Project Goal
The goal of this Fulbright alumni engagement activity is to foster scholarly exchange on issues related to food security and water resources management.
Core Activities
The central part of the project is to engage a multi-disciplinary team of Fulbright Alumni in a collaborative research project investigating the feasibility of using saline groundwater in combination with soil amendments to improve crop production in Egypt. Research experiences in Egypt investigate crop growth under saline water and biosolid application scenarios, and the results are being used in computer models to analyze the economic and broader system feasibility of using saline groundwater in reclaimed agricultural lands.
A key part of the project are the scholarly exchange visits to the U.S. and Egypt. Over the course of the project, the Egyptian Fulbright Alumni Participants will spend nearly one month in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA to design the joint research project, conduct background research, and learn from experts and farmers. While the U.S. Fulbright Alumni Participants will also spend approximately two weeks in Egypt sharing and learning in support of the research project and scholarly exchange.
To generate the broader impact from the project, the participants are producing a literature review paper and a policy brief. The team is also organizing an international conference tentatively scheduled for 2021 in Cairo to foster scholarly exchange related to food security and water management in Egypt, with special focus on sharing experiences related to use of saline groundwater in reclaimed desert lands used for agriculture.
Research Objectives
- Conduct lab and field experiments to evaluate the effect of irrigation water salinity and soil amendment on soil health, plant response, and productivity of tomato and wheat plants.
- Perform calculations and computer modeling to determine the required irrigation water, soil amendment, and costs necessary to expand agricultural production in reclaimed lands in Egypt.
Project Team
Dr. Steve Burian
Principal InvestigatorUniversity of Utah
Dr. Steve Burian
Principal Investigator
Professor Lal Almas
Fulbright Alumni ParticipantWest Texas A&M University
Professor Lal Almas
Fulbright Alumni Participant
Dr. Mohamed El-Sayed
Fulbright Alumni ParticipantSoils, Water, Environmental Research Institute
Dr. Mohamed El-Sayed
Fulbright Alumni ParticipantSoils, Water, Environmental Research Institute
Dr. Mohamed Hazman
Fulbright Alumni ParticipantAgricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute
Dr. Mohamed Hazman
Fulbright Alumni Participant
Professor Mike McFarland
Fulbright Alumni ParticipantCache Environmental
Professor Mike McFarland
Fulbright Alumni ParticipantCache Environmental
Dr. Ali Shams El-din
Egyptian ConsultantDr. Ali Shams El-din
Egyptian ConsultantFulbright Alumni Q&A
"Egypt Food Security project has provided me a professional opportunity to exchange research ideas for future collaborations and interact with researchers of diverse background and experience. Work together for a common goal of finding solutions to global food security issues in Egypt as well as other developing countries and explore/develop tools and techniques for efficient irrigation management strategies effective for Egypt and other similar arid and semi-arid regions in the world." - Professor Lal Almas
"The present Fulbright experience has expanded my knowledge of the technical challenges associated with ensuring food security in arid and semi-arid regions. Understanding how to effectively manage saline irrigation water and/or sodic soils for improved crop yields remains the overarching technical goal of the present Fulbright program." - Professor Mike McFarland
"Through the Fulbright program I have networked with the most brilliant people out there, made connections with effective professors and professionals. As well, I have been part of numerous conferences and enrichment seminars that let me to broaden my perspective on different topics. Beyond that, participating in Egypt food security program allowed me to cooperate with the team of various specialties that was a new challenge and experience for me. Further, the project investigates the impact of saline water on soil and plant properties and how to manage it that may be leading to dissolve one of the most problems in the all world." - Dr. Mohamed El-Sayed
"It is totally a remarkable opportunity to cooperate with project team members. On one hand, the different yet integrate backgrounds and specialties of team members enabled me to learn and gain extra useful knowledge. One the other hand, the objectives of the project promoted me to investigate and to know more about tomato stress biology and explore how tomato might be a very promising crop for actualizing farmers’ hope for improved standards of living." - Dr. Mohamed Hazman
Highlights
Partners and Collaborators
