Jasmine cultivation as agricultural heritage: Identity and sustainability in rural Egypt

Jasmine cultivation in Shubra Beloula, Egypt, represents a distinctive form of agricultural heritage in which economic production and living cultural traditions intersect. This study employs a qualitative case-study design based on forty semi-structured interviews, focus groups, participant observation, and thematic analysis to examine how jasmine cultivation shapes communal identity and sustainability in a rural context. The analysis identifies seven recurrent themes, including collective identity formation, gendered knowledge transmission, livelihood stability, ecological stewardship, and intergenerational continuity. The results show that jasmine production operates not only as an export-oriented economic activity but also as a locally embedded socio-ecological system that reinforces social cohesion and adaptive resilience. By translating intangible cultural practices into empirically grounded sustainability dimensions, the study contributes a development-relevant framework for assessing agricultural heritage as a driver of inclusive rural sustainability. These insights extend current debates on biocultural heritage by demonstrating how identity-based agricultural systems can function as governance mechanisms supporting long-term rural development.