Egypt looks to PepsiCo, private sector to expand domestic potato seed production

Egypt is seeking to expand domestic potato seed production through closer cooperation with PepsiCo Inc. and private investors as the government pushes to reduce agricultural imports, strengthen food security, and deepen local manufacturing of farm inputs.

Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk met representatives of PepsiCo, the Arab Alliance for Potato Seed Production, investors, and business leaders to discuss increasing the supply of certified seed potatoes and integrating smallholder farmers into commercial supply chains, the Ministry of Agriculture said Monday.

The initiative forms part of Egypt’s broader strategy to localise agricultural inputs and reduce reliance on imported seed potatoes, which remain a key cost for domestic producers despite the country’s position as one of the world’s leading potato exporters.

Farouk described domestic seed production as a strategic priority, saying it would boost agricultural output, support food security, and enhance the competitiveness of Egypt’s farm sector.

He pointed to the Arab Alliance for Potato Seed Production, established in 2024 through a partnership between the Agricultural Research Centre (ARC) and private companies, as a model for expanding local production. The venture aims to supply about 70 per cent of Egypt’s seed potato requirements for the summer growing season.

The officials also reviewed the alliance’s expanding production capacity and rising international demand for Egyptian potatoes, underscoring the crop’s importance to the country’s agricultural exports.

Farouk and PepsiCo discussed bringing more smallholder farmers into the company’s agricultural supply chain by expanding access to certified, high-yield seed potatoes. The ministry said the initiative would raise farm productivity and incomes while ensuring a reliable supply of quality raw materials for Egypt’s food processing industry.

Farouk said recent reforms have improved the investment climate for agriculture and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting private-sector investment through research, innovation, more efficient resource use, and expanded export opportunities.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English