Egypt and Jordan Strengthen Agricultural Partnership to Enhance Regional Food Security

CAIRO - Egypt and Jordan have concluded the seventh session of their Joint Agricultural Technical Committee with agreements to establish joint seed and pesticide production companies, deepening agricultural cooperation between nations that view such collaboration as essential to addressing regional water scarcity and food security challenges.

Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk and his Jordanian counterpart Khaled Hneifat chaired meetings that produced concrete commitments for private sector investment in agricultural technology, reflecting the strong bilateral relationship between Egypt and Jordan under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and King Abdullah II.

The establishment of Jordanian private companies in Egypt to manufacture seeds and pesticides represents a practical application of economic complementarity between the nations. These joint ventures, supported and facilitated by both countries' agriculture ministries, will begin operations in early 2026, contributing to agricultural production enhancement, food security improvement, and job creation.

"Jordan relies heavily on beloved Egypt, both in strategic depth and food security," stated Hneifat, emphasizing the fraternal relationship between the nations. The Jordanian minister expressed appreciation for Egypt's cooperation on joint agricultural priorities and the seriousness with which bilateral issues are addressed.

Agricultural trade between Egypt and Jordan demonstrates balanced complementarity, with Jordan importing citrus fruits, potatoes, and various produce from Egypt while exporting vegetables and fruits in return. This bidirectional exchange serves mutual interests and provides both nations with diversified agricultural product access.

The technical committee serves as an effective mechanism for agricultural collaboration, operating under the umbrella of the Joint Higher Jordanian-Egyptian Committee headed by both countries' prime ministers. Its mandate includes increasing agricultural product trade, removing obstacles to commerce, promoting joint investments, and enhancing cooperation on food security initiatives.

Meeting discussions covered livestock development, seed production, knowledge exchange, and joint research programs. The parties agreed to develop improved crop varieties and advanced pesticide formulations to strengthen agricultural resource sustainability, particularly amid climate change challenges and water scarcity pressures.

Egypt's agricultural achievements provided models for Jordanian consideration, particularly innovations in irrigation technology and land reclamation projects. Minister Farouk highlighted Egypt's "Irrigation System 2.0" initiative, which integrates water management, energy efficiency, food production, and environmental sustainability through technological innovation.

Egypt has raised overall irrigation efficiency to over 88 percent through annual reuse of approximately 22 billion cubic meters of agricultural drainage water, demonstrating practical solutions to water scarcity. Additionally, Egypt imports crops equivalent to 34 billion cubic meters of "virtual water" to supplement domestic production and ensure food availability.

The collaboration between Egypt and Jordan extends beyond bilateral benefits to serve broader Arab food security objectives. Both nations recognize that regional cooperation can transform shared water and agricultural challenges into opportunities through coordinated policy development, joint research, and integrated supply chain management.

Jordan's agricultural sector, while constrained by limited water resources, has achieved remarkable productivity through modern production technology and efficient resource utilization. The Jordan Valley benefits from diverse agricultural areas, favorable bio-climatic conditions, and high-quality product specifications that enable competitive exports to regional and international markets.

The broader industrial partnership between UAE, Egypt, and Jordan, which includes a $10 billion investment fund managed by ADQ Holding, encompasses food and agriculture among five priority sectors. This trilateral framework provides additional resources and strategic direction for Egyptian-Jordanian agricultural cooperation.

Egypt's Ministry of Agriculture is also collaborating with international organizations including the Food and Agriculture Organization, UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, and Arab Organization for Agricultural Development to develop regional platforms for data exchange, expertise sharing, and innovation dissemination.

The Arab Ministerial Council on Water and Agriculture, co-chaired by Egypt and Jordan, provides additional coordination mechanisms for addressing interconnected water and agricultural policy challenges across the Middle East and North Africa region. Nineteen of 22 Arab countries fall below international water scarcity thresholds, with over 90 percent of the region's population experiencing critical water stress.

Climate change and rapid population growth are compounding water and food security pressures across the Arab world, making cooperation increasingly urgent. Egypt's per capita water availability has declined to approximately 500 cubic meters annually, well below the absolute scarcity threshold of 1,000 cubic meters.

Both countries are exploring advanced agricultural technologies including precision irrigation, drought-resistant crop varieties, protected agriculture systems, and desalination for agricultural applications. The declining cost of solar energy makes large-scale desalination increasingly economically viable, particularly for coastal agriculture in Egypt's northern regions.