Cairo, Egypt – June 16, 2025 – RDNA, in partnership with True Price and the Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP), is proud to announce the release of a new report titled The True Cost of Beef in Egypt: Exploring True Pricing from Farm to Fork. This report presents a baseline assessment of the environmental and animal welfare costs of beef production, both globally and within the context of Egypt.
Key Findings:
The external environmental cost of producing 1 kilogram of beef ranges from €17 to €50 (E£560 to E£1,600), which often exceeds the market price by several times.
Beef produced on reclaimed desert land in Egypt demonstrates significantly lower land-use impacts, though further research is needed to understand the potential trade-offs related to water use.
In terms of animal welfare, organic practices that provide 30 square meters of open space per animal result in very low animal welfare costs (€0.001 per kilogram), establishing a promising model for more ethical production.
Why This Matters:
As Egypt’s population continues to grow, the demand for animal protein is expected to increase. This report highlights the importance of integrating environmental and ethical considerations into food systems. It seeks to inform stakeholders throughout the value chain, support more sustainable farming practices, guide policy development, and empower consumers to make more informed choices.
Next Steps:
This report invites broader collaboration to enhance the sustainability and resilience of Egypt’s agricultural sector. In December 2024, a True Cost Accounting roundtable was held in Cairo, bringing together key stakeholders including research institutions such as Heliopolis University and IFPRI, international organizations like FAO, and local public and private actors such as SEKEM Group and RDNA.
The report is being launched during the Green Growth Summit, an event convened by Hivos and implemented by New Silk Roads. In the afternoon session titled “Exploring the True Price of Beef (and More)”, co-hosted by RDNA and True Price, participants will explore how True Cost Accounting can be expanded in Egypt to support the development of more sustainable and equitable food systems.
For questions about this project & how to get involved, reach out to estefania@trueprice.org
Download the report The True Cost of Beef in Egypt: Exploring True Pricing from Farm to Fork.
Foto credit: Sekem Farms
