Abstract
The agri-food sector plays a significant socio-economic role in Egypt; it represents the main source of income for about 40% of the population. The deterioration of the socio-economic and environmental indicators is an increasing pressure on the Egyptian agri-food system to move towards sustainability. In this context, many scholars and practitioners call for supporting organic agriculture as an eminently sustainable agri-food system. The present article tackles the dynamics of the transition towards organic agriculture. The analysis was performed through the lens of the multi-level perspective on socio-technical transitions (MLP; niche, socio-technical regime, and socio-technical landscape). Data were collected through a systematic literature review and semi-structured interviews with different Egyptian stakeholders. The results show that organic farming is a prominent, yet slow-growing niche in Egypt, which accounts for 2.82% of the total agricultural land. Therefore, there is no genuine transition from the current dual agri-food regime (cf., traditional and intensive agriculture). However, the landscape factors (e.g., climate change, water scarcity, health problems, social unrest) are expected to put pressure on the agri-food regime and create opportunities for the organic agriculture niche to emerge. We conclude that the ongoing transition towards organic agriculture and sustainable agri-food system might be lengthy and slow, and political support is essential for the breakthrough and take-off of organics in the country.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abd-Elmabod SK, Abou-Baker NH, Mansour HA, Abd El-Rheem KM (2019) Climate change impacts on soil suitability for wheat production in North-Western Coast of Egypt. Biosci Res 16:221–245. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108123518.008
Abd-Elmabod SK, Fitch AC, Zhang Z et al (2019) Rapid urbanisation threatens fertile agricultural land and soil carbon in the Nile delta. J Environ Manage 252:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109668
Abd-Elrahman S, Taha N (2018) Comparison between organic and mineral sources of potassium and their effects on potassium fractions in clay soil and productivity of potato plants under water stress conditions. Egypt J Soil Sci 58:193–206. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejss.2018.2752.1153
Abdallah MAM, Elmagd Morsy FA (2013) Persistent organochlorine pollutants and metals residues in sediment and freshwater fish species cultured in a shallow lagoon. Egypt Environ Technol (united Kingdom) 34:2389–2399. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2013.770561
Abdel Wahaab R, Mahmoud M, van Lier JB (2020) Toward achieving sustainable management of municipal wastewater sludge in Egypt: the current status and future prospective. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 127:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.109880
Abdelaal HSA, Thilmany D (2019) Grains production prospects and long run food security in Egypt. Sustain 11:1–17. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11164457
Abdelkader A, Elshorbagy A, Tuninetti M et al (2018) National water, food, and trade modeling framework: the case of Egypt. Sci Total Environ 639:485–496. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.197
Adel AM, Ahmed EO, Ibrahim MM et al (2016) Microfibrillated cellulose from agricultural residues. Part II: Strategic evaluation and market analysis for MFCE30. Ind Crops Prod 93:175–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2016.04.042
Agrama A (2019) Spatial distribution mapping for groundwater quality index, East and West Delta, Egypt. In: 2nd International Conference on Inventive Research in Material Science and Technology (ICIRMCT 2019). In AIP Conference Proceedings 2019. AIP Publishing LLC, New Delhi/India, 6–7 March, pp 30017–30030
Ahmed SM, Rawal LB, Chowdhury SA et al (2016) Cross-country analysis of strategies for achieving progress towards global goals for women’s and children’s health. Bull World Health Organ 94:351–361. https://doi.org/10.2471/blt.15.168450
Alary V, Aboul-Naga A, Osman MA et al (2018) Desert land reclamation programs and family land dynamics in the Western Desert of the Nile Delta (Egypt), 1960–2010. World Dev 104:140–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2017.11.017
Allen RC (1997) Agriculture and the origins of the state in Ancient Egypt. Explor Econ Hist 34:135–154. https://doi.org/10.1006/exeh.1997.0673
Alwang J, Sabry S, Shideed K et al (2018) Economic and food security benefits associated with raised-bed wheat production in Egypt. Food Secur 10:589–601
Andersen AD, Steen M, Mäkitie T et al (2020) The role of inter-sectoral dynamics in sustainability transitions: a comment on the transitions research agenda. Environ Innov Soc Transitions 34:348–351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2019.11.009
Armanios DE (2012) Sustainable development as a community of practice: insights from rural water projects in Egypt. Sustain Dev 20:42–57. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.463
Asane-Otoo E (2015) Carbon footprint and emission determinants in Africa. Energy 82:426–435. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2015.01.053
Asfaw A (2007) Micronutrient deficiency and the prevalence of mothers’ overweight/obesity in Egypt. Econ Hum Biol 5:471–483. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2007.03.004
Asseng S, Kheir AMS, Kassie BT et al (2018) Can Egypt become self-sufficient in wheat? Environ Res Lett 13:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aada50
Austin AM, Hill AG, Fawzi WW (2013) Maternal obesity trends in Egypt 1995–2005. Matern Child Nutr 9:167–179. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8709.2011.00346.x
N BadreldinA Abu Hatab CJ Lagerkvist 2019 Spatiotemporal dynamics of urbanization and cropland in the Nile Delta of Egypt using machine learning and satellite big data: implications for sustainable development Environ Monit Assess 191 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7934-x
Bagnied MA, Speece M (2019) Marketing and regional integration for food security in the Arab world. J Macromarketing 39:115–135. https://doi.org/10.1177/0276146719835884
Behera KK, Alam A, Vats S (2011) Organic farming history and techniques. In: Lichtfouse E (ed) Agroecology and strategies for climate change. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 287–238
Bui S, Cardona A, Lamine C, Cerf M (2016) Sustainability transitions: Insights on processes of niche-regime interaction and regime reconfiguration in agri-food systems. J Rural Stud 48:92–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.10.003
CAPMAS (2014) Egypt Education Participation - Egypt Data Portal. In: Egypt Educ Particip. https://egypt.opendataforafrica.org/cwdqny/egypt-education-participation. Accessed 15 Aug 2020
Chemeda A, Abdel-Azim N (2018) Strategies to fight hidden hunger in Ethiopia, Egypt, Sudan and Tunisia. In: 3rd Hidden Hunger Conference. Univ Hohenheim/Stuttgart/Germany, March 20–22, 2017, pp 176–185
M Clark D Tilman 2017 Comparative analysis of environmental impacts of agricultural production systems, agricultural input efficiency, and food choice Environ Res Lett 12https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aa6cd5
Dangour AD, Hawkesworth S, Shankar B et al (2013) Can nutrition be promoted through agriculture-led food price policies? A systematic review. BMJ Open 3:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2013-002937
Deng J, Xiang Y, Hao W, et al (2014) Research on the food security condition and food supply capacity of Egypt. Sci World J 1–10
Dixon M (2014) The land grab, finance capital, and food regime restructuring: the case of Egypt. Rev Afr Polit Econ 41:232–248. https://doi.org/10.1080/03056244.2013.831342
Dixon MW (2015) Biosecurity and the multiplication of crises in the Egyptian agri-food industry. Geoforum 61:90–100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2015.02.016
Dixon MW (2019) The agrarian question revisited: smallholders and corporate food in Egypt. Can J Dev Stud 41:1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/02255189.2019.1697652
Dong C, Yin Q, Lane KJ et al (2018) Competition and transmission evolution of global food trade : a case study of wheat. Physica A 509:990–998. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physa.2018.06.052
Dudley N, Alexander S (2017) Agriculture and biodiversity: a review. Biodiversity 18:45–49. https://doi.org/10.1080/14888386.2017.1351892
Eckhardt CL, Torheim LE, Monterrubio E et al (2008) The overlap of overweight and anaemia among women in three countries undergoing the nutrition transition. Eur J Clin Nutr 62:238–246. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602727
Edris AE, Shalaby A, Fadel HM (2003) Effect of organic agriculture practices on the volatile aroma components of some essential oil plants growing in Egypt II: Sweet Marjoram (Origanum marjorana L.) essential oil. Flavour Fragr J 18:345–351. https://doi.org/10.1002/ffj.1235
Edris AE, Shalaby AS, Fadel HM (2009) Effect of organic agriculture practices on the volatile flavor components of some essential oil plants growing in Egypt: Iii. Thymus vulgaris l. essential oil. J Essent Oil-Bearing Plants 12:319–326. https://doi.org/10.1080/0972060X.2009.10643726
EEAA (2016) Egypt State of The Environment Report. Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, Cairo
EEAA (2020) Laws Conventions - Multilateral Environmental Agreements. In: Minist Environ Aff agency. http://www.eeaa.gov.eg/en-us/laws/conventions.aspx. Accessed 10 Oct 2020
El-Essawy H, Nasr P, Sewilam H (2019) Aquaponics: a sustainable alternative to conventional agriculture in Egypt – a pilot scale investigation. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26:15872–15883. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-04970-0
El-Haddad A (2020) Redefining the social contract in the wake of the Arab Spring: the experiences of Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. World Dev 127:1–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.104774
El-Saadany S, Al-Massry R, El-Sherbeny S et al (2019) Vegetative characters and chemical constituents of cultivated Portulaca oleracea L. treated with organic fertilizer. Biosci Res 16:695–702
El-Zarka M (1999) Management of chemicals in Egypt. The Environmental Quality Sector (EQS) The Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), Cairo
El Bilali H (2019) Research on agro-food sustainability transitions: where are food security and nutrition? Food Secur 11:559–577. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-019-00922-1
El Bilali H (2018) Transition heuristic frameworks in research on agro-food sustainability transitions. Environ Dev Sustain 22:1693–1728. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-018-0290-0
El Bilali H (2019) The multi-level perspective in research on sustainability transitions in agriculture and food systems: a systematic review. Agric 9:1–24. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture9040074
El Gafy I, Grigg N, Reagan W (2017) Dynamic behaviour of the water–food–energy nexus: focus on crop production and consumption. Irrig Drain 66:19–33. https://doi.org/10.1002/ird.2060
El Kharraz J, El-Sadek A, Ghaffour N, Mino E (2012) Water scarcity and drought in WANA countries. Procedia Eng 33:14–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2012.01.1172
El Mekki AA, Ben AM, Boulanger P et al (2015) Euro-Med trade integration in agriculture and food: social accounting matrix analyses. Outlook Agric 44:195–206. https://doi.org/10.5367/oa.2015.0216
Elbaalawy A, Abouhussien E, Hamad M (2019) Chemical properties of compost in relation to calcareous soil properties and its productivity of wheat. Egypt J Soil Sci 59:85–97. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejss.2019.7945.1248
ElMassah S (2018) Industrial symbiosis within eco-industrial parks: sustainable development for Borg El-Arab in Egypt. Bus Strateg Environ 27:884–892. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2039
M ElsayedA Diab M Soliman 2020 Methane production from anaerobic co-digestion of sludge with fruit and vegetable wastes: effect of mixing ratio and inoculum type Biomass Convers Biorefinery 36https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-020-00785-z
Eltarabily MG, Negm AM, Yoshimura C, Takemura J (2018) Groundwater modeling in agricultural watershed under different recharge and discharge scenarios for Quaternary aquifer Eastern Nile Delta. Egypt Environ Model Assess 23:289–308. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10666-017-9577-z
Elzen B, Van Mierlo B, Leeuwis C (2012) Anchoring of innovations: assessing Dutch efforts to harvest energy from glasshouses. Environ Innov Soc Transitions 5:1–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2012.10.006
Emam MSA, Elsayed TR, Hamed LMM (2019) Sweet corn growth performance and Rhizosphere microbial densities in response to mineral and organic amendments. Egypt J Soil Sci 60:43–52. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejss.2019.19528.1324
Erhan Ünal G, Karapinar B, Tanaka T (2018) Welfare-at-risk and extreme dependency of regional wheat yields: implications of a stochastic CGE model. J Agric Econ 69:18–34. https://doi.org/10.1111/1477-9552.12229
Faiyad R, Bador A, El-Mahdy R (2019) Maximizing utilization of some organic fertilizers to produce the highest yield of cowpea. Egypt J Soil Sci 59:53–66. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejss.2019.7215.1238
FAO (2020) Food loss and waste reduction and value chain development for food security in Egypt and Tunisia - Egypt component. In: FAO Egypt. http://www.fao.org/egypt/programmes-and-projects/food-loss-waste-reduction/en/. Accessed 1 Dec 2020
Farag AA, El-Moula MMH, Maze MM, et al (2018) Carbon footprint for wheat and corn under Egyptian conditions. Futur Food J Food, Agric Soc 6:41–54. https://doi.org/10.17170/kobra-2018122070
Farrag M (2022) The effect of Egyptian consumer values & lifestyles on organic food purchase intention: applied on z-generation. EKB J Manag Syst 3–16
Frascari D, Zanaroli G, Motaleb MA et al (2018) Integrated technological and management solutions for wastewater treatment and efficient agricultural reuse in Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. Integr Environ Assess Manag 14:447–462. https://doi.org/10.1002/ieam.4045
Fuenfschilling L, Binz C (2018) Global socio-technical regimes. Res Policy 47:735–749. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2018.02.003
Galli A, Iha K, Halle M et al (2017) Mediterranean countries’ food consumption and sourcing patterns: an ecological footprint viewpoint. Sci Total Environ 578:383–391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.191
Gany F, Ayash C, Raad N et al (2020) Financial and food security challenges of Egyptian women undergoing breast cancer treatment. Support Care Cancer off J Multinatl Assoc Support Care Cancer 28:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-020-05426-9
Gao C, El-Sawah AM, Ismail Ali DF et al (2020) The integration of bio and organic fertilizers improve plant growth, grain yield, quality and metabolism of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.). Agronomy 10:1–27. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10030319
García de Jalón S, Iglesias A, Barnes AP (2016) Drivers of farm-level adaptation to climate change in Africa: an evaluation by a composite index of potential adoption. Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Chang 21:779–798. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-014-9626-8
Geels F, Sovacool BK, Schwanen T, Sorrell S (2017) The socio-technical dynamics of low-carbon transitions. Joule 1:463–479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2017.09.018
Geels FW, Kern F, Fuchs G et al (2016) The enactment of socio-technical transition pathways: a reformulated typology and a comparative multi-level analysis of the German and UK low-carbon electricity transitions (1990–2014). Res Policy 45:896–913. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2016.01.015
Geels FW, Schot J (2007) Typology of sociotechnical transition pathways. Res Policy 36:399–417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2007.01.003
Grin J, Rotmans J, Schot J et al (2010) Transitions to sustainable development: new directions in the study of long term transformative change. Routledge, New York/London, New York/London
Guesmi B, Serra T, Radwan A, Gil JM (2018) Efficiency of Egyptian organic agriculture: a local maximum likelihood approach. Agribusiness 34:441–455. https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.21520
Hammad S, Elzehery T, Ramadan A (2014) Influence of compost effective microorganisms EM and potassium on strawberry production in sandy soils. Acta Hortic 1049:407–414 https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2014.1049.57
Hassan GK, Hemdan BA, El-Gohary FA (2020) Utilization of food waste for bio-hydrogen and bio-methane production: influences of temperature, OLR, and in situ aeration. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 22:1218–1226. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-020-01014-5
Hatab AA, Hess S, Surry Y (2019) EU’s trade standards and the export performance of small and medium-sized agri-food export firms in Egypt. Int Food Agribus Manag Rev 22:689–705 https://doi.org/10.22434/IFAMR2018.0078
E Hendawy AA Belal ES Mohamed et al 2019 The prediction and assessment of the impacts of soil sealing on agricultural land in the North Nile Delta (Egypt) using satellite data and GIS modeling Sustain 11https://doi.org/10.3390/su11174662
Hereher ME (2017) Effect of land use/cover change on land surface temperatures - the Nile Delta. Egypt J African Earth Sci 126:75–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2016.11.027
Hole DG, Perkins AJ, Wilson JD et al (2005) Does organic farming benefit biodiversity? Biol Conserv 122:113–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2004.07.018
Hurtado-Barroso S, Tresserra-Rimbau A, Vallverdú-Queralt A, Lamuela-Raventós RM (2019) Organic food and the impact on human health. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 59:704–714. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2017.1394815
Jaafar H, Mourad R, Daghir N (2019) Dataset used for assessing animal and poultry production water footprint in selected countries of the MENA region. Data Br 27:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2019.104621
Janick J (2000) Ancient Egyptian agriculture and the origins of horticulture. In: International Symposium on Mediterranean Horticulture: Issues and Prospects 582. 19 Oct 2000. Cairo, pp 23–39
Jawaldeh A, Al-Jawaldeh H (2018) Fat intake reduction strategies among children and adults to eliminate obesity and non-communicable diseases in the eastern Mediterranean region. Children 5:89. https://doi.org/10.3390/children5070089
TN Kahsay O Kuik R Brouwer P Zaag Van Der 2017 The economy-wide impacts of climate change and irrigation development in the Nile Basin: a computable general equilibrium approach Clim Chang Econ 8https://doi.org/10.1142/S201000781750004X
Kamel IM, El Bilali H (2020) Dynamics of sustainability transitions in the Egyptian agri-food system: case of organic agriculture. Agrosym: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Kassem HS, Bello ARS, Alotaibi BM et al (2019) Climate change adaptation in the Delta Nile Region of Egypt: implications for agricultural extension. Sustainability 11:1–22. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030685
Kavle JA, Mehanna S, Khan G et al (2018) Program considerations for integration of nutrition and family planning: beliefs around maternal diet and breastfeeding within the context of the nutrition transition in Egypt. Matern Child Nutr 14:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12469
Kavle JA, Mehanna S, Saleh G et al (2015) Exploring why junk foods are “essential” foods and how culturally tailored recommendations improved feeding in Egyptian children. Matern Child Nutr 11:346–370. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12165
Khalaf N (2017) Greening the Egyptian economy with agriculture. In: Middle East Inst. https://www.mei.edu/publications/greening-egyptian-economy-agriculture. Accessed 15 Jun 2020
Khalil MA, Al-Assiuty ANIM, Van Straalen NM, Al-Assiuty BA (2016) Changes in soil oribatid communities associated with conversion from conventional to organic agriculture. Exp Appl Acarol 68:183–196. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-015-9979-z
Kheir AMS, El Baroudy A, Aiad MA et al (2019) Impacts of rising temperature, carbon dioxide concentration and sea level on wheat production in north Nile Delta. Sci Total Environ 651:3161–3173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.209
Khodeir MH, Abdelsalam HM (2016) Simulating corn supply, demand and consumption in Egypt. INFOS: Giza-Egypt, Giza-Egypt
Kick EL, Tiezzi F, Pena DC (2017) Food production or food distribution: the key to global food security? Perspect Glob Dev Technol 16:666–682. https://doi.org/10.1163/15691497-12341455
Köberl M, Müller H, Ramadan EM, Berg G (2011) Desert farming benefits from microbial potential in arid soils and promotes diversity and plant health. PLoS ONE 6:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0024452
Köhler J, Geels F, Kern F, et al (2017) A research agenda for the Sustainability Transitions Research Network. Sustain Consum Institute, Univ Manchester Manchester, UK 1–70
Kopnova E, Rodionova L (2017) Modeling the influence of foreign investments on food security based on panel cointegration models. Bus Informatics 41:20–29 https://doi.org/10.17323/1998-0663.2017.3.20.29
Kourtelis C (2019) (Not) learning from the past? The diffusion of the EU’s rural development policy in its neighbouring countries. J Balk near East Stud 21:234–250. https://doi.org/10.1080/19448953.2017.1367586
Kourtelis C (2018) From neglect to selective engagement: the EU approach to rural development in the Arab Mediterranean after the Arab uprisings. Mediterr Polit 23:23–42. https://doi.org/10.1080/13629395.2017.1358897
Kukreja R, Meredith S (2011) Resource efficiency and organic farming: facing up to the challenge. IFOAM: Brussels, Belgium
Labib H, Hamza M, Abbas M, Fayed S (2019) Bio and organic fertilizers as an alternative to conventional mineral source on sesame Sesamum indicum L production and oil quality in Egypt. Egypt J Agron 41:133–147. https://doi.org/10.21608/agro.2019.11061.1158
Lachman DA (2013) A survey and review of approaches to study transitions. Energy Policy 58:269–276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2013.03.013
Lal R (2008) Sustainable horticulture and resource management. Acta Hortic 767:19–44. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2008.767.1
Lala S, Amri A, Maxted N (2018) Towards the conservation of crop wild relative diversity in North Africa: checklist, prioritisation and inventory. Genet Resour Crop Evol 65:113–124. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-017-0513-5
Leeuwis C, Aarts N (2011) Rethinking communication in innovation processes: creating space for change in complex systems. J Agric Educ Ext 17:21–36. https://doi.org/10.1080/1389224X.2011.536344
Lockeretz W (2007) Organic farming: an international history. CABI, Wallingford
Loorbach D (2010) Transition management for sustainable development: a prescriptive, complexity-based governance framework. Governance 23:161–183. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0491.2009.01471.x
Loorbach D, Rotmans J (2006) Managing transitions for sustainable development. Understanding industrial transformation. Springer, Netherlands, Dordrecht, pp 187–206
Madžarić S, Bitar L Al, Marie RB, Pugliese P (2019) Mediterranean Organic Agriculture Network – Report 2019. CIHEAM-IAMM, Valenzano
Mahfouz EM, Sadek RR, Abdel-Latief WM, et al (2014) The role of dietary and lifestyle factors in the development of colorectal cancer: case control study in Minia, Egypt. Cent Eur J Public Health 22:215–222. https://doi.org/10.21101/cejph.a3919
Mansour AMH (2016) Sustainable youth community development in Egypt. Alexandria Eng J 55:2721–2728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2016.05.019
Mansour HA, Jiandong H, Hongjuan R, et al (2019) Influence of using automatic irrigation system and organic fertilizer treatments on faba bean water productivity. Int J GEOMATE 17:250–259. https://doi.org/10.21660/2019.62.35037
McCarl BA, Musumba M, Smith JB et al (2015) Climate change vulnerability and adaptation strategies in Egypt’s agricultural sector. Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Chang 20:1097–1109. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-013-9520-9
Merwad ARMA (2020) Mitigation of salinity stress effects on growth, yield and nutrient uptake of wheat by application of organic extracts. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 51:1150–1160. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103624.2020.1751188
Messiha NAS, Van Bruggen AHC, Van Diepeningen AD et al (2007) Potato brown rot incidence and severity under different management and amendment regimes in different soil types. Eur J Plant Pathol 119:367–381. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-007-9167-z
Mie A, Andersen HR, Gunnarsson S et al (2017) Human health implications of organic food and organic agriculture: a comprehensive review. Environ Heal A Glob Access Sci Source 16:1–22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-017-0315-4
Mikhail A (2014) Labor and environment in Egypt since 1500. Int Labor Work Hist 85:10–32. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0147547913000446
Mohamed A, Shohba N, Abutaleb S et al (2019) Beneficial effects of bio organic fertilizers as a partial replacement of chemical fertilizers on productivity and fruit quality of Pomegranate trees. Biosci Res 16:695–702
Mohamed ES, Abdellatif MA, Abd-Elmabod SK, Khalil MMN (2020) Estimation of surface runoff using NRCS curve number in some areas in northwest coast, Egypt. In: E3S Web of Conferences. EDP Sciences, France, pp 1–7
ES Mohamed M Abu-hashim MAE AbdelRahman et al 2019b Evaluating the effects of human activity over the last decades on the soil organic carbon pool using satellite imagery and GIS techniques in the Nile Delta area Egypt Sustain 11https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092644
Mohamed MA, Chymis A, Shelaby AA (2012) Determinants of organic food consumption in Egypt. Int J Econ Bus Model 3:183–191
Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J et al (2009) Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. PLoS Med 6:1–6. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097
MoHP, ICF (2015) Egypt health issues survey - Ministry of Health and Population. MoHP ICF: Cairo, Egypt/Rockville, Maryland, USA, Cairo, Egypt and Rockville, Maryland, USA
Mostafa MM (2016) Egyptian consumers’ willingness to pay for carbon-labeled products: a contingent valuation analysis of socio-economic factors. J Clean Prod 135:821–828. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.06.168
Naja F, Nasreddine L, Awada S et al (2019) Nutrition in the Prevention of breast cancer: a Middle Eastern perspective. Front Public Heal 7:1–8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00316
Nasr-Allah A, Gasparatos A, Karanja A et al (2019) Employment generation in the Egyptian aquaculture value chain: implications for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Aquaculture 520:1–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2020.734940
Nasr Ahmed Y, Delin H, Belford C et al (2020) An estimate of the potential economic impacts of climate change on Egypt’s agriculture: a multi-market model approach. Clim Dev 12:1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2020.1754156
Negm MM, Safiullin LN (2018) Time series modeling of wheat production and share the self-sufficient rate in the future, using double exponential smoothing model. Dilemas Contemp Educ Política y Valore 6:1–18
Nin Y, Wang Q, Diao P, Zhang Q (2016) On-farm-produced organic amendments on maintaining and enhancing soil fertility and nitrogen availability in organic or low input agriculture. In: Organic fertilizers: from basic concepts to applied outcomes. InTech, Rijeka, Croatia, p 289
Oelofse M, Høgh-Jensen H, Abreu LS et al (2010) A comparative study of farm nutrient budgets and nutrient flows of certified organic and non-organic farms in China, Brazil and Egypt. Nutr Cycl Agroecosystems 87:455–470. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-010-9351-y
Olanya DR (2017) Land-water-security nexus: changing geopolitics in the Nile basin cooperative framework agreement. Middle East Law Gov 9:71–87. https://doi.org/10.1163/18763375-00901006
Power L (2014) Death on the Nile: Egypt’s burgeoning food and water security crisis. Future Direction International: Nedlands
Pretty J (2008) Agricultural sustainability: concepts, principles and evidence. Philos Trans R Soc B Biol Sci 363:447–465. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2007.2163
Radwan TM, Blackburn GA, Whyatt JD, Atkinson PM (2019) Dramatic loss of agricultural land due to urban expansion threatens food security in the Nile Delta. Egypt Remote Sens 11:1–20. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11030332
Refaat MM, Eldeberky Y (2016) Assessment of coastal inundation due to sea-level rise along the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. Mar Geod 39:290–304. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490419.2016.1189471
Rosenzweig C, Mbow C, Barioni LG et al (2020) Climate change responses benefit from a global food system approach. Nat Food 1:94–97. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-020-0031-z
Rota C, Pugliese P, Elnady M, Zanasi C (2021) Article measuring Egyptian farmers’ attitude towards staying organic. Sustain 13:1–23. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147978
Sanderman J, Hengl T, Fiske GJ (2017) Soil carbon debt of 12,000 years of human land use. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 114:9575–9580. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1706103114
Schilling J, Hertig E, Tramblay Y, Scheffran J (2020) Climate change vulnerability, water resources and social implications in North Africa. Reg Environ Chang 20:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-020-01597-7
Seleiman MF, Abdelaa MS (2018) Effect of organic, inorganic and bio-fertilization on growth, yield and quality traits of some chickpea Cicer arietinum L varieties. Egypt J Agron 40:105–117. https://doi.org/10.21608/agro.2018.2869.1093
Shalaby MY, Al-Zahrani KH, Baig MB et al (2011) Threats and challenges to sustainable agriculture and rural development in Egypt: implications for agricultural extension. J Anim Plant Sci 21:581–588
Siam G, Abdelhakim T (2019) The organic agriculture in Egypt. Valenzano/Bari
Sivaranjani S, Rakshit A (2019) Organic farming in protecting water quality. Organic farming. Springer, Cham, pp 1–9
Skovdal M, Cornis F (2015) Qualitative research for development: a guide for practitioners. Practical Action Publishing, Rugby, UK
Smith A (2007) Translating sustainabilities between green niches and socio-technical regimes. Technol Anal Strateg Manag 19:427–450. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537320701403334
Smith A, Raven R (2012) What is protective space? Reconsidering niches in transitions to sustainability. Res Policy 41:1025–1036. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2011.12.012
Smith JB, McCarl BA, Kirshen P et al (2014) Egypt’s economic vulnerability to climate change. Clim Res 62:59–70. https://doi.org/10.3354/cr01257
Smoleniec L, McManus P, Duncan E (2017) Understanding the dynamics of sustainability transitions: the Home Insulation Program. Aust Geogr 48:497–517. https://doi.org/10.1080/00049182.2017.1345295
Tadesse W, Halila H Jamal M et al (2017) Role of sustainable wheat production to ensure food security in the CWANA region. J Exp Biol Agric Sci 5:15–32 https://doi.org/10.18006/2017.5(spl-1-safsaw).s15.s32
Tanyeri-Abur A, Hag-Elamin N (2011) International investments in agriculture in Arab countries: an overview and implications for policy. Food Secur 3:115–127. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-010-0097-9
United Nations (2002) Organic agriculture and rural poverty alleviation: potential and best practices in Asia. 217
Veninga W, Ihle R (2018) Import vulnerability in the Middle East: effects of the Arab spring on Egyptian wheat trade. Food Secur 10:183–194. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-017-0755-2
Vincenti D (2016) Sustainability transitions in Arab-Islamic countries: Egypt as a case study. Agric Agric Sci Procedia 8:135–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aaspro.2016.02.018
Vos J, van Oel P, Hellegers P et al (2019) Four perspectives on water for global food production and international trade: incommensurable objectives and implications. Environ Sustain 40:30–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2019.07.005
Wahba SM, Scott K, Steinberger JK (2018) Analyzing Egypt’s water footprint based on trade balance and expenditure inequality. J Clean Prod 198:1526–1535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.06.266
Xu Y, Yu L, Zhao Y et al (2017) Monitoring cropland changes along the Nile river in Egypt over past three decades (1984–2015) using remote sensing. Int J Remote Sens 38:4459–4480. https://doi.org/10.1080/01431161.2017.1323285
Young P, Byrne G, Cotterell M (2012) Manufacturing and the environment. Int J Precis Eng Manuf 13:488–493
Zawaya (2020) Egypt’s parliament approves Organic Agriculture Law. https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/legal/story/Egypts_parliament_approves_Organic_Agriculture_Law-SNG_165657119/. Accessed 28 May 2020
Acknowledgements
The authors are indebted to all the participants in the interviews for their time and efforts especially the staff of Heliopolis University, Egyptian National Research Centre (ENRC), Central Laboratory of Organic Agriculture (CLOA), Egyptian Bio-Dynamic Association (EBDA), and Fayoum Agro Organic Development Association (FAODA).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher's note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kamel, I.M., El Bilali, H. Sustainability transition to organic agriculture through the lens of the multi-level perspective: case of Egypt. Org. Agr. 12, 191–212 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-022-00391-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-022-00391-5