Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam met with representatives from the American University in Cairo to discuss using desalinated water for intensive food production. The discussions, held with the Center for Applied Research on the Environment and Sustainability (CARES), focused on the government’s “Water System 2.0” strategy to increase agricultural output while managing limited water resources.
Sewilam emphasized that the economic viability of agricultural desalination depends on reducing energy demands and treatment costs. The ministry is evaluating methods to maximize crop yields per unit of water and exploring the commercial potential of saline brine, such as mineral extraction or aquaculture. The minister called for increased collaboration between government agencies and research institutions to develop these applications. No specific project timelines were announced.