Harvesting hope: An interactive, audiovisual exhibition on communities, tradition and climate change in the Middle East and Africa

For millennia, farming, pastoralist, and fishing communities have formed the backbone of food systems, economies and cultures. They are crucial to global food security but are most vulnerable to environmental change.

In 2023, Jonathan Rashad travelled through Egypt, Kenya, the UAE and Morocco to spotlight the impact of climate change on these communities.

Drawing on the work of the Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab and the Jameel Observatory for Food Security Early Action, his journey revealed regional food and water challenges and the importance of merging traditional practices with science for environmental adaptation.

This exhibition interweaves the voices and visuals of these communities, offering a vibrant tableau from the Nile Delta's olive fields to the arid lands of the Great Rift Valley. It captures stories of adversity, resilience and hope as communities grapple with rising sea levels, droughts and temperature extremes.

While science and technology are crucial for tackling food insecurity, this exhibit asks us to also consider the intrinsic value of preserving traditional knowledge. Co-produced by Community Jameel, it emphasises the need for diverse solutions to ensure a food-secure future.

The free exhibition is held at Cinema Radio in Downtown Cairo and forms part of Art D'Égypte's Cairo International Art District, an annual art event showcasing diverse exhibitions by contemporary Egyptian artists across locations in historic Downtown.