Written by Omnia Hassan
On behalf of Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, inaugurated the 32nd Annual International Fertilizer Conference and Exhibition, organized by the Union Arabic For fertilizers under the slogan: “Sustainable Environment and Safe Food”, in the presence of Engineer Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, and Engineer Khaled Hashem, Minister of Industry.
This took place in the presence of Engineer Abdul Wahab Al-Rawad, Chairman of the Board of the Arab Fertilizer Association, Engineer Saad Abu Al-Maati, Secretary-General of the Association, as well as the Chairman and members of the Association’s Board of Directors, heads of Arab and international companies and organizations, and a number of ministry leaders.
At the beginning of his speech, the Minister of Agriculture conveyed the greetings and appreciation of Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, the Prime Minister, and his welcome to all participants, pointing out the importance of this event, which brings together a distinguished elite of leaders, experts and representatives of the fertilizer industry from Arab countries and various countries of the world, in a high-level forum that embodies the importance of cooperation, exchange of experiences and unification of visions towards the future of the fertilizer industry, and its strategic role in supporting food security and sustainable development.
A leading platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange
Farouk thanked the Arab Fertilizer Association for its continued efforts in organizing this important event, which has become a leading platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange, and a major supporter of the development of the fertilizer and agricultural sectors at the Arab and international levels, with the participation of about 1,000 participants representing about 100 countries from different countries.
Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, stressed that the agricultural sector is currently witnessing rapidly accelerating and increasingly complex challenges that require adopting new visions and more effective and sustainable responses, noting that climate changes, represented in the scarcity of water resources, along with challenges related to supply chains, logistics and fluctuations in global markets, constitute pressure factors that hinder the growth of this vital sector.
Farouk added that economic and social factors, coupled with the accelerating pace of population growth and the continuous rise in demand for food, are increasing the complexity of the agricultural landscape. He pointed out that despite these challenges, agriculture remains the cornerstone for achieving sustainable development and enhancing food security, which confirms the importance of uniting efforts and working to innovate solutions that ensure the sustainability of this sector for a more prosperous future.
The Minister of Agriculture stressed that it has become necessary to reconsider traditional methods and move towards more innovative practices that ensure efficient use of resources while preserving the environment, noting that the fertilizer industry stands out as a pivotal factor and one of the main pillars for supporting agricultural production, improving soil fertility and increasing crop productivity, as the Arab fertilizer industry has succeeded in consolidating its strategic role regionally and globally.
The minister said that, in line with global trends and the forum’s slogan, Egypt does not view sustainability as a slogan, but as an applied reality. The country has taken serious and practical steps in producing bio-fertilizers, organic fertilizers, and environmentally friendly products, aiming to lead the green transformation in the region and ensure that our Arab exports comply with current and future international environmental standards, to provide a real model for safe food for a sustainable environment.
Farouk explained that food security represents a major challenge for the Arab region and the entire world to meet its food needs, which imposes an urgent need to enhance local agricultural production and improve efficiency in the use of available natural resources, stressing that Egypt continues its commitment to developing the agricultural sector as the cornerstone in supporting the food security system.
The minister pointed out that Egypt is witnessing an unprecedented renaissance in the fields of agricultural development and national projects aimed at boosting production, stressing the importance of promoting joint agricultural investment in the African continent, in light of its large natural resources and vast areas suitable for agriculture, which opens up promising prospects for cooperation and development for the peoples of the continent and the world.
The Minister of Agriculture explained that the path towards achieving food security goals in the region requires continuous efforts and cooperation among all concerned parties to adopt sustainable agricultural practices, develop the responsible use of fertilizers, develop agricultural infrastructure, and enhance farmers’ capabilities to secure a sustainable food future.
Following the opening session, the ministers toured the international exhibition accompanying the conference, which includes the latest global technologies and innovations in the field of fertilizer manufacturing and production supplies, with wide participation from major Egyptian, Arab and international companies. The ministers were briefed on the latest developments in nitrogen, phosphate and potash fertilizer production technology, in addition to modern technologies for producing bio-fertilizers, organic fertilizers and specialized environmentally friendly nutrients.
During the tour, the Minister of Agriculture listened to a detailed explanation from the heads and representatives of the exhibiting companies about investment expansion plans, reliance on clean energy sources and green hydrogen in manufacturing processes, and efforts to reduce carbon emissions in accordance with current and future international environmental standards.
He also made sure to engage in dialogue with representatives of Arab and international entities to enhance prospects for joint cooperation, transfer modern technology, and attract more foreign investments to the fertilizer and petrochemical sector, as it is a fundamental pillar for supporting agricultural production and achieving sustainable food security.
