Press and News A multi-stakeholder consultation marking the official kickoff of the AgriTech4Egypt project
Cairo, Egypt — The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, in partnership with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, the Agricultural Research Centre, the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, and national authorities, convened the High-Level Consultation Workshop for AgriTech4Egypt: Technological Innovation in Agri-food Sector in Egypt on 9 June 2026 at the Cairo Marriott Omar Khayyam Hotel.
With the participation of Juan Lucas Restrepo Ibiza, Director General, and Stephanie Speck, Global Director of Strategic Partnerships, Engagement and Communication at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT; Tiberio Chiari, Head of the Cairo Office of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation; Adel Abdelazim, President at the Agricultural Research Centre; and Mamdouh Mouad, Acting President at the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology.
With more than 250 participants from the public and private sectors attending online and in-person, the event brought together an international, multi-stakeholder platform, featuring a scene-setting presentation, a panel discussion, fireside chats, and interactive breakout sessions. The event reflected a strong collective commitment to supporting Egyptian entrepreneurs and delivering practical solutions for farmers and rural communities. It marked a key milestone for the three-year flagship initiative designed to foster technology transfer and drive the development, deployment, and adoption of science-based agri-solutions across Egypt’s agri-food sector, in alignment with Egypt's Vision 2030, the Startup Charter, Italy’s Piano Mattei per l'Africa, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals on zero hunger and decent work. Through a series of three (3) annual innovation challenges, AgriTech4Egypt will support 105 startups and innovation teams in scaling affordable, context-specific solutions that address the real needs of farmers and value chain actors, engaging 350+ innovators and reaching 200,000 farmers across Egypt.
Startups and innovation teams
Innovators
Farmers reached
Discussions produced a concrete set of findings that will directly inform the project design and implementation framework:
- A clearer understanding of Egypt’s agricultural innovation landscape and its connections with existing initiatives, donor programs, and support mechanisms
- Shared evidence bases to inform the project's strategic report and three-year implementation framework
- Priority challenges and opportunities identified to strengthen technology transfer, commercialization, and entrepreneurship support
- A call for tailored financial instruments (including blended finance, patient capital, and de-risking mechanisms) suited to the realities of agricultural innovation
- Consensus on the need for structured support mechanisms that can accompany startups in navigating regulatory environments, accessing markets, and building operational resilience
- New cross-sector partnerships emerging across research, innovation, finance, and industry
Next steps
Workshop findings are being consolidated into a strategic report and three-year implementation framework that will guide the initiative going forward. Satellite consultations will be organized across selected governorates to capture the perspectives of farmers and value chain actors, and to ensure the project design accounts for the contextual needs beyond Cairo.
Call to action
AgriTech4Egypt is building a consortium of partners – agribusinesses, research centers, investors, public-sector actors, and actors of Sistema Italia – to translate research outputs into market-ready solutions through real-world testing, validation, and deployment with farmers and value chain actors. The consortium model draws on the diverse set of expertise, resources, and networks across local, regional, and international levels to support commercialization, catalyze private-sector investment, and open scalable go-to-market pathways anchored in end-user demand and field evidence.
If your organization is interested in joining, express your interest via this form or contact [email protected]
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The AgriTech4Egypt: Technological Innovation in AgriFood Sector in #Egypt project (AID 13162) is led by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, through the CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform (A4IP). 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.
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.
