Egypt grows wheat with saltwater irrigation in desert reclamation trial

Egypt has successfully grown wheat using highly saline irrigation water in a desert reclamation project, a trial officials say could help ease pressure on freshwater resources and support the country’s long-term food security strategy.

The experiment, conducted in the El-Moghra area, produced wheat irrigated with water salinity levels of up to 8,000 parts per million, according to the Egyptian Countryside Development Company.

The results were hailed as a breakthrough in cultivating salt-tolerant wheat varieties in arid conditions.

The trial is part of Egypt’s broader 1.5 million feddan land reclamation programme, which aims to expand agricultural output in desert areas while reducing dependence on limited Nile water supplies.

Three salt-tolerant wheat varieties were developed through a joint programme with the Desert Research Centre (DRC) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, using modern cultivation techniques designed for large-scale replication.

The company said the trial demonstrated strong germination rates, improved salinity tolerance, and yields that could rise further with wider application. Grain quality met standard benchmarks, supporting the economic viability of farming strategic crops in saline environments.

The results highlight the potential to expand agriculture into marginal lands, which are increasingly viewed as critical to Egypt’s food security strategy amid limited freshwater resources and climate-related stress on traditional farmland.

Chairman and Managing Director Amr Abdel Wahab said the findings represent “an important scientific and applied achievement,” adding that the company is using research-led approaches to expand agricultural production in challenging environments.

He said the results could support broader efforts to increase domestic wheat production and reduce import dependence, particularly as global food markets remain volatile.

The company said the wider 1.5 million feddan programme is progressing as part of a national strategy focused on sustainability, resource efficiency, and agricultural modernisation.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English