Agriculture in Egypt.. How does the palm tree turn into a gateway to sustainable development?
Agriculture in Egypt.. How does the palm tree turn into a gateway to sustainable development?
The palm tree was once not just a tree that provided the earth and people with shade and fruit, but rather a symbol of steadfastness and an extension of the stories of the first agriculture on the banks of the Nile. Today, the palm tree returns to the forefront as an agricultural heritage and an economic resource that Egypt seeks to employ in the equation of food security and climate balance. Through its relentless pursuit of more adaptive and profitable agricultural models, Egypt recently participated – July 15 – in an international conference organized by theFood and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Vietnam. To put the experience of developing the Egyptian date sector under an international microscope, and within the “One Country, One Product” initiative.
The Egyptian participation was represented by a speech delivered by Dr. Ezz El-Din Gadallah, Director of the Central Laboratory for Date Palm Research and Development – on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture – in which he highlighted Egypt’s vision of investing in its agricultural potential to enhance its position in date production, and to provide a role model for sustainable agricultural transformation. This came within the framework of international efforts aimed at developing agricultural and food systems, in a way that serves the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the year 2030.
This participation comes within a global trend led by the “One Country, One Product” project, which was launched by FAO to encourage countries to focus on an agricultural product that has unique characteristics and high market value, with the aim of improving production, manufacturing, marketing and export systems. Egypt was not far from this trend. She chose to place the date palm at the heart of this project, which reflects her deep awareness of the importance of this crop in enhancingfood security, and opening new horizons for green investment.
Egyptian dates
The selection of dates was not random, but was based on data confirming Egypt’s global standing in this field. Egypt ranks first in the world in date production, producing about 2 million tons annually, equivalent to 19% of global production and 24% of Arab production, out of a total of 24 million palm trees, of which 20 million are fruit-bearing palm trees. These numbers do not only express the abundance of production, but rather indicate potential that has not yet been fully exploited.
However, the Egyptian vision is not satisfied with numbers, but rather looks to the future with the eye of a conscious planner, who realizes that the palm tree can turn into an engine for development if it is exploited well. In this context, the largest palm farm in the world was established in the Toshka area, containing 2.5 million palm trees of varieties with high market value, in a step that represents a qualitative shift in the agricultural investment map in Egypt.
Through this ambitious plan, the state seeks to plant an additional 5 million palm trees during the current period. To be a foundation for a more diversified and sustainable agricultural economy, and this expansion is considered a double investment: in land and in people, as it provides thousands of new job opportunities, and enhances the capabilities of agricultural communities to enter into local and international value chains.
Interest in palm trees stems not only from their economic value, but also from their environmental role, as the palm tree is one of the crops that consumes little water and is able to adapt to dry climate conditions. Hence, investing in date cultivation represents a strategic choice in times of climate change and the challenges of water and food security.
“One country, one product”
The “One Country, One Priority Product” initiative, launched by FAO in cooperation with member states, represents a new model for international integration in supporting distinguished agricultural products. The initiative chose to have Egypt represent the Near East and North Africa region, through dates; So that the Egyptian experience may be a beacon for other countries seeking towards green agricultural transformation.
To ensure the success of the initiative, a joint national team was formed that includes experts from the Ministries of Agriculture and Industry, in addition to representatives from the private sector, to work on covering the entire value chain, from agriculture and production, through manufacturing and storage, to marketing and export. This integration confirms that the advancement of the palm sector can only be achieved with a comprehensive vision that addresses every link in the system.
The Bahariya Oasis region was chosen as a model area for implementing the initiative, due to the concentration of palm cultivation there, and training workshops were organized at the local and regional levels, with the aim of transferring knowledge, exchanging experiences, and enhancing capabilities, which attracted praise from the FAO itself, which considered the Egyptian experience to be one of the most successful models in implementing the first phase of the project.
Today, after the successful completion of the first phase of the initiative, preparations are being made to launch the second phase, amid high hopes for expanding the scope of the experiment and introducing more agricultural products into this framework, especially in light of the international recognition that Egypt has obtained, after its national team was honored as the best team among the participating countries.
The green economy in Egypt
The date sector in Egypt has proven that it is not just a traditional agricultural activity, but rather represents one of the pillars of the emerging green economy in the country. In 2024, Egypt’s exports of fresh and processed dates amounted to about 88 thousand tons, with a total value of $108 million. Which confirms its ability to compete in international markets and achieve high added value.
The importance of the date sector is not limited to export numbers, but extends to its social and environmental role. Dates provide thousands of job opportunities in the production, packaging and manufacturing stages, and this contributes to the economic empowerment of agricultural communities, especially in rural and desert areas where palm cultivation is a lifestyle and a stable source of livelihood.
Dr. Jadallah expressed Egypt’s deep appreciation for the efforts of the FAO in launching this initiative, stressing Egypt’s commitment to continuing to support the date sector, promoting innovation in the stages of production and marketing, and raising the level of quality, in line with the goals of Egypt’s Vision 2030, which places sustainable agriculture among its priorities.
In conclusion, theThe Earth Guards Foundation confirms that the Egyptian experience in promoting palm cultivation and developing date value chains is not just an agricultural success story, but rather an integrated model of what the partnership between the state, international institutions and the local community should be; The Egyptian vision did not stop at maximizing production, but rather extended to building an economic, social and environmental system based on the concept of sustainability, and improving the exploitation of natural resources in the face of climate and economic challenges. As Egypt prepares to launch the second phase of the initiative, the conviction is strengthening that the Egyptian palm tree has turned into a flexible development pillar, capable of enhancing food security, providing decent job opportunities, and contributing to building a greener and more equitable economy.
