Last week, CottonConnect, the Cotton Egypt Association (CEA) and Cotton Research Institute co-hosted a roundtable event, bringing together more than seventy industry stakeholders and experts from the public and private sectors to discuss the importance of regenerative cotton agriculture in Egypt and the way forward for scaling up regenerative practices.
The event, featured guest speakers from the host organisations as well as a panel discussion with experts from across a range of different fields including Khaled Schuman, Chief Executive Officer of the CEA, Dr. Abd ElNasser Radwan, Director of the Cotton Research Institute, Dr Hesham Hamoud, a consultant for CottonConnect, and Sara Berlese, Chief Technical Coordinator at UNIDO.
Cotton is Egypt’s chief agricultural export making up 3% of Egypt’s GDP, and Egyptian cotton accounts for 25-30% of global supplies of Extra Long Staple (ELS) and Long Staple (LS) cotton, but cotton farming in Egypt faces significant challenges from the impacts of climate change including rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns and increased frequency of extreme weather events.
One of the key points of discussion was the role of technological innovations and biotechnologies such as precision agriculture, satellite imaging, bio fertilisers and bio insecticides to enhance efficiency and productivity in cotton farming. The importance of brands providing financial and technical support and opening markets for farmers who adopt regenerative practices was also debated.
Khaled Schuman, Chief Executive Officer of the Cotton Egypt Association, said: “We are thrilled to be a part of such a tremendous opportunity to push forward the REEL Regenerative Egyptian Cotton Program with CottonConnect and Cotton Research Institute. The discussion at the roundtable was a step in the right direction towards improving regenerative practices for the sustainability of Egyptian Cotton. I feel optimistic about the future of the program and what we can accomplish together.”
Dr. Abdel Nasser Radwan, Director of the Cotton Research Institute, added:
“At the Cotton Research Institute, we are committed to equipping farmers with the knowledge and tools they need to effectively adopt regenerative agriculture practices. Through collaboration with CottonConnect and the Cotton Egypt Association, we are not only sharing technical expertise but also ensuring that Egyptian cotton remains at the forefront of sustainability. Regenerative farming plays a crucial role in improving soil health, optimizing water consumption, enhancing biodiversity, and mitigating the impact of climate change—reducing the use of chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, which ultimately improves farmers’ livelihoods and safeguards the future of the industry. By strengthening our supply chain through innovation and training, we are paving the way for a more resilient and globally competitive cotton sector.”
There is now a REEL Regenerative programme underway in Egypt that will provide more insights into how to apply these practices successfully across the country’s key cotton growing regions. Regenerative agriculture is a holistic, outcome-based farming approach that focuses on practices to improve soil health, encourage biodiversity, promote water efficiency and reduce GHG emissions, whilst also supporting farmers to diversify incomes and become more resilient to climate change
Alison Ward, CEO of CottonConnect said: “We are delighted to be able to bring together so many experts for this event to share their valuable insights and begin to create a roadmap that will ensure a more sustainable and successful future for Egyptian cotton and the global textile industry”