Cairo – Silta, Special Coverage
Last week marked the successful conclusion of the fourth edition of the “Watan Sustainability Week for Culture, Science, and Arts” festival, held this year under the banner “Green Gold Summit.” The event established itself as a premier national platform, seamlessly bridging scientific innovation and artistic creativity to advance Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Official Participation and Extended Sponsorship
The event took place with high-level official representation from the Egyptian Ministry of Environment and was held under the auspices of an elite group of academic and executive institutions, including: The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, The Agricultural Research Center (ARC), The Faculty of Agriculture at Al-Azhar University (Cairo), The Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences at Arish University, The Syndicate Committee for Workers at the Land Improvement Authority, The Arab Youth Union for Creativity and Innovation (Council of Arab Economic Unity – League of Arab States).
The summit witnessed a distinguished turnout of leadership representatives. Prof. Dr. Alaa Azzouz (Head of the Agricultural Extension Sector and Chairman of the Union of Producers and Exporters of Horticultural Crops) attended on behalf of Mr. Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation. Prof. Dr. Ashraf Hassanein (Advisor to the President of the Agricultural Research Center) represented Dr. Adel Abdel Azim, President of the Center. Additionally, Prof. Dr. Mamdouh Ahmed Omar attended on behalf of the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Al-Azhar University, while Dr. Mohamed Mostafa Ahmed represented the Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences at Arish University.
Investing in Agricultural Innovation
On the sidelines of the festival, the scientific conference titled “Agricultural Innovation and Processing for Sustainable Investment” was convened. The conference showcased 19 cutting-edge agricultural and environmental research projects, drawing the participation of dozens of researchers from various universities and community research centers. Discussions focused heavily on pathways to convert these academic breakthroughs into viable, high-yield investment opportunities.
In an official statement during the event, Dr. Rasha Abdel Aziz, Founder and President of the Conference, emphasized:
“The primary objective of the Green Gold Summit is to maximize strategic synergy between the public and private sectors. This cooperation is vital to implement agricultural innovations on the ground and transform them into pioneering commercial enterprises.”
She further noted that agriculture is no longer merely a production sector, but a fundamental pillar for comprehensive socio-economic development and a core axis of sustainable food security.
“Green Gold” Agricultural Innovation Competition Winners
The summit culminated in the announcement of eight outstanding research ideas that secured top honors in the “Green Gold” Competition, each demonstrating strong potential to scale into major national projects:
- Natural Growth Stimulant for Yield Enhancement and Pest Control: Developed by Prof. Dr. Soheir Nazmi (Former Head of the Crop Technology Research Department).
- The Bio-Nano Project: Eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives to traditional antibiotics for sustainable disease management (Presented by the Associate Professor and Head of the Research and Production Unit at the Animal Health Research Institute, ARC).
- The Green Twin Project (Egypt’s Gateway to Smart Agriculture): Developed by a promising youth university team comprising Ahmed Saad (Kafr El-Sheikh University), Mohamed Abdel Sayed (Ain Shams University), and Mostafa El-Deeb (Kafr El-Sheikh University).
- Smart Sportswear Production Using Chromic Sensors: Developed by Prof. Dr. Salah Mansour Saleh (Professor of Textile Chemistry Technology at the Cotton Research Institute, ARC).
- The Zero-Waste Integrated Sustainable Ostrich Oasis: Developed by Dr. Mohamed Hamed Abdel Fattah (Associate Professor of Poultry Breeding and Management at the Animal Production Research Institute).
- Remote-Controlled Smart Integrated Sandy Farming System: Featuring a navigable floating drone for water quality monitoring, developed by Prof. Dr. Hossam Sayour and Eng. Youssef Mohamed Abdullah.
- Integrated Smart System for Bio-fertilizer and Biochar Production: Utilizing palm and olive waste to support sustainable agriculture in the Sinai Peninsula, developed by a research group from the Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences at Arish University.
- Legume By-Products Valorization Project (Eco-Pulse): For the manufacturing of sustainable, plant-based mayonnaise, developed by Prof. Dr. Howeida El-Sayed Hassan (Professor at the Agricultural Economics Research Institute, ARC).
Arts and Culture in Service of the Environment
The festival beautifully integrated artistic expression with its environmental message. Attended by Ministry of Environment representatives Ms. Dalia Taha and Ms. Karima Mahmoud, the cultural segment featured a series of captivating performances that linked art to sustainability.
Highlights included a unique Pharaonic Tanoura performance by the El-Imamein and El-Tounsi Youth Development Center, followed by an eco-friendly fashion show showcasing creative garments made entirely from recycled waste, presented by the “Tafaneen” and “Kids Show” teams. Adding a sophisticated celebratory note, the “Clarista Band” delivered a refined musical performance, accompanied by a talented children’s choir representing various private and language schools under the Ministry of Education.
In its conclusion, the “Watan Sustainability Week” festival stood out as a true beacon of Egyptian ingenuity, a venue where science, art, and culture converge seamlessly to map out a resilient future and drive Egypt’s sustainable development goals forward.