Abstract: Sugarcane industry in Egypt goes back to the year 710 AD. Cane plantations are concentrated in the area of Upper Egypt. The total amount of cane cultivated in Upper Egypt is about 16 million tons per year. There are eight sugarcane producing factories in Egypt, most of them located close to the cultivations. The sugarcane industry in Egypt can be currently defined as an open industrial system that consumes material and energy and creates products and wastes. The two main stages of sugarcane production are the agricultural stage and the industrial stage. The agricultural stage involves cane cultivation which involves the use of fertilizers, water and fuel for irrigation, and cane harvesting which results in the production of two main residues which are cane tops and dry leaves. The cane tops are collected and used by the farmers to feed their livestock. The dry leaves, on the other hand, are openly burnt resulting in pollution of the ambient air. The cane is transported from the fields to the mills mainly by the sugarcane train. In the mill, the production process involves the consumption of chemicals, water and fuel to produce a number of by-products in addition to the main two products: raw sugar and molasses. The main residues or by-products are filter mud residing from the juice clarification process, bagasse from the cane squeezing and furnace ash in case the bagasse is burnt in the power house to provide steam and electricity for the mill. The filter mud and furnace ash are used in their raw form as soil additive due to their nutritional value. The bagasse, on the other hand, is either burnt in the mill power house to provide steam and electricity to the mill, or is directed to auxiliary factories to produce paper or fiberboard. The main aspects that have contributed to the research motivation: (1) mismanagement of the considerable amounts of residues generated during sugarcane harvest and its associated negative environmental impacts, (2) lack of tools and data for assessment of waste management alternatives based on environmental criteria rather than economic ones, (3) lack of low cost sustainable waste management options for sugar cane industry to achieve environmental balance. This research aims at assessing the environmental sustainability of the sugar industry in Egypt to achieve an environmentally balanced industry approaching zero waste. This is done by analyzing the current practices of reuse/recycling of by-products/residues generated from the sugarcane industry from its agricultural and industrial stages, as well as propose alternative environmental friendly practices for reuse of residues, such as composting and silage production. To achieve this, the research is divided into stages; identification of main current and potential uses of residues in Egypt, data collection, and data analysis using Life Cycle Analysis approach. Primary data and information was collected through field visits, interviews and questionnaires. The data collected from secondary sources included books, journals, conference papers, governmental reports, international organizations' statistics and websites. Pilot scale experimental composting and silage making was performed on a combination of agricultural and industrial residues of the sugarcane industry including green tops, dry leaves, filter mud, bagasse and furnace ash. Results of the different treatments were analyzed and recommendations on the best combinations were given in terms of the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the produced compost or organic fertilizer. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is used to evaluate the environmental performance of the sugarcane industry in Egypt including its agricultural and industrial stages. It is also used to identify the most environmental friendly options for the reuse of the residues generated from the sugarcane industry. Alternatives uses of bagasse, a cane milling residue, in the generation of steam and electricity, or production of paper, fiberboard or compost is investigated. It is also compared to processes that produce the same product but through other raw material. Recommendations and limitations of each option are presented and discussed.

This study presents opportunities for transformation to low carbon agrifood value chains through scaling up successful climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices. The study draws upon data from 173 Farmer Field Schools (FFS) conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as part of the IFAD-funded ‘Sustainable Agriculture Investments and Livelihoods’ (SAIL) Project, implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (MoALR) in Egypt. The study assesses the potential for increasing farmers’ incomes, decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and improving water-use efficiency (WUE) following the implementation of CSA interventions. It also analyses sustainable value chain production models for selected crops, with the goal of establishing climate-smart value chains that are economically feasible and present financial investment opportunities for small investors.

This volume discusses the sustainability of Egypt’s agriculture and the challenges involved. It provides a comprehensive review and the latest research findings, and covers a variety of topics under the following themes: · Applicability of sustainable agriculture in Egypt · Sustainable agriculture under water scarcity and polluted soil environments · Improved crop productivity using a variety of tried and tested procedures · Biotechnology application for agricultural sustainability and food security · Potentiality of soil-sensing for a more sustainable agricultural environment The volume closes with a summary of the key conclusions and recommendations from all chapters. Together with the companion volume Sustainability of Agricultural Environment in Egypt: Part II, it offers an essential source of information for postgraduate students, researchers, and stakeholders alike.

The main aim of this book is to bridge the gap between aerobic and anaerobic waste treatments by concentrating on studies of earthworms. In particular, vermicomposting is being discussed as well as its properties and applications. Other subjects touch on the treatment of palm oil mill effluents, the various importance of earthworms, its scope and future aspects of earthworm research, and the impact of waste management practices on human health.

This volume discusses the sustainability of Egypt’s agriculture and the challenges involved. It provides a comprehensive review and the latest research findings, and covers a variety of topics under the following themes: · Integrated natural resources management for sustainable production · Integrated biopesticides and biofertilizers for sustainable agriculture · Integrated plant and animal production for a sustainable food supply · Policies for sustainable agriculture in Egypt The volume closes with a summary of the key conclusions and recommendations from all chapters. Together with the companion volume Sustainability of Agricultural Environment in Egypt: Part I, it offers an essential source of information for postgraduate students, researchers, and stakeholders alike.

This unique volume focuses on Egypt’s conventional water resources and the main water consumer: Egypt’s agriculture. It provides an up-to-date overview and the latest research findings, and covers the following main topics: · History of irrigation and irrigation projects · Key features of agriculture, the administrative and legal framework in Egypt · Land resources for agriculture development · Food insecurity due to water shortages and climate change; resulting challenges and opportunities · Assessment of water resources for irrigation and drinking purposes · Impacts of upstream dams, such as the GERD and Tekeze Dam, on Egypt’s water resources and crop yield · Sustainable use of water resources and the future of mega irrigation projects · Quantity and quality of water in Egypt’s water resources bank This book and the companion volume Unconventional Water Resources and Agriculture in Egypt offer invaluable reference guides for postgraduates, researchers, professionals, environmental managers and policymakers interested in water resources and their management worldwide.

This book presents an overview of the key debates that took place during the Economic and Social Council meetings at the 2007 High-level Segment, at which ECOSOC organized its first biennial Development Cooperation Forum. The discussions also revolved around the theme of the second Annual Ministerial Review, "Implementing the internationally agreed goals and commitments in regard to sustainable development."--P. 4 of cover.

The sugarcane crop, one of the most important crops commercially grown in about 115 countries of the world, faces a number of problems, such as low cane productivity, biotic and abiotic stresses, high cost of cultivation, postharvest losses, and low sugar recovery. This volume addresses these issues and provides a comprehensive account of the major advancements in sugarcane research. The book is compilation of recent achievements in sugarcane development and cultivation. It covers a number of improvements made in cane and sugar yield using both conventional and new biotechnological approaches by agricultural scientists and researchers. The comprehensive coverage includes sustainable sugarcane cultivation, development, and management of sugarcane production, covering farming and biotechnology, entomology, pathology, breeding, physiology, biotechnology, agronomy, seed production, and more. It also presents research on modern crop production methods in a comprehensive and easily understood manner. With chapters from expert researchers from internationally renowned institutes (primarily in India), the volume presents the latest information from the literature at the international level to make it usable to many agroecological regions of the world. It will be a valuable resource for agronomists, breeders, plant physiologists, farmers, and students of agricultural sciences.

Der Zuckermarkt ist weltweit - und ganz besonderes angesichts der jüngsten Entwicklungen in Osteuropa und Kuba - von besonderer Bedeutung. Dieses einzigartige Nachschlagewerk bietet umfangreiche Hintergrundinformationen zur Geschichte des Zuckers, zu Anbau und Verbrauch. Ausführlich werden der wachsende Produktionssektor sowie Tendenzen in Weltproduktion, Verbrauch und Handel erläutert und umfangreiches Zahlenmaterial zu Produktion, Export, Vertrieb, Verträgen, Verbrauch, Handel und Preisen zur Verfügung gestellt. Das Buch beleuchtet die Produktionspolitik der weltgrößten Zuckererzeuger, die künftige Entwicklung in Osteuropa und Kuba sowie mögliche Zuckerersatzstoffe, den Zuckerhandelszyklus und Marketingketten und den Zuckerterminmarkt (Futures). (11/97)