The Egyptian Food Bank, in collaboration with the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), hosted the fifth edition of the “Bridging Evidence and Policy” (BEP) seminar series. This latest session, titled “Climate-Smart Agriculture and Development Practices in Egypt,” convened a wide spectrum of stakeholders to explore the intersection of climate resilience and agricultural transformation in Egypt.
With participation from policymakers, international and local experts, representatives of government institutions, international organizations, and civil society, the seminar served as a dynamic platform to align research insights with national development priorities. The discussions emphasized integrating climate-smart agricultural (CSA) approaches into Egypt’s development strategies amid escalating environmental pressures, including rising temperatures, water scarcity, and soil degradation.
Moderated by Fatma Abdelaziz, Associate Researcher at IFPRI, the seminar featured two key panel sessions:
- “Early Warning and Climate Forecasting,” led by Dr. Mohamed El-Qarmany, Head of the Growth Lab at the Egyptian Food Bank, explored the role of robust climate data systems and accurate forecasting in proactive agricultural planning and disaster mitigation.
- “Agricultural Innovation in a Changing Climate,” chaired by Mr. Adham Hamdy, Learning and Innovation Lead at the Sawiris Foundation, examined cutting-edge CSA techniques and technologies aimed at enhancing sustainability, crop resilience, and supply chain integrity.
The seminar featured leading voices from across sectors, including:
- Ms. Laila Hosny – Executive Director, Sawiris Foundation
- Dr. Mohamed Fahim – Head, Climate Change Information Center, Ministry of Agriculture
- Dr. Mai Mohsen – Head, Technical Office, Cabinet’s Information and Decision Support Center
- Ms. Amira Nasser – Deputy Director, Technical Office, Egyptian Meteorological Authority
- Mr. Ayman Omar – Senior Field Program Officer, FAO
- Ms. Linda Steinhöbel Rasheed – Researcher, IFPRI
- Mr. Hassan El-Badawi – Deputy Director, Agricultural Innovation Project, GIZ
- Ms. Hemes El-Gabry – Director of Grants and Partnerships, Mazare3
- Ms. Aliaa Hafez – Head of Nutrition Division, World Food Programme (WFP)
In her opening remarks, Ms. Laila Hosny emphasized the BEP series’ commitment to bridging the divide between empirical research and policymaking. She noted that prior sessions have covered critical themes such as social protection, crisis response, and malnutrition. The focus on CSA, she explained, aligns with this mission by promoting solutions that enhance productivity, optimize natural resource use, and strengthen farmers’ resilience to climate volatility.
Dr. El-Qarmany highlighted the Egyptian Food Bank’s evolving strategy, which now includes a dedicated focus on agriculture. He outlined the organization’s efforts to empower smallholder farmers through improved practices and fair market integration, and introduced a new ethical sourcing framework that allows beneficiaries to trace the origins of their food supplies—enhancing transparency and accountability in food distribution systems.
This seminar marks another milestone in the BEP initiative’s ongoing effort to reshape Egypt’s development landscape through evidence-based policymaking. Supported by the Sawiris Foundation, IFPRI, and the Egyptian Food Bank, BEP fosters cross-sector partnerships to enhance knowledge exchange and drive more informed decision-making across public and private institutions.
Amid the complex challenges posed by climate change—particularly in the agriculture sector—this seminar reinforced the urgency of aligning policy with data-driven insights. Climate-smart agriculture, participants agreed, offers a viable path forward to ensure food security, safeguard environmental resources, and support sustainable rural livelihoods in Egypt.
As Egypt continues to face critical environmental pressures, the seminar’s insights will inform a more adaptive and resilient approach to agricultural and development policy—anchored in collaboration, innovation, and evidence.
