Exploring Food Security in Egypt, UNU Yogyakarta Joins Indonesia–MENA Expert Exchange 2025

Cairo, Egypt — The delegation from Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja) once again took part in the “Indonesia–Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Expert Exchange 2025” program organized by Danone Indonesia. Following their visit to Türkiye in early September 2025, this time the university’s academic representatives traveled to Egypt to deepen their understanding of livestock, nutrition, and food security.

The week-long program, held from 21–27 September 2025, included visits to the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Cairo, Egyptian Food Bank (EFB), Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Danone Egypt Dairy Farm, medium-scale dairy farms, and Al-Watania Feed Company.

The delegation also had the honor of meeting Egypt’s Minister of Religious Endowments (Awqaf), Prof. Osama Azhari, and Deputy Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Mohammed Abdel Rahman Ad Duweiny.

The delegation was led by UNU Jogja Rector Dr. Widya Priyahita Pudjibudojo, accompanied by Director of Sharia Finance and Digital Economy (SHAFIEC), Maria Fauzi, and Agricultural Product Technology Lecturer Andra Tersiana. Also joining the visit were the Chairman of PBNU KH. Ulil Abshar Abdalla, Director of Livestock Breeding and Production, Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Harry Suhada, Member of the Expert Council on Nutrition, National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Prof. Ikeu Tanzia, Professor of Public Health, University of Indonesia, Prof. Ahmad Syafiq, as well as Head of Public Affairs & Sustainability Danone Indonesia, Ratih Anggraeni, and Public Affairs & Sustainability Senior Manager, Firman Kusuma.

“Alhamdulillah, we were warmly welcomed by the Indonesian Ambassador to Egypt and his team. We also had the privilege of holding a productive meeting with Egypt’s Minister of Religious Endowments,” said Rector Widya.

She emphasized that this program not only benefits UNU Jogja’s academic community in strengthening their expertise in agriculture, food, and green industry, but also opens opportunities for broader cooperation.

“Through this visit, we also discussed potential collaborations in philanthropy, Islamic and future studies, Muslim talent development, and other relevant areas,” she added.

During the visit, the delegation explored various aspects of Egypt’s food and agriculture ecosystem — from EFB’s high-quality food products developed in collaboration with local farmers, to ARC’s specialized research programs, and nutrient-rich feed production technologies implemented at Danone Egypt Dairy Farm in Nubareya.

“For Danone Indonesia, the agricultural and dairy sectors, as well as nutrition and food security, are key focuses in realizing Indonesia’s Golden Generation 2045.

Through the Indonesia–MENA Expert Exchange 2025 in Egypt, we aim to strengthen our commitment to sustainable dairy farming and high-quality milk production, which will enhance productivity and income for small to medium-scale farmers across Indonesia.

By engaging with institutions and conducting field visits, we hope to recommend best practices and innovations from Egypt to the Indonesian government, ensuring food availability, accessibility, and stability, while improving nutrition for future generations,” said a Danone Indonesia representative.

Indonesian Ambassador to Egypt Lutfi Rauf expressed his appreciation for the program that brings together key stakeholders in agriculture.

“Egypt was the first country to recognize Indonesia’s independence. There are great opportunities for Indonesia–Egypt collaboration in strategic fields such as economy, education, and defense,” he remarked.

Maria Fauzi, who also serves as Program Manager of the Indonesia–MENA Expert Exchange 2025, noted that the visit will be followed up by several initiatives, including research partnerships with the Agricultural Research Center and El Watania, one of the largest feed companies in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Furthermore, PBNU, UNU Jogja, and Egypt’s Ministry of Religious Endowments agreed to form a joint task force to design programs for youth engagement in addressing Islamic and future-oriented issues. Meanwhile, discussions with Al-Azhar University opened up possibilities for student exchange programs.

“The participation of representatives from BGN, the Ministry of Agriculture, and Danone also paves the way for further domestic collaborations, in which UNU Jogja will play an active role in their upcoming strategic programs,” Maria added. [Arif]