Egypt emerges as a new strategic hub for blueberry production
In recent years, Egypt has moved from being a largely unexplored territory for blueberry cultivation to becoming one of the most closely watched emerging origins for international investors and operators. Water availability, favourable climatic conditions and a strategic location between key markets have all helped put the country firmly on the sector's radar. However, behind this early-stage growth lies a decisive factor that is making the difference: a technically driven approach that has been built into projects from the very beginning.
"About 3 or 4 years ago, the first blueberry planting trials started in Egypt, and from the outset they showed that the crop could perform well in several areas of the country," explains Juan Luis Jiménez, CEO of Originalius. "We have supported that development from day one, providing specific substrates, know-how and technical guidance to the pioneers who decided to invest in blueberries, ensuring that growth was built on solid foundations."
Egypt, a new strategic pole for blueberries
Interest in Egypt is no coincidence. In a global context marked by the expansion of blueberry production in the Southern Hemisphere, with Peru as the leading example, the sector is actively seeking robust alternatives in the Northern Hemisphere to maintain Southern Hemisphere volumes and ensure continuity of supply.
"Egypt has the potential to become a very interesting Northern Hemisphere alternative, helping to create a more consistent production flow between hemispheres," Jiménez confirms. "Today, we can already say that blueberries can be produced in Egypt with very good quality. In fact, we expect a strong influx of technology and investment in the coming years, which will allow the technical level of farms to rise very quickly."
One of the aspects most emphasised by Originalius is Egypt's ability to avoid common mistakes seen in the early stages of agricultural expansion. "Unlike other emerging regions, Egypt is not starting from scratch. There is already a solid base of know-how in place, which significantly accelerates the learning curve and ensures that the right technical decisions are being made from the outset."
"In this context, Originalius is not just supplying substrates; we are actively involved in the agronomic design of projects," Jiménez adds. "Our previous experience in warm and desert environments such as Peru and Morocco, where we have been working for more than 20–25 years, has allowed us to quickly adapt substrate blends to Egypt's specific conditions, ensuring successful outcomes for our customers' productions."