Under the auspices of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, the Faculty of Agriculture signed a cooperation protocol with the Central Laboratory for Analysis of Pesticide Residues and Heavy Metals in Food (QCAp) at the Agricultural Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture. The protocol was signed by Prof. Walaa Abdel Ghani El Sayed, Dean of the Faculty, and Dr. Hind Abdellah Mahmoud, Director of the Laboratory, in the presence of Prof. Mohamed Ibrahim Abdel Majeed, Professor of Pesticide Chemistry and the spiritual father of pesticide residue analysis in food in Egypt, Prof. Mahmoud Abdel Samee, Head of the Plant Protection Department at the Faculty, Prof. Sayed Dahroug, Professor of Pesticide Chemistry and Member of the Pesticides Committee, and the directors and officials of the laboratories at the Agricultural Research Center.

The protocol comes within the framework of Ain Shams University’s keenness to enhance cooperation between the university and research institutions and open new horizons of cooperation with national, regional and international bodies in various fields of scientific research, education and community service, and to achieve the goals of sustainable development and Egypt’s Vision 2030. The Faculty of Agriculture is keen to provide distinguished students and more distinguished graduates capable of facing the challenges of the labor market and keeping pace with its developments. It is keen to provide integrated, distinguished and comprehensive training services to develop the skills of its students in various fields, especially with prestigious research institutions. This was followed by cooperation with the Central Laboratory for the Analysis of Pesticide Residues and Heavy Elements at the Agricultural Research Center, which is the reference laboratory of the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and has the authority to monitor pollutants in food exports and imports and issue internationally accredited and recognized analysis certificates.

For his part, Prof. Mohamed Ibrahim Abdel-Majeed, the spiritual father of pesticide residue analysis in food in Egypt, expressed his happiness with this cooperation and his absolute belief in the importance of exchanging ideas and knowledge in a rapidly changing world. He added that such cooperation already exists on the ground and that it is necessary to develop mechanisms and short- and long-term strategic plans, and that there will be further cooperation in the future.

Prof. Walaa Abdel-Ghani El-Sayed, Dean of the Faculty, stressed the importance of strengthening ties between the Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, the Pesticides Committee, and the Ministry of Agriculture laboratories in all areas of agricultural affairs. He pointed out that the Faculty is constantly striving to exchange experiences and improve the quality of education to prepare innovative programs that benefit students in terms of application and practical experience, and to provide the latest laboratories, modern high-tech devices, and research systems to the Faculty students. He also stressed the importance of the human element in the Ministry of Agriculture laboratories, which is invaluable in transferring expertise and the efficiency of international bodies. Such cooperation instills a spirit of hope in students when they find the required care in terms of providing the latest scientific systems, modern devices, and research centers of scientific stature.

He pointed out the faculty’s efforts to continuously develop and create academic programmes that keep pace with the changes and acceleration of the labor market, such as the Food Safety Program.

For her part, Dr. Hind Abdellah Mahmoud, Director of the Laboratory, expressed her great happiness at signing such agreements between the Laboratory and the Faculty of Agriculture, at Ain Shams University. She emphasized that cooperation has existed before and will continue, and that there will be more areas of cooperation with the Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University. She emphasized the provision of all modern equipment and advanced laboratories to serve the students and researchers of the Faculty.