To support researchers and innovators, the Ministry of Agriculture sponsors the “Innovation for Sustainable Development” Conference

14 May 2026

The organizing committee of the “Agricultural Innovation for Sustainable Development 2026” Conference and Competition, held under the umbrella of the “State of Agricultural Innovation” initiative, announced the names of the finalists in a step aimed at supporting innovative minds and strengthening the role of scientific research in developing the agricultural sector and achieving food security.

The competition is being held under the official patronage and support of Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, as part of the state’s efforts to transform scientific research and applied innovations into practical solutions that serve farmers and investors while addressing climate and environmental challenges.

The competition witnessed broad participation with support from the Misr El Kheir Foundation – Scientific Research Sector, the Sandy Soil Clay Injection Project, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, along with the participation of several scientific and research institutions, including the Agricultural Research Center, the National Research Center, the City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, in addition to a number of agriculture faculties at Egyptian universities.

The organizing committee confirmed that the projects were evaluated through five specialized judging panels consisting of leading scientists and experts from Egypt and the Arab world, according to international scientific standards aimed at selecting projects that are applicable and economically and developmentally feasible.

The competition saw strong rivalry among 180 contestants from various universities and research centers before the entries were administratively and technically filtered down to 35 finalists representing individuals and research teams.

The winners are scheduled to be announced during the “Innovation: From Idea to Application” conference, set to take place on July 11, 2026, at the Olympic Village in Maadi, in the presence of several companies and institutions supporting agricultural investment.

The innovations that reached the finals varied between producing alternative animal feed from agricultural waste, nano-ozone and nano-oxygen devices, vertical hydroponic farming technologies, water requirement measurement systems, as well as the development of natural biopesticides and modern technologies to increase agricultural productivity.

Dr. Ali Abdel Aziz, President of the Conference, stated that the competition represents the foundation for launching the “National Initiative for the State of Agricultural Innovation,” with the goal of supporting innovators and building an integrated system linking scientific research with the productive sector.

Meanwhile, Dr. Zakaria Fouad, Vice President of the Conference and Head of the Judging Committees, explained that the great diversity of submitted ideas reflects the rapid development taking place in Egypt’s agricultural technology sector.

For her part, Dr. Nagwa El-Sayed, representative of the Misr El Kheir Foundation, emphasized the importance of investing in scientific research as one of the most important tools for confronting climate change and achieving sustainable development.

The conference’s General Coordinator, Dr. Dina Ahmed Ali, concluded by emphasizing that the organizing committee will work on marketing the winning innovations and connecting them with relevant institutions and organizations, helping transform innovative ideas into projects that can be implemented on the ground.