Consultation workshop for AgriTech4Egypt: Presenting a strategic Egypt–Italy Initiative connecting research, entrepreneurship, and industry
The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, together with partners, will host the High-Level Consultation Workshop for AgriTech4Egypt: Technological Innovation in Agri-food Sector in Egypt on Tuesday, 9 June 2026 in Cairo.
AgriTech4Egypt is a three-year Egypt–Italy initiative designed to foster and transfer technological innovation within the Egyptian agribusiness sector by supporting the development, deployment, and adoption of science-based solutions applied to agriculture. Funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and supported by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, the project is led by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, through the Accelerate for Impact Platform, endorsed by Egyptian Ministries of Agriculture and Land Reclamation and Higher Education and Scientific Research, and implemented in partnership with Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, and the Agricultural Research Centre. Through three annual innovation challenges, it will support 105 local and international startups in developing affordable, context-specific agri-tech solutions that respond to market needs and the challenges faced by farmers and value chain actors across Egypt.
As part of the initiative’s assessment and design phase, the Consultation Workshop will bring together multidisciplinary stakeholders from across Egypt's agri-food ecosystem–including public institutions, international development organizations, academia, actors of Sistema Italia, private sector, business support organizations, startups, and farmers’ associations– to build a shared vision for agritech innovation and strengthen links between research, entrepreneurship, and industry through international knowledge exchange. The event formally presents AgriTech4Egypt as a flagship initiative under Egypt–Italy cooperation, aligned with Egypt’s national development priorities, including the Egypt Startup Charter, as well as within the Piano Mattei per l'Africa and EU cooperation frameworks.
The event will serve as a strategic platform to identify sector challenges and priority intervention areas, generate key inputs for the project design, and lay the foundations for the three-year implementation phase, building on results from the 2024 AgriTech4Egypt Innovation Challenge pilot. The workshop will feature high-level institutional remarks, panel discussions, fireside chats, and breakout focus group discussions, alongside a dedicated startup arena. It will be followed by three on-the-ground satellite workshop engaging farmers and value chain actors directly in their communities across three governorates of Egypt in 2026.
Italian organizations active in Egypt, international development partners, and local Egyptian institutions are invited to join in shaping the project design. To express interest in attending, please submit this form or contact [email protected]
The event will be livestreamed on YouTube.
Contact details: Rachel Kibui - [email protected]
Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) deliver research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future.
AICS –The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation
The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation is one of key innovations established by the Italian law on international cooperation (Law No. 125/2014). The Agency headquarters are in Rome. AICS runs another base in Florence and 20 field offices worldwide for assessing local needs, implementing development initiatives, monitoring results and building partnerships on the ground. According to the law, the Agency’s mission is to “perform technical and operational activities associated with the examination, development, financing, management and control of the development cooperation initiatives. The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation – AICS in Cairo, began in 2016 to operate as the platform of the Italian Cooperation, which has already approximately forty years of activity in Egypt, promoting since 1982 projects that help foster sustainable socio-economic development in the country.
ASRT - Academy of Scientific Research and Technology
The Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT) is Egypt’s leading governmental institution responsible for supporting scientific research, innovation, technology development, and science diplomacy. Established in 1971 and operating under the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, ASRT plays a central role in shaping Egypt’s national innovation ecosystem by funding applied research, fostering technology transfer and entrepreneurship, strengthening international scientific cooperation, and promoting the commercialization of research outputs to support sustainable economic and social development. Through its national programs, scientific networks, innovation initiatives, and strategic partnerships, ASRT works to connect academia, industry, startups, and policymakers, while advancing Egypt’s priorities in science, technology, and innovation.
ARC - The Agricultural Research Center
The Agricultural Research Center within the Arab Republic of Egypt, serves as the national authority for agricultural research, innovation, and technology development. ARC leads research programs in crops, livestock, water management, climate-smart agriculture, biotechnology, and agricultural economics. ARC also plays a central role in transferring knowledge, supporting farmers, strengthening innovation ecosystems, and partnering with national and international institutions for agricultural development.
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Cover photo: A woman carries harvested cotton at a farm in Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt, Sept. 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
