Egypt is examining an expansion of desalination for agricultural drainage water to support intensive food production amid mounting water scarcity, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hani Sweilem said on Sunday. The discussion occurred during a meeting to review the terms of reference for a new research study developed in cooperation with Dutch partners. The initiative aims to improve the economic feasibility of desalination technologies.
Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hani Sweilem announced on Sunday that Egypt is considering expanding desalination of agricultural drainage water to bolster food production amid increasing water scarcity. The statement came during a meeting with ministry officials to review the terms of reference for a new research study developed in cooperation with Dutch partners.
Sweilem noted that reused agricultural drainage water becomes increasingly saline as it cycles through irrigation networks, making desalination essential in many cases. He added that Egypt is moving toward broader treatment and reuse of this water, which requires detailed assessments of salinity levels across drainage systems. Using desalinated drainage water for high-intensity food production, he said, aims to improve the economic feasibility of desalination technologies.
Describing desalination for food production as “one of the most important tools for managing future water limitations and achieving food security,” Sweilem stressed the need to “produce more food with less water” and to adopt scientific methods to reduce desalination costs.
The upcoming study will also explore potential uses for the highly saline brine generated by desalination, including mineral and salt extraction or the cultivation of species that thrive in high-salinity environments, such as brine shrimp (Artemia) and certain algae. Sweilem added that successful international models from Morocco, Spain, and Australia could inform Egypt’s transition toward incorporating desalinated drainage water into agricultural practices.