Posted on April 11, 2025

As part of the DIONYSUS_Nexus project, the first workshop of the Egypt Action Panel took place in Luxor, co-led by Othman Elshaikh from the Egyptian Association for Sustainable Development (EASD) and Fadi Abdelradi from the Institute of National Planning (INP).

The workshop brought together farmers, cooperatives, NGOs, and public authorities to co-design future pathways for a more efficient, inclusive, and sustainable wheat value chain. Key results from the World Café discussions: Promote certified inputs and agroecological farming practices:

•  Strengthen cooperatives and irrigation systems using solar energy
• Improve storage, pricing, and contract farming mechanisms
•  Propose policy reforms in subsidies, credit access, and cooperative law

The session also explored how a Decision Support System (DSS) could empower farmers by providing:

• Localized and climate-smart crop management info
• Audio-visual tools for illiterate users
• Real-time collaboration with cooperatives and institutions
• Market prices, expert consultation & risk management tools

A field visit to the project’s experimental field in Luxor showcased concrete examples of agroecological practices applied to key crops such as cereals, underlining the importance of sustainability in improving productivity and resource efficiency.

Special thanks to the water user associations, agricultural cooperatives, and representatives from the Directorates of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Environment for their active participation and commitment to the WEFE Nexus approach.