Enhancement of Sustainability, Inclusiveness, and Value-Adding Capabilities of the Cotton Value Chain through Collaborative Sustainability-Based Innovation between Italy and Egypt

This chapter examines the critical transformation needed in Egypt’s cotton-textile-garment (CTG) value chain to transition from a commodity-based economy to one driven by value addition, sustainability, and competitiveness. Despite its historical reputation for producing extra-long staple (ELS) cotton of exceptional quality, Egypt has experienced a significant decline in both cotton production and industrial processing due to outdated infrastructure, weak integration between agricultural and industrial sectors, and inadequate human capital development. Drawing on best practices from national and international case studies, including the Cottonforlife initiative, this study proposes an integrated model for revitalizing the Egyptian cotton sector. The proposed framework integrates sustainable farming methods, including organic cultivation and integrated pest management, with technical enhancements, resource-efficient production, and institutional strengthening. Special emphasis is placed on enabling local value addition through spinning, dyeing, and finishing activities, as well as equipping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), start-ups, and vocational institutions with the capacity to meet global market standards. The chapter also explores strategies for enhancing quality assurance, traceability, and compliance with international standards, while fostering public-private partnerships and industrial clustering to improve productivity and innovation. By integrating environmental, economic, and social dimensions, this model aims to reposition Egyptian cotton as a premium product in domestic and global markets. The study concludes that sustainable transformation of the CTG value chain requires coordinated investments in technology, skills development, market access, and policy reform.