Sahara Conference Agenda

Government Efforts and Agricultural Policy and Regulations in
Egypt

Keynote speeches

10:30 - 12:00

Prof. Samuel Godefroy

President of the International Union of Food Science and Technology IUFoST for the period 2024-2026

Egypt’s National Strategy for Agricultural Development 2030

12:00 - 12:30

Dr. Mohamed El Kersh

Researcher Agriculture Research Center and member of league of Arab States

Towards Coordinated Approvals of Pesticide Substances: Bridging Gaps Ahead of Codex Harmonization and Advancing National and Regional Import MRL Frameworks

12:30 - 1:00

Prof. Samuel Godefroy

President of the International Union of Food Science and Technology IUFoST for the period 2024-2026

Navigating Regulatory Frameworks – What Farmers and Investors
Need to Know

1:00 - 1:30

Dr. Mohamed Mahmoud El-Mansi

Agricultural Quarantine - Ministry of Agriculture - Egypt

Break

1:30 - 2:00

Agricultural Investment in the Region

Brazil–Africa Agricultural Synergies: Sustainable Investment Models

2:00 - 2:30

Dr. Micheal Gamal

The Regional Director of the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce Office in Cairo

Mr. Bernardo Brasil

 Minister-Counselor of the Brazilian Embassy in Egypt

From Insight to Impact: Driving Agricultural Investment Through Data-Driven Research

2:30 - 3:00

Omar Rezk

Managing Director of Entlaq

Strategic Agricultural Investment Pathways Across Africa and MENA

3:00 - 3:45 

Moderator: Ricky Pillay
Chief Executive Officer, RMP Holdings
Eng Auwalu Sarki
Chairman & Founder, Sarman Integrated Farms and Solutions Limited
Fayyad El-Ziuod
General Manager of Al Zyoud Olive Farm & Oil Mill
Bashar Msher Ismail
Authorised Manager, KH Company
Sheila Cornelius
Managing Director of Cornelius Farms and CEO of Lam Naturals

Agricultural Trends and Opportunities in Egypt

Egypt’s Agricultural Export Strategy – Global Opportunities for Local Farmers

3:45 - 4:15 

Mr. Hany Hussien

CEO of the Agricultural Export Council - Egypt

Start x Sahara: Agritech & AI, Startup - Scaling, Investment, Sustainable Finance, VC & DFIs

4:45 - 5:00 

Dr. Diaa Youssef
Founder and CEO of AgriSoft and AgriCash
 Mr. Mohamed Mansour
 Associate Director, MENA, Food and Agribusiness, European Bank 
Dr. Mohamed Abdelrahman
Founder and CEO of Mahaseel
Moderator: Ibrahim El Zayat
CTO of Renile

Small holders and Regenerative Agriculture

5:00 - 5:30

Ms. Marwa Hussein

Director of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Program at CARE International in Egypt

End of Day One

Water and Irrigation 

 

Governmental strategy to advance irrigation systems

10:30 - 11:00 

H.E. Dr. Hany Sweilan

The Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation

Overview of Cairo Water Week & Opportunities for Engagement

11:00 - 11:30

Eng.Walid Hakiki

Head of the Planning Sector at the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, and Executive Director of the Cairo Water Week Permanent Secretariat

Effective Water Resources Management Techniques

11:30 - 12:00

Assoc. Prof. Gülcihan Gülseren

Associate Professor Konya Food and Agriculture University - Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics - Türkiye

Water Safety Impacts on Human Well-being

12:00 - 12:30

Dr. Mamdouh Issa

AHDO Managing Director, Food Safety and Sustainable Development Expert

Building Sustainable Regional Partnerships: AI for Water and Agriculture Security in MENA

12:00 - 12:30

Moderator: Dr. Alaa El- Sadek
Water Resources Planning and Management
 Dr. Ayman Ayad
Water and Infrastructure Programs Manager
Dr. Peter Riad
Associate Professor at Irrigation and Hydraulics Department
Dr. Mohie Omar
Country Director for Egypt at ICARDA
Dr. Noha Donia
Professor environmental hydraulicsFormer Dean 
Dr. Walid Saleh
Senior programme officer with FAO 

Sustainability and Resource Management

Uses of solar energy in irrigation systems in northern Sudan

1:15 - 1:45 

Dr. Adil Abdelaziz Alfiki

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sudanese-Egyptian Integration Center

Water-Efficient Agriculture in Egypt—Tackling Scarcity through Innovation

1:45 - 2:15 

Saad Harraz

Founder of Harraz Farm & Garden

Circular Agriculture—Waste, Energy, and Resource Management on the Farm

2:15 - 3:00 

Panel

  • Dr.Mamdouh Issa
  • Eng. Ayman Refaie
  • Prof. Dr. Ahmed Abd El-Atti
  • Eng. Hossam Habib
  • Assoc. Prof. Gülcihan Gülseren

Talk: Climate-Smart Agriculture—Preparing for a Hotter, Drier Future

3:00 - 3:30 

Dr. Mohamed Abou Sekkina

Co-Founder of Penetrade

Agritainment: the road to sustainable education

3:30 - 4:00 

Iman Mostafa Kamel
Founder and managing director of Hazel Farm
Mounir Makar
Owner of Makar Farms

Agritech and AI Revolution

The Rise of Smart Farming – How AI, Drones, and IoT Are Changing Agriculture

2:00 - 2:30 

Dr. Ibrahim Toreh

Co-Founder & CMO-COO of Top Crops

The role of AI in advancing the agricultural sector

2:30 - 3:00 

Data-Driven Agriculture—Precision Farming and Digital Decision-Making

3:00 - 3:30 

Prof. Dr. Abdel-Aziz Belal

Professor of Soil Sciences and Precision Farming, Vice President of NARSS for Technical and Administrative Affairs

AI-Driven Maintenance in the Water Sector

3:30 - 4:30 

Dr. Mohannad Abouelrouse

Founder & CEO of Life from Water

End of Day Two

Annual Gathering for Women in Agri

10:00 - 2:00

 Break

2:00 - 3:00

Animal Health & Livestock Development

Animal Production and The Central Bank of Egypt's Initiative

2:30 - 3:00 

Mr. Mohamed Shawky

Head of Small and Micro Enterprises Sector at the Agricultural Bank of Egypt

Panel: The Role of Genetics and Breeding in Livestock Productivity

3:00 - 3:30 

Innovations in Feed Efficiency and Nutrition

3:30 - 4:00 

Dr Mazen Farag

Co-Founder & CSO of Top Crops

End of Day Three