SDG 2: Erase Hunger, Egypt's role

• Lecture 3 focuses on SDG 2: Erase Hunger, specifically Egypt's role in eradicating local hunger and promoting sustainable agriculture.

SDG 2: Erase Hunger

• The primary goal is to end hunger, achieve food security, and promote sustainable agriculture.
• Challenges include climate change, conflicts, and inequalities.
• Egypt has the potential to be a food hub but faces population, water, and climate challenges.
• The vision is to ensure everyone has access to nutritious food by 2030.

Global Hunger Index (GHI)

• The GHI measures and tracks hunger globally, regionally, and nationally in order to raise awareness, compare hunger levels, and draw attention to areas with severe hunger.
• 8.5% of the Egyptian population is undernourished.
• 21.1% of children under five are stunted.
• 5.3% of children under five are wasted.
• 1.8% of children die before their fifth birthday.
• In the 2024 Global Hunger Index, Egypt ranks 63rd out of 127 countries with sufficient data.
• Egypt has a score of 13.2, indicating a moderate level of hunger.

Causes of Hunger in Egypt

• Factors that cause hunger in Egypt include poverty, scarcity, and inflation.
• Challenges facing the agricultural sector include fragmented farmland, soil degradation, climate change, and water scarcity.

Government Initiatives

• Egypt's Vision 2030 outlines a strategy to address hunger, enhance agricultural productivity, and establish a sustainable and resilient food system.
• Government initiatives include policy reforms, infrastructure development, and technological integration.

National Strategy for Food and Nutrition

• The purpose is to provide access to healthy, safe, sustainable, and affordable diets through a resilient food system.
• Emphasizes a multisectoral approach, ensuring coordination across different agencies and sectors.
• Developed with input from various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health and Population and the World Health Organization.
• Implementation is underway, focusing on integrating nutrition services into the healthcare system and promoting sustainable diets.

Applications in Egypt

• Over 2017-2018, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia signed agreements to participate in the European Union's Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) programme running to 2028.
• The EU is allocating € 220 million to the program, with participating countries providing a further € 52 million.
• Egypt works on achieving food security and providing improved nutrition while promoting sustainable agriculture in rural communities.
• Egypt has 41 projects with USD 486.048 million, which is 1.89% of the total ODA.

Agricultural Projects

• Egypt aims to reclaim 4.5 million feddans by 2027 to boost local production, reduce unemployment, and achieve strong agricultural sustainability.
• Includes projects like Minya and Beni Suef (62,000 feddans), Dakhla-Oweinat (150,000 feddans in its first phase), and other initiatives in the New Valley and Upper Egypt.
• The Seed Production Program has successfully developed local varieties to reduce imports and provide seeds at affordable prices.
• Egypt has become the world's top exporter of oranges and has successfully opened new markets for over 405 agricultural products.

Fish Farming

• Egypt ranks third globally in tilapia production and first in Africa in aquaculture.
• Expanded fish farming projects in the Mediterranean and Red Seas, while also developing lakes such as Manzala and Burullus to enhance local fish production, improve quality, and reduce imports.

Government Initiatives

• Market Networks: Establish and improve market networks to ensure that farmers can sell their produce at fair prices.
• Trade Policies: promote exports of agricultural products.
• Crop Improvement: Invest in research for high-yield and drought-resistant crop varieties.
• School Feeding Programs: Expand school feeding programs to ensure that children receive adequate nutrition, which also encourages school attendance.
• Public Awareness Campaigns: Run campaigns to educate the public about balanced diets and nutrition, focusing on vulnerable groups like children and pregnant women.
• Irrigation Systems: Develop and maintain efficient irrigation systems to optimize water use, especially in arid regions.

Community and Individual Actions

• Establishing community gardens to provide fresh produce and strengthen community ties.
• Supporting local farmers by buying their produce and reducing food waste through better meal planning and composting.
• Engaging in agricultural training, volunteer efforts, and advocacy to raise awareness and promote sustainable practices.