Cairo: Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk affirmed the depth of the historical relations between Egypt and Ireland, expressing his aspiration to further develop cooperation in agricultural fields of mutual interest, in a way that strengthens the strategic partnership and serves the interests of both countries - particularly in the areas of food security and the localization of modern agricultural technologies. This came during a meeting between Farouk and Ireland's Minister of State for Agriculture and Food, Noel Grealish, to discuss ways to enhance prospects for joint cooperation between the two countries in the agricultural sector.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the meeting was held within the framework of efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Egypt and Ireland in the fields of agriculture, livestock production, and agricultural scientific research. It also took place on the sidelines of the Irish minister's visit to Cairo to attend the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Farouk noted that, under the directives of Egypt's political leadership, the country is working diligently to maximize the benefits of global expertise - especially the distinguished Irish experience in livestock, breed improvement, and the digital transformation of the agricultural sector. He added, 'Our shared goal is to achieve greater resilience in food supply chains and enhance productivity efficiently, while continuing to support small farmers as a cornerstone of sustainable agricultural development.'
For his part, the Irish minister expressed his appreciation for the remarkable progress made in Egypt's agricultural sector in recent years, noting that Egypt represents an important strategic partner in regional food security. He also expressed his country's interest in transferring expertise in agricultural digitization and the use of modern technologies in farm management, while benefiting from Egypt's experience in modern irrigation projects and horizontal land expansion.
The meeting addressed a number of priority issues, including strengthening cooperation in the fields of livestock and dairy production, utilizing Irish expertise in breed improvement, and exploring opportunities for collaboration in applied agricultural research - particularly in water resource sustainability and climate change adaptation. The two sides also discussed the possibility of expert exchanges and technical training between Egyptian and Irish research institutes.
Both sides emphasized the importance of enhancing trade in agricultural and food products - especially in dairy, meat, seeds, and feed - while exploring the possibility of opening Irish markets to Egyptian products in line with European standards. They also discussed cooperation in developing agricultural and veterinary accreditation and inspection systems, encouraging joint investments between the two countries, and promoting visits by Egyptian specialists to Ireland to learn about best agricultural practices.
The ministers also discussed ways to support small farmers and the need to strengthen programs aimed at building their capacities in sustainable agriculture, improving production efficiency, and providing necessary technical and training support. They highlighted the importance of facilitating access to soft loans for small farmers and encouraging agricultural cooperatives for production and marketing.
Additionally, they explored how to benefit from the European Horizon programs for agricultural research and development to exchange expertise in seed production, livestock breeding, organic fertilizers, and sustainable farming - with a focus on advancing agricultural research, education, and specialized workforce training. They also discussed encouraging the use of solar and wind energy, as well as green hydrogen production, to support agriculture and food industries, and to promote urban agriculture projects such as rooftop and sustainable farming initiatives. At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides agreed to organize visits by technical teams from both countries to exchange information and expertise in livestock production, agricultural research, and water resource management.
They also discussed arranging a field visit for an Egyptian technical delegation to Ireland to learn about modern experiences in food processing and sustainable agriculture, and agreed to designate contact points from both sides to ensure continued communication and follow-up on the agreed-upon areas of cooperation.