SRTA City Wins First Place in the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects with “TERRAGUT”
Prof. Dr. Mohamed Rashad Abdel Fattah, Acting Director of the Scientific Research and Technological Applications City (SRTA City), announced that a research team from the City had won first place and qualified for the national-level final round in the “Women’s Projects and Climate Change” category of the fourth edition of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects, affiliated with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development.
The announcement was made during a ceremony held at the Alexandria Opera House, hosted by Alexandria Governorate, to showcase the winning and shortlisted projects and honor the winners from three governorates: Alexandria, Beheira, and Matrouh. The award-winning project, titled “TERRAGUT,” stood out in a highly competitive field of 626 projects submitted in Alexandria Governorate. Of these, 72 projects were selected for presentation to the evaluation committee, and 16 projects were ultimately declared winners. The event took place on Sunday, October 18, 2026.
Scientific and Applied Outcomes of the Project
Regarding the scientific and practical outcomes of the research undertaken by the participating team from SRTA City, the team comprised:
Dr. Hager Saeed Abdel Rabbo, Assistant Research Professor, Food Technology Department.
Dr. Mai El-Sayed Khadr, Researcher, Land and Water Technologies Department.
Dr. Sami Zaki Mohamed, Researcher, Land and Water Technologies Department, Institute of Arid Lands Cultivation Research.
Dr. Moataz Hassan Khalil, Researcher, Computer Engineering Applications Department, Informatics Institute.
Eng. Amir Ahmed Ibrahim, Engineer, Soil and Water Sciences Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University.
The “TERRAGUT” project offers an integrated circular economy system designed to improve the productivity of calcareous soils and reduce the use of mineral fertilizers by up to 70%. It relies on natural organic compounds derived from agricultural and food waste. The system was tested at SRTA City’s experimental farm over two consecutive years.
The project aims to produce crops with high nutritional and economic value and manufacture premium-quality food products. It also incorporates an intelligent system for managing and optimizing water consumption and soil nutrients through comprehensive sensor devices. Feasibility studies have been conducted for all project components.
SRTA City’s Commitment to Sustainable Development and Green Transformation
In this context, Prof. Dr. Mohamed Rashad Abdel Fattah expressed his great pride and appreciation for this achievement, emphasizing that the award reflects the City’s ongoing efforts to harness applied scientific research in support of Egypt’s sustainable development plans and green transformation.
He also explained that the project represents an integrated agricultural and industrial model of the circular economy, relying on innovation to reclaim calcareous soils and optimize the use of water and fertilizers on a broad scale. He stressed the City’s commitment to providing all forms of support to its scientists and researchers to transform outstanding research outcomes into practical solutions that help address climate change and strengthen the national economy.
High-Level Attendance
The event was attended by Eng. Ayman Attia, Governor of Alexandria; Dr. Jacqueline Azar, Governor of Beheira; and Major General Dr. Mohamed El-Zamlout, Governor of Matrouh.
Other attendees included Dr. Amira Heikal, Deputy Governor of Alexandria; Dr. Mahmoud Eissa, Assistant Secretary-General of the Governorate; a distinguished group of executive officials and deputy governors; representatives of the Ministries of Environment and Communications; members of the House of Representatives and the Senate; prominent university deans and professors; representatives of chambers of commerce; business leaders; and representatives of civil society organizations.
Empowering Women and Promoting the Green Economy
It is worth noting that the TERRAGUT project is fully applicable and can benefit both men and women in the fields of sustainable agriculture and food processing. This enhances the comprehensive concept of economic and social empowerment and supports the inclusion of women and all segments of society in addressing the impacts of climate change and implementing green economy solutions.