Egypt turns to food waste to feed livestock in ambitious recycling push

EGYPT – Egypt is embarking on a bold plan to recycle 65 million tonnes of food and agricultural waste annually into animal feed, in a move designed to cut its heavy reliance on imported feedstuff and stabilise domestic feed prices.

The initiative was unveiled by Dr. Mohsen Shukry, Rapporteur of the Animal Resources Research Council at the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, during a recent industry event. 

He emphasised the vast potential of using agricultural residues and food factory waste to support the country’s livestock, poultry, and aquaculture sectors.

Currently, Egypt produces around 50 million tonnes of agricultural waste and an additional 15 million tonnes from food factories each year. 

Officials believe that repurposing even a portion of this into feed could significantly reduce the country’s dependence on imported soybeans and corn, which make up about 90% of its current feedstuff.

The recycling plan is closely aligned with Egypt’s Vision 2030, a national development strategy designed to enhance self-sufficiency and economic resilience. 

As part of this plan, authorities are exploring ways to collect unsold fruits and vegetables from retailers for conversion into animal feed. 

While the concept has been welcomed, Dr. Mohamed El Shafei of the Chamber of Food Industries cautioned that actual processing capabilities remain limited and will require further investment.

Complementing the recycling drive, the Egyptian government also plans to simplify the registration process for new feed products. These regulatory changes, expected to be implemented by the end of 2024, could pave the way for a wider array of feed ingredients to be produced and used locally.

Meanwhile, efforts are underway to revive domestic soybean cultivation, which has declined significantly over the past four decades, from 62,000 hectares in 1983 to just 14,000 hectares in 2021. 

Officials are now targeting an expansion to 500,000 acres, along with improved yields, as part of the push to boost local feed production.

These moves come amid growing concern over the impact of global supply chain disruptions on feed prices. Drought in Brazil, a major exporter of soybeans to Egypt, has contributed to volatility in global markets. 

In response, Egypt is also increasing its use of alternative oilseed meals, particularly sunflower meal, in animal feed formulations.

According to the Foreign Agricultural Service in Cairo (FAS/Cairo), soybean imports are expected to rise by 5% in the 2025/26 marketing year, buoyed by foreign exchange availability and stronger livestock demand. 

U.S. soybeans currently dominate the Egyptian market, accounting for nearly 70% of imports over the past five years.

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