Desert Development Demonstration and Training Project

In September 1978, the International Workshop on Applications of Science and Technology for Desert Development convened in Cairo under the auspices of The American University in Cairo (AUC). In its final session, the participants unanimously adopted a proposal for the establishment of a Desert Development Demonstration and Training Project (DDDC) at AUC and urged support of this project by the governments of Egypt and of the US as well as that of various national and international institutions. The Desert Development Demonstration and Training Project was elevated in 1985 to the level of an independent unit within the University and renamed the Desert Development Center.

Fundamental to the DDC's integrated approach is the philosophy of:

• Treating the desert as a desert. This means no silt, clay or manure from other areas is added. DDC also stipulates that desert research and development programs should be technologically feasible, economically viable, socially acceptable, and achieve environmental sustainability.
• The financial sponsors and donors for the DDC research journey from 1983 to 2011 were: the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), N.A.R.B Foundation,  Ford Foundation, Alexandria University, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture.

The DDC has two research stations:

1. South Tahrir Research Station – Total area 575 feddans
2. Sadat City Research Station – Total area 25 feddans