SEKEM‘s Journal for Culture, Economy, Society and Ecology in Egypt

InsightNr. 122 - November 2012

SEKEM Insight | November 2012 | Page 1

Dear Readers,

when SEKEM began to reshape the agricultural sector in Egypt in 1977, it was the only company that produced Demeter products on the barren desert floor. That should not remain so. In 1994, SEKEM’s Egyptian Biodynamic Association (EBDA) was founded. To this day its job is to familiarise farmers across the country with the Demeter principles.

However, many innovative ideas are off to a difficult start. In Egypt back in 1977 environmentally friendly farming was virtually unknown. It took years of suc-cessful demonstration to convince other farmers of the value of the biodynamic approach. Since then the success of the EBDA has been tangible. We will introduce the organisation in this issue with a brief introduction and in prepara-tion for additional in-depth arti-cles on the biodynamic topic.

Although the coexistence of con-ventional and biodynamic culti-vation in Egypt today is a difficult thing (e.g. pesticides seeping across farm borders) SEKEM is convinced that it remains the right way. The rising number of farms in conversion speaks for itself.

“ This farm is a model of biodynamic agriculture in the region Nuweiba. I

hope that Mr. Maged will be successful in the cultivation of vegetables, fruits and other products that are sold on the local market in the south of the Sinai peninsula. God willing, his neighbors, relatives and friends will then also join in”, Attia Mohamed Sobhy, manager of the Egyptian Biodynamic Association (EBDA) is rightly proud. He looks with great expectations to the future of the

Habiba farm of Maged El Said in the Nuweiba region, better known as a seaside resort in the south of the Sinai.

Maged El Said moved to the remote place from Cairo with his family more than 20 years ago and meanwhile has built himself a small tourist business. Earlier this year, he began approach-ing the EBDA, founded in 1994 with the aim to support biodynamic farming in Egypt. He is now expanding to grow

Editorial

Your Team of Editors

Success of Biodynamic Agriculture in Egypt Continues

For many years, the EBDA, SEKEM‘s body for the promotion of biodynamic agriculture in Egypt, has worked to spread a new approach to sustainable agriculture. It remains successful to this day and there are more and more farms switching to innovative biodynamic farming.

Demeter in EgyptEBDA Continues Success

Partner PortraitThe GLS Bank and SEKEM

Date SeasonHarvest at SEKEM in Full Swing

Find SEKEM also on the Internet at:

The success of biodynamic farming in Egypt even on practically barren ground speaks for itself.

SEKEM Insight | November 2012 | Page 2

his first tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, and other vegetables. Date palms and olive trees had already been planted on the 10 feddans of ground.

This ground is mostly barren desert floor and despite hard work brings only small returns. But things change as soon as Demeter preparations are applied and compost is used to build the fertile surface structure of the soil early in the year. Additional compost is spread onto the fields again in winter while many rocks that form part of the particular landscape of the Sinai are removed. Throughout this procedure it becomes very clear: Demeter-based farming does not only aim to increase harvests of healthy food in the first place. First and foremost, it considers agriculture to be a service to man and earth, thus naturally including exten-sive care for the soil and a keen ded-ication to the sustained development of its quality.

This fundamental conception together with concrete “best prac-tice” is conveyed in the EBDA training courses available to Demeter farmers in the country and those who intend to begin conversion. Attia Sobhy closely accompanies the farmers, especially during the transition period, dur-ing which biodynamic methods are employed but the harvest is not yet Demeter-certified. He has many con-versations with farmers considering to switch, and this year issued mem-bership certificates to five new farms including the Heba farm, the Ahmed Galal and Soundous farms (all about 10 feddans), the Sara Nour farm (50 feddans), and a large farm in the Sinai with an area of 700 feddans. All are still in transition. But with close super-vision by the EBDA all are confident that they made the right decision: „We want healthy food. Our goal is to pro-vide the environment of Nuweiba with fresh biodynamic fruit and vegeta-bles,“ says Maged El Said, summariz-ing his outlook and at the same time describing his motivation for working for agricultural change in Egypt.

Christina Anlauf

Economy

„ People called us insane back in those days“, says Gerhard

Waterstradt with a smile as he recalls the beginnings of the cooperation between SEKEM and the GLS Bank. To establish biodynamic agriculture in Egypt was the stated goal of Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish’s venture. Right in the middle of the dry desert he wanted to show the people on the ground how they could secure their own food sup-ply and ultimately increase the qual-ity of their livelihoods and lives. The realisation of this goal he dedicated himself to, began to create an infra-structure, started to experiment with irrigation models, drilled the hard ground to obtain water for the crops, and sought to find a solution to the challenge of finding a reliable energy supply for this venture.

Later, in his single-minded and stub-born way, Dr. Abouleish also con-vinced the CEO of GLS Bank. „We

funded the first 40 speckled cows for the farm! It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship and cooperation”, Waterstradt says.

Shared Values

The foundation of this close part-nership is rooted in shared values: founded in 1974 in Bochum, GLS Bank is the first universal bank in the world that directly links social-ecological responsibility with professional bank-ing. The institution employs money to sustainably shape society and the development of natural resources . The focus of its work is focused on people and their needs. Thus, she spe-cifically invests in the maintenance and development of natural resources. Economic gain is considered to be an important part of its work, but not a primary goal. In September 2012, the GLS Bank had 26,000 members and

Reshaping Society TogetherFor many years the GLS Bank and SEKEM have successfully worked together. From the beginning, it was the ideal of the founders of the two companies to reshape society, and not only economic activity, that inspired the collaboration.

Thomas Jorberg, CEO of GLS Bank (left), Helmy Abouleish, CEO of SEKEM Group (middle), Peter Blom, CEO of Triodos Bank (right).

SEKEM Insight | November 2012 | Page 3

Economy

A fter many suggestions the SEKEM friends in Germany have now

decided to invite friends and support-ers to a cultural day in combination with a pro bono concert for SEKEM. The event takes place on Sunday 25 November 2012 at the Waldorf School Uhlandshöhe, Haußmannstr. 44 in Stuttgart (Germany).

The highlight of the day, which will give participants the opportunity to meet friends and supporters of SEKEM in a relaxed atmosphere, will be the concert of the artist couple Friedgard and Rudolf Gleissner. The team of hus-band and wife will perform the early sonatas and the Magic Flute Variations by Ludwig van Beethoven.

Admission starts at 15:00 in the foyer of the Waldorf School Uhlandshöhe. After a welcome by the Chairman of the German association of SEKEM friends, Dr. Roland Schaette, a photo presentation on the topic of SEKEM’s educational ideals will be revealed. Then there will be the chance to meet and talk over coffee and cake. The pro bono concert on behalf of the Heliopolis University will begin at 18:00. Information panels in the lobby will offer additional insight into SEKEM and its projects for those who are new to the initiative and its ideals.

The recent opening of the teach-ing programmes of the Heliopolis University will form the unifying theme of the day. Admission is free, dona-tions to the university project will be welcomed by the SEKEM Friends and SEKEM. They would especially like to thank the board and college of the Waldorf School Uhlandshöhe that have gifted the use of their premises to the SEKEM friends.

SEKEM Friends Germany

SEKEM Cultural Event and Concert in Stuttgart

135,000 customers. They all decide freely in which area the funds they invest are supposed to make their impact: renewable energy, organic agriculture, culture, or free schools and kindergartens.

SEKEM - an Ideal of Economic Life

To jointly promote the sustainable development of both society and the economy are goals, which also identify SEKEM. In this sense, it is a modern and very active company that oper-ates according to the principles of fair trade. SEKEM ensures compliance with high social and environmental stand-ards in all areas of the value chain - from the farm to the final consumer. „I consider SEKEM to be not only a firm, but a community, an ideal of eco-nomic life, which is founded on broth-erhood, and not on competition and selfishness”, says the GLS Banks CEO Thomas Jorberg, praising Abouleish: „He made the impossible possible. Through the use of alternative farm-ing methods Abouleish has achieved to turn the most arid areas into fertile soil.”

To protect and pass on this know-how, the GLS Bank developed addi-tional forms of financing such as the GLS SEKEM fund or the concept of trustee shareholding. With the accu-mulated capital, the investors support the purchase of additional land for agriculture as well as the expansion and modernization of existing pro-cessing facilities at SEKEM.

Today, in addition to the cultiva-tion of biodynamic products, SEKEM’s many ventures include a variety of educational institutions, a theatre, and a rural medical center. This con-tinuous growth is reaching more and more people: meanwhile some 30,000 inhabitants from the villages sur-rounding SEKEM trust the health ser-vices of the SEKEM polyclinic. The youngest child is now the Heliopolis University, which, after many years of preparation, began teaching in September 2012 opening its doors to about 200 students.

Investing Money, Promoting Development

The desire to use money wisely and

to support people in developing coun-

tries is becoming more important also

to the members and customers of

the GLS Bank. For instance, together

with the international cooperative

„Oikocredit“ the GLS Bank has begun

to offer the first micro-finance sav-

ings account promoting fair develop-

ment. The aim is to support people in

developing countries on the way out of

poverty and to promote their advance-

ment. This includes SEKEM: with the

new capital, additional production

facilities and 250 new jobs are being

created.

SEKEMs economic success as well

as its reception of the Right Livelihood

Award, the “Alternative Nobel Prize”,

confirm the right direction of this

promising partnership. Some 35 years

after its foundation in Egypt, SEKEM,

with its four locations on the mainland

and the Sinai peninsula, has firmly

established itself as a „miracle of the

desert“ recognised by innumerable

actors in the field of organic farming

and sustainable development.

A social and ecological evolution

of society was the ideal that first

brought together the two pioneers in

their industries. Gerhard Waterstradt

is today serving on the Board of the

SEKEM Holding. „I regularly visit

SEKEM and seek exchanges with

the people there. Our many years of

cooperation and friendship are char-

acterized by a sustainable develop-

ment”, he says. A development that

allows both partners to look forward

to a promising and prosperous future

together.

Christof Lützel

Christof Lützel is press speaker of the GLS Bank in Bochum (Germany).

More information:http://www.gls.de! More information:

http://www.sekem-freunde.de!

SEKEM Insight | November 2012 | Page 4

Impressions from SEKEM

I n Egypt, autumn is the time of the dates - and, fortunately also to European customers, SEKEM makes it possible to experience a taste of sun and summer even while winter is approaching. In October, the first dates are harvested. All forces have to be mobilized on the Demeter farms in the Western Desert of

Egypt. Now the job is for anyone fit enough: climb up into the top of the palm tree and cut the heavy branches from which the dates are dangling in big bushels. These will be pre-dried directly on the supplying farms before they are washed on the main SEKEM farm, post-dried, and then carefully sorted and processed.

On the new SEKEM farm in the oasis of Bahareya 5,900 young date palms have been planted in recent years. For them to bear fruit for the first time will take another two to three years. However, until then, they need to be cared for like all plants, regularly watered and fertilized. However, the cutting of the trees themselves is also a tiring job to do. Co-workers on the Bahareya farm are already looking forward to the time when they can reap the fruits of their labour.

SEKEM dates come in pure form or filled with peanuts and are available in health food stores in Europe and in every supermarket in Egypt.

Impressions

SEKEM Insight | November 2012 | Page 5

On 26 November SEKEM CEO Helmy Abouleish will speak at the University Club Bonn on the occa-sion of the Conference on Sustainable Consumption SusCon 2012. He will address issues concerning the current development of Egypt and of sustaina-ble growth in the context of profound change in the country. He will also discuss with representatives of the GLS Bank, Ulrich Walter GmbH, and Oikocredit how organic agriculture can play a greater role for development in the region and the world. The group will further talk about the options of German consumers and savers to sup-port positive development worldwide.

The event will take place at the University Club Bonn, Konviktstraße 9, 53113 Bonn, Germany. The evening will begin at 7pm, entrance is free.

Source: SEKEM

Helmy Abouleish Speaks at SUSCON

Demeter Scores Again in Brand Awareness Study

News in Brief

Masthead:The editors of SEKEM Insight wish to thank all contributors to this issue.

Editor:Bijan Kafi

Contact:SEKEM-Insightc/o SEKEM HoldingP.O.Box 2834, El Horreya, Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt insight@SEKEM.com

Pictures: 1: Bijan Kafi; 2, 4, 5: SEKEM

No republication without written consent by the publisher.

During the seventh global con-ference of RCE’s (Regional Centers for Education for Sustainable Development) in Korea, the first RCE Recognition Awards were now awarded by the Global RCE Service Centre of the United Nations University. SEKEM runs its own RCE at the Heliopolis Academy for Applied Arts and Sciences. The RCE Award recognizes good practices in education for sustainable devel-opment that translate existing local knowledge into tangible results of bet-ter sustainable lifestyles thereby ena-bling individuals and communities to make better decisions about their own futures. The nominated projects presented at the event addressed a variety of issues concerning the involvement of specifically local actors in addressing sustainable develop-ment challenges through dialogue, education and research.

SEKEMs EduCamp project (see SEKEM Insight 10.2012) had been nominated by Dr. Hani Sewilam from the RCE Cairo. The EduCamp project realised by SEKEM focuses on improv-ing the learning practice of differ-ent groups of actors in Egypt through multi-level partnerships. At the event in Tongyeong, EduCamp received the RCE Recognition Prize for its contri-bution to the overall goals of the RCE programme.

Source: SEKEM

As the leader with the highest sym-pathy, recognition, and use indica-tors, Demeter is at the forefront of all organic brands on the organic food market in Germany. The results of the “Marken3Klang Survey 2012” car-ried out by the German organic food magazine “Schrot & Korn” again reaf-firmed the top ranking for the oldest organic brand that stands for biody-namic product quality. With a value of 97.3 percent in “brand awareness”, 75.2 percent in “sympathy”, and 76.5 percent in “usage”, Demeter leads in three rankings. Particularly encourag-ing is the increase in the “usage” field.

Especially in terms of quality, con-sumers increasingly rely on the guid-ance of the Demeter brand. „The results of the survey show that we have succeeded in defending the qual-ity leadership in the field - and at a very high level, too“, says Klemens Fischer, CEO of Demeter. Especially in light of campaigns by other actors to promote “cheap” organic products, it is important for Demeter partners to demonstrate the exceptional value of their quality brand.

„Our communication - especially through our Demeter Journal - cer-tainly has helped customers recognise the brand more easily and make bet-ter informed purchasing decisions“, Klemens Fischer evaluates the results. The new premium results offer the 300 Demeter processors and approx-imately 1,500 producers in Germany best prospects for their marketing.

Source: Demeter

SEKEM’s EduCamp Receives RCE-Prize

More information:http://www.demeter.net!More information:

http://educamp.lfi.rwth-aachen.de/educamp/!

More information:http://www.suscon.net!