Building Resilient Food Security Systems to Benefit the Southern Egypt Region

The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that Southern Egypt, a region that is already economically stressed and whose food supplies are under constant threat of disruption, stands to lose a minimum of 30 percent of its food production by 2050 as a result of climate change impacts. These impacts include reduced crop and livestock productivity, increasing crop-water demand and reduced water use efficiency, and increases in pest and disease infestations.

In response, the Government has proposed a project that aims to 1) improve the adaptive capacity of the Southern zone in the face of anticipated climate-induced reduction in food production through the introduction and use of water saving irrigation and other adaptation techniques; the establishment of agro-forestry greenhouses and plots with sub-surface irrigation, including nurseries for growing trees and new varieties; and the development of livestock and poultry hubs for selection and breeding of new heat resistant varieties. 2) build institutional capacity at the national, regional, and local levels to enable sustainability and replication throughout the zone and the country to understand climate trends and impacts; replicate adaptation interventions through the training of government technical staff; document lessons learned and best practices; share project results and lessons learned; mainstream new approaches in local and regional planning; and target universities through curriculum. The two objectives are cornerstones of Egypt’s National Adaptation Strategy.