Agriculture

While Egypt’s agriculture sector is well established, the country continues to face challenges related to climate change, urbanisation, a rapidly expanding population, and food and water insecurity. For instance, some related industries were notably affected by Covid-19 pandemic restrictions and disruptions to the global supply chain. Egypt was among the most affected by the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, as it is the world’s largest wheat importer, with 80% of its wheat originating from Russia and Ukraine. However, the government has introduced reforms aimed at improving irrigation techniques and cultivation efficiency to reduce water and food insecurity. For instance, nearly 60 desalination plants are now in operation processing 440,000 sq metres of water per day, and the country aimed to open 39 additional plants as of mid-2021. Moreover, private investment, mechanisation and digitalisation could modernise methods and inputs.