Egypt to transform millions of tonnes of agri and food waste into animal feed

Egypt generates around 65 million tonnes of potentially useful waste per year. Photo: Canva

Discussions are underway in Egypt on how to recycle millions of tonnes of agricultural and food waste into animal feed.

Egypt imports around 90% of feedstuff, primarily corn and soybeans, to meet the demand in the domestic feed market. But, Dr Mohsen Shukry, Rapporteur of the Animal Resources Research Council at the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, recently spoke at an industry event where he said that the country could possibly tap into the 65 million tonnes of potentially useful waste per year to fill the gap.

This waste includes 50 million tonnes of various agricultural waste and around 15 million tonnes of food factory waste. A part of this quantity, he said, could be processed for further use in feeding livestock, poultry, and fish.

Fruit and veg recycling

Among other things, Egyptian processors consider various options to maximise the potential of fruit and vegetable recycling, Dr Mohamed El Shafei, a member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Food Industries, stated during the event. The measure could also lower the need for imported feedstuff, he assumed.

A plan to collect fruits and vegetables from retailers for further processing into animal feed is included in the national economy development plan Egypt’s Vision 2030. However, no real efforts have been made to set the processing capacities.

Expanding soybean production in Egypt

At the end of 2024, the Egyptian government shared plans to simplify the registration process for new feed products, potentially paving the way for new feedstuff to the feed mills.

Since the beginning of 2025, local feed industry officials have expressed fears over the rise in feed prices this year owing to drought in Brazil, one of the largest suppliers to the country.

In addition to recycling food waste, the local authorities pin their hopes on reviving soybean production to deal with the crisis. In Egypt, soybean cultivation has steadily declined over the past 4 decades, from 62,000 hectares in 1983 to just 14,000 hectares in 2021.

However, according to an Agricultural Ministry forecast, the area under soybean production should steadily grow, reaching 500,000 acres in the next few years. Authorities also expect some improvements in the average yields of soybeans in the country.