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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


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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 Investigator
 University of Utah

Dr. Steve Burian

Principal Investigator
Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering U Water Center Director water.utah.edu
 University of Utah

Professor Lal Almas

Fulbright Alumni Participant
 West Texas A&M University

Professor Lal Almas

Fulbright Alumni Participant
Associate Dean of the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences https://www.wtamu.edu/academics/college-agriculture-natural-sciences/lal-khan-almas-bio.html
 West Texas A&M University

Dr. Mohamed El-Sayed

Fulbright Alumni Participant
 Soils, Water, Environmental Research Institute

Dr. Mohamed El-Sayed

Fulbright Alumni Participant
 Soils, Water, Environmental Research Institute

Dr. Mohamed Hazman

Fulbright Alumni Participant
 Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute

Dr. Mohamed Hazman

Fulbright Alumni Participant
Researcher Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute (AGERI) Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Giza, Egypt
 Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute

Professor Mike McFarland

Fulbright Alumni Participant
 Cache Environmental

Professor Mike McFarland

Fulbright Alumni Participant
 Cache Environmental

Dr. Ali Shams El-din

Egyptian Consultant

Dr. Ali Shams El-din

Egyptian Consultant

Fulbright 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


Drs. McFarland, El-Sayed, Hazman, and Burian outside the Water Center offices at the University of Utah
At the project planning meeting in Utah, Dr. Hazman explains his ideas for the joint research activities
Dr. Hazman presenting his research into plant physiological response to drought and salinity
The team designing the elements of the integrated research project
Drs. El-sayed and Hazman exploring the wonders of the Great Salt Lake
Drs. Hazman and El-Sayed receive certificates after completing the exchange program to Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
His excellency Dr. Ezz El Din Abou Stiet - the former minister of Agriculture, visiting Dr. Hazman field experiment
Dr. Burian welcomes the Fulbright Alumni Participants to the University of Utah Water Center
A selfie from the top of Main Street in Park City, Utah
Dr. Almas and his graduate student, Raghu, presenting their research poster titled “Egypt's Reliance on Imported Wheat: Concerns, Challenges, and Opportunities” at the 14th Annual Faculty Research Poster Session and Research Fair held at the West Texas A&M University
Drs. El-Sayed and Burian share a laugh while planning out the joint project meeting details
During a field visit in Utah, Joel Ferry explaining to Drs. Hazman and El-Sayed how he manages salinity issues with his crops

Partners and Collaborators