Organizing a scientific symposium between NARSS and the University of Petra Malaysia on agricultural awareness

The National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Science, in cooperation with the University of Petra, Malaysia, organized a joint scientific symposium entitled Agricultural Awareness: From Malaysia to Egypt 2023.

The symposium was attended by Dr. Islam Abu Al-Magd, Chairman of the Authority, and Dr. Zachary Benaziz, Head of the Crop Science Department, on behalf of the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forest Sciences of UPMKB University, with the participation of 120 researchers, students and representatives of several relevant actors from both sides.

This was done within the framework of the implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed in December 2021, under the auspices of Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

The scientific symposium was held in coordination with the Agricultural Applications Department of the Authority and the Crop Sciences Department of the Faculty of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (UPMKB) of the University of Petra Malaysia. The aim of the symposium was to exchange ideas among young researchers in various agricultural fields, and scientific achievements in agricultural areas were identified between the two sides.

In a statement, Dr. Islam Abu Al-Magd, Chairman of the National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Science, referred to the importance of joint cooperation between the Authority and the University of Petra Malaysia, stressing the need to strengthen cooperation in relevant research projects. Joint interest between the two sides, reflecting the Authority's endeavour to increase cooperation, particularly in areas related to food security.

The symposium's activities included several outstanding lectures from both sides, the first lecture by Dr. Hanisha Kamel Abd Al-Razzaq of the crop science department of UPMKB reviewed some of the biotechnologies used to promote soil fertility and increase agricultural production and provided examples of biostimulants.

Dr. Said's second lecture presented the role of remote sensing in the Department of Agricultural Operations, reviewing some research in this area. The third lecture was given to Aisha Prathiwe Sujien, and a Ph.D. student from UPMKB University included a presentation of some agricultural regulations and techniques, beginning with rice and oil palm cultivation in Malaysia.

The fourth lecture by engineer Mohamed Imam of the Soil Section of the Authority's Agricultural Applications Division also provided a model on the determination of the extent of management based on remote sensing of the potato crop using European satellite images (Sentinel 2), how to recover and map certain soil characteristics and integrate multi-source remote sensing data.

At the conclusion of the scientific symposium, Dr. Zachary Benaziz expressed his pleasure at the scientific outreach and exchange with the National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Science. He stressed the importance of continuing cooperation between the two sides in the coming years. Such cooperation would not only involve the exchange of knowledge among students, but would also focus on research, teaching, the exchange of knowledge and cooperation on all scientific issues to ensure enhanced food security and the development of the agricultural sector between the two sides.