with plots becoming increasingly smaller due to the inheritance system, which divides agricultural property from one generation to the next – and the inefficient use of production inputs and water resources. Added to these factors are the processes of desertification and soil salinisation, which are progressively exacerbated by the effects of the climate crisis, thereby affecting the productivity and sustainability of the national agricultural system.
Through targeted initiatives, AICS Cairo contributes to advancing the agricultural sector and to improving conditions for rural communities in Egypt, promoting growth opportunities that meet the needs of both the domestic and international markets, ensuring the efficient use of raw materials, while supporting the agricultural sector’s transition towards more sustainable and resilient production models.
Furthermore, Italy’s commitment to rural development, food security and the creation of sustainable, inclusive value chains is widely recognised. In fact, since 2015, Italy, in cooperation with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), has served as coordinator of the thematic platform on agriculture and rural development (Development Partner Group), a forum for dialogue and knowledge-sharing with institutions and key stakeholders operating in these areas.
During 2025, with a portfolio of €9.5 million, the Office supported three grant-based initiatives through the multilateral channel. These initiatives focus on the country’s main productive value chains, with the aim of improving the quality and sustainability of agricultural and livestock production, promoting the export of local products, strengthening agricultural mechanisation systems, reinforcing food security, supporting the development of start‑ups, and contributing to the reduction of the drivers of climate change.
Among the key initiatives in the area of support for value chains, AICS Cairo, through a programme implemented by UNIDO – which is currently in its second phase – is collaborating with Egyptian agricultural research centres and Italian companies operating in the region to support the value chain of Egyptian cotton, a prized raw material renowned worldwide for the length of its fibres, which enable the production of soft, lustrous yarns.
Furthermore, by supporting start-ups, the Agency promotes youth entrepreneurship in the agribusiness sector, with the aim of providing solutions to improve agricultural quality and productivity . With this in mind, the Agritech4Egypt initiative is being developed, organised by Alliance Bioversity & CIAT, which, through acceleration programmes and the building of a network of scientific collaboration, aims to promote the development, dissemination and adoption of scientific-technological innovations for the Egyptian and regional agri-food system.
Finally, the Agency supports the project “Greening the future of rural communities in vulnerable areas in Upper Egypt”, implemented by CIHEAM Bari, which aims to promote the adoption of green and innovative solutions in the most vulnerable rural areas. The project aims to facilitate the coordination of agricultural activities in selected areas, by encouraging collaboration between farmers and the adoption of integrated and sustainable practices. The productive and sustainable villages promoted as part of the initiative will serve as demonstration models for the gradual transformation of Egyptian villages into economically viable and resilient systems.
