Egypt’s Ministry of Agriculture is ramping up investment in applied scientific research to advance desert land reclamation and develop crops suited to arid environments, the ministry’s spokesperson said.
Dr. Khaled Gad, spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture, said the minister places strong emphasis on applied agricultural research, noting that the ministry oversees two of the largest agricultural research institutions in Africa.
According to Extra News, Gad explained that the Agricultural Research Center (ARC) in Giza is focused on breeding and developing new crop varieties to enhance productivity, improve quality, and strengthen resilience to environmental stress.
He added that the Desert Research Center (DRC) plays a pivotal role in land reclamation and desert agriculture expansion, working to transform barren lands into productive, sustainable green areas.
Gad noted that desert reclamation efforts have supported the establishment of gene banks for newly developed plant varieties. These gene banks rely on hybridization programs that incorporate wild genetic origins to preserve biodiversity and harness it in breeding improved crop strains. He called for further activation of the gene bank in Sinai’s desert to maximize its strategic value.
The Desert Research Center, he said, also conducts extensive field missions to collect plant genetic resources, organizing exploratory expeditions to identify and safeguard wild strains at risk of extinction. These resources are later utilized in breeding programs and crop development initiatives.
Gad affirmed that the ultimate objective of these efforts is to expand agricultural production—particularly desert-adapted crops—in light of current climate change challenges, thereby strengthening food security and promoting sustainable development across Egypt’s arid regions.
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