Actions to restore and return degraded lands in the Mediterranean region into productive agroecosystems.

Field Crops Research Institute (FCRI):
FCRI includes 17 research departments covering the breeding and agronomy of cereals, legumes, forages, fibers, oil crops and onion. The Institute employs more than 1500 staff in research, administration, extension and training activities. The headquarters of FCRI are located in Giza, along with some field and laboratory facilities for interdisciplinary breeding and agronomy activities. Additional facilities are provided in more than 23 nationwide agricultural research stations. Field experiments and verification trials are conducted on farmers' fields across the country.

Mission Statement of the Institute

The main target (mission) of FCRI for future plans focuses on sustainable increase in crop production through the development of economically and socially feasible and viable affordable technologies. Priorities are to produce high-yielding cultivars that efficiently maximize the use of inputs mainly fertilizer and water and to intensify cropping systems and extending cultivation to yet undeveloped desert soils. Consequently, collective multidisciplinary research programs are planned to realize both higher rates of crop intensification and in the meantime increasing yield for each field crop.

Specific Goals of the Institute

• Develop, release and maintain high-yielding cultivars and/or hybrids of various field crops that are tolerant/resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses.
• Secure enough foundation seed of the recommended cultivars for large scale seed production
• Define and test cultural practices that maximize yields of the released cultivars.
• Explore various means of crop intensification and extend activities to newly reclaimed and rainfed areas.
• Adopt extension and training programs that help in transferring new technologies to farmers' fields across the country.
• Conduct collaborative research with other ARC institutes to eliminate major production constrains, e.g., stresses caused by insects, diseases, weeds, drought, heat and salinity.

Looking to join a consortium as a partner.

Quinoa, Cassava, tobacco for biofuel, Intercropping, crop sequence, crop rotation, multiple cropping, Agronomy, Field Crops, biodiversity, agroforestry, Climate-smart Agriculture Practices (Climate change adaptation, mitigation and resilience), food security, arid environment, drought tolerant, saline tolerant.
Residue management, composting, water management, water productivity.