CAIRO – Agriculture and Land Reclamation Minister Alaa Farouq on Tuesday affirmed Egypt’s growing commitment to strengthening cultural and scientific cooperation with international organisations.
He expressed his ministry’s strong commitment to strengthening its collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in various domains, including the preservation and development of agricultural museum collections, the exchange of expertise in the protection of biodiversity-related artifacts, and the sustainable management of natural resources.
Farouq’s remarks were made during his meeting with Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Cairo Nuria Sanz to discuss means to enhance joint cooperation to develop the Agricultural Museum in Dokki district, Giza.
During the meeting, the two sides also explored prospects for future co-operation in the preservation of agricultural heritage and the documentation of the historical development of Egypt’s agricultural sector.
This would contribute to raising awareness of the origins and significance of agriculture, through the strategic utilization of the Agricultural Museum, positioning it as a premier center for knowledge and innovation in agricultural heritage, as well as a distinguished educational and cultural destination at both the national and international levels, he added.
Farouq stressed that the Agricultural Museum constitutes a valuable national treasure that requires preservation and thoughtful modernization to sustain its role in serving researchers and those with an interest in agriculture, agricultural sciences, and cultural heritage.
He noted that the museum serves as a distinguished representation of Egypt’s profound agricultural heritage.
He also underscored the importance of reinstating the museum’s international stature, as the world’s first agricultural museum and the second largest of its kind globally, following the Agricultural Museum in Budapest, Hungary.
He added that the museum will continue to stand as a testament to Egypt’s longstanding leadership in agriculture, housing a distinctive and comprehensive historical collection that chronicles the gradual evolution of agriculture across Egypt’s rich history.
Farouq accompanied the UNESCO official on a tour of the museum, joined by Head of the Agricultural Extension Sector Alaa Ezzouz, Supervisor of External Agricultural Relations Saad Moussa and ministerial advisors Mohamed el-Qersh and Ahmed Hassan.
During the tour, Sanz toured the museum’s eight buildings, which house valuable historical artifacts that illustrate the evolution of agriculture and rural life in Egypt from antiquity to the modern era.
She also visited the museum’s library and the Royal Cinema Hall.
She received a detailed briefing on the archaeological and botanical exhibits, which chronicle the progression of agriculture in Egypt over the centuries.
Sanz expressed her profound admiration for the agricultural and heritage treasures on display, and underscored the museum’s significance as a cultural and scientific beacon that contributes to the enrichment of knowledge and the deepening of agricultural awareness.
The two sides discussed proposed implementation steps and joint work programs designed to optimize the use of available resources in support of sustainable development and the preservation of heritage.
The scope of cooperation is expected to encompass restoration, conservation, and the adoption of engaging exhibition techniques, in addition to UNESCO’s provision of technical support, specialized expertise, and personnel training.
It will also entail the integration of advanced technologies in exhibit presentation to ensure their long-term preservation, in addition to comprehensive documentation and promotional initiatives aimed at positioning the museum as a global hub for agricultural and cultural engagement.
Farouq instructed the relevant technical departments within the Agriculture Ministry to convene coordination meetings, in collaboration with the ministries of tourism and antiquities and culture, to set up a mechanism for the preservation and development of the museum’s extensive collections and their public accessibility, pending the completion of UNESCO’s comprehensive evaluation in line with the identified development requirements.
