Founded by Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish in 1977, SEKEM is a diverse and interconnected initiative which combines biodynamic farming and sustainable development to bring vibrant life to the desert in Egypt. SEKEM has brought over 1500 desert acres into biodynamic cultivation, and helped over 700 farmers in Egypt to shift from conventional to organic agriculture. SEKEM has also established a number of companies that connect to its agricultural production, including phytopharmaceuticals, organic textiles and clothes, and organic food and beverages, where they are a market leader in Egypt. Furthermore, the independent SEKEM Development Foundation is running various schools, a kindergarten, a vocational training center, and a medical center, among other projects. The latest achievement was the establishment of the Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development, which successfully started its operations in the year 2012. In this workshop, Angela Hofmann will describe some of these aspects of SEKEM in more detail and share lessons that can be applied anywhere in the world.
Photo credit: SEKEM.com
