Goals
SDG 15: Life on land
Human life relies heavily on terrestrial ecosystems for livelihood and sustenance. Plant life on land provides 80% of human food, and agriculture is a critical economic resource and one of the most important means of development. Additionally, these ecosystems are vital sources of clean air and water and play a crucial role in combating climate change. Consequently, the university actively engages in enhancing its self-sustaining resources, optimizing the use of natural resources, infrastructure, and research projects across all fields to increase production, particularly in various biologically diverse ecosystems, including both plant and animal life.
Benha University's Faculty of Agriculture in Moshtohor plays a leading role in this area, being one of the oldest agricultural faculties in Egypt and serving a large sector within Qalyubia Governorate and neighboring provinces. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, with its excellent scientific reputation both locally and internationally in various veterinary sciences, also significantly contributes to these efforts.
The Faculty of Agriculture is distinguished by its Agricultural Experiment and Research Center, which includes various farms (such as fruit nurseries, ornamental plant nurseries and greenhouses for scientific research, a citrus garden, and crop and horticultural farms containing many plant assets, including fruit, vegetables, ornamental plants, and numerous medicinal and aromatic plants). These facilities span approximately 143 acres, in addition to a livestock and poultry production farm. The university also hosts the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the Experimental Animal Center.
Moreover, the university places equal importance on promoting safe organic farming, which relies on biological systems, ensuring the quality and safety of these ecosystems, and supporting various productive activities related to land ecosystems. The university also emphasizes water conservation policies, evaluating water quality to protect ecosystems, and promoting human health and well-being. These efforts include reducing plastic consumption, ensuring safe waste disposal, and recycling while adopting sustainability practices as a tool to achieve sustainable development goals.
This is achieved through:
- Conducting numerous research studies on the development and optimal use of natural resources, biological systems, and life on land.
- Implementing the "Maximizing the Benefits of Wild Vegetables in Mediterranean Basin Countries" project at the Faculty of Agriculture in Moshtohor.
- Developing manual tools for sustainable irrigation management in Euro-Mediterranean crop fields at the Faculty of Agriculture in Moshtohor.
- Conducting the "Molecular Diagnosis of Bovine Leukosis Prevalence in Qalyubia Governorate" project aimed at protecting livestock from the disease at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Moshtohor.
- Developing intensive fish farming management to increase fish production per unit area at the Faculty of Agriculture in Moshtohor.
- Producing pervious concrete as a novel paving solution that allows rainwater harvesting, which can prevent traffic disruptions in certain areas.
- Establishing advisory centers and entities within the university.
- The Fish Farming Project at the Faculty of Agriculture in Moshtohor.
- Developing organic greenhouses at the Faculty of Agriculture in Moshtohor.
- Operating a feed factory at the Faculty of Agriculture in Moshtohor.
- Operating the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Moshtohor.
- Offering specialized credit-hour programs related to biological systems and life on land within the university.
- Establishing a Center of Excellence for Environmental Pollutant Monitoring in food and water at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Moshtohor.
- Launching "Enactus Benha," the first student initiative at the university for plastic waste recycling.
- Participating in the National Committee for Sustainable Development and Governance (with Benha University as an executive member).
- Benha University labs.
- Conducting agricultural and veterinary convoys at Benha University.
- Participating in national projects for desert land reclamation and land survey and classification studies.