Benha University President Leads a Research Team to Establish an Egyptian-Chinese Smart Agriculture Laboratory to Combat Poverty and Enhance Food Security with 20 Million EGP Funding

A new international scientific partnership between Benha University and Huazhong Agricultural University in China aims to develop innovative solutions to address the challenges of climate change and water scarcity.
In a new achievement that reflects Benha University's research standing at both the regional and international levels, prof. Nasser El-Gizawy, President of Benha University and Professor of Crops, is leading a research team to launch an ambitious project to establish the Joint Egyptian-Chinese Laboratory for Smart Agriculture for Poverty Eradication and Food Security Enhancement. The project is being implemented in cooperation with Huazhong Agricultural University in China, with funding of up to 20 million Egyptian pounds provided by the Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Authority (STDF). The Chinese side's funding for the project inside China amounts to 3 million yuan.
The project aims to employ the latest applications of smart agriculture and digital technologies to confront the growing challenges facing the agricultural sector, foremost among them climate change, water resource scarcity, and high poverty rates in rural areas. This will contribute to achieving sustainable agricultural development and strengthening food security in both Egypt and China.
Prof. Nasser El-Gizawy explained that the proposed laboratory represents an advanced model of international scientific cooperation, bringing together Egyptian and Chinese research expertise to develop innovative and applicable solutions in the fields of smart agriculture, improving the productivity of strategic crops such as rice, raising water-use efficiency, and enhancing the ability of agricultural systems to adapt to climate change.
The laboratory will focus on several advanced research axes, including the development of drought-resistant crop varieties, precision agriculture applications based on the Internet of Things, remote sensing technologies, big data analysis, agricultural genomics research, as well as the development of smart irrigation systems and early diagnosis of soil and crop health.
The project is expected to achieve tangible results on the ground, most notably increasing the productivity of major crops such as wheat, rice, and maize, and reducing water and agricultural input consumption. It will also support rural communities through training programs, technology transfer, and capacity building.
The project further aims to train and qualify more than young researchers and enhance scientific exchange between the Egyptian and Chinese sides, thereby contributing to building research cadres capable of leading the future of agricultural innovation and developing solutions suited to local and regional challenges.
The President of Benha University affirmed that the laboratory will serve as a regional center of excellence and innovation in the field of smart agriculture and a platform for exchanging knowledge and expertise among researchers, scientific institutions, and industry. This will ensure that research outputs are transformed into practical applications that support farmers and decision-makers and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
This pioneering project embodies a shared vision between Egypt and China to strengthen cooperation in the fields of scientific research, technology, and innovation, and to open new horizons for international partnerships aimed at combating poverty, achieving food security, and building a more sustainable future for coming generations.