Sustainable Agriculture As a Solution to Global Challenges
Helmy Abouleish, 2010
Egypt – Challenges § § § § § §
Population Growth Education Desertification Water scarcity Biodiversity Loss Climate Change
Ø Food security Ø Poverty Ø Health 16/09/2010
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Industrial Agriculture is not the answer
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The prevailing model of agricultural production has failed to achieve food security, provide prosperity and rural livelihoods - while fuelling climate change, driving environmental degradation and water scarcity
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SEKEM – Holistic Initiative for Sustainable Development
16/09/2010
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Biodynamic Agriculture – Sustainable Agriculture § Environmental / Productivity benefits – – – – – –
Soil Stewardship and closed nutrient cycles Carbon Sequestration and low energy consumption High water holding capacity Responsible use of scarce resources N-P-K Resilience to extreme climatic conditions Biodiversity loss
§ Socio-economic benefits – Less investment/cost for external resource inputs – Rural livelihoods and employment – Healthy food and farmers 16/09/2010
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SEKEM‘s contribution I § Climate change: § 110.000 tons compost à Emission reduction of 100.000 t CO2e (Methan)
§ 11.000 h reclaimed land à Sequestration of 286.000 t C (> 1 Mio. t CO2e) within the last 30 years è 0.86 TONS CARBON PER HECTARE / YEAR § Resistance to diseases and erosion through an improved humus structure 6
SEKEM‘s contribution II § Biodiversity: SEKEM – a living ecosystem in the desert – Numerous animal and plant species – 10% green area as natural habitat without agricultural use
§ Water: 70% improved water holding capacity of soils; saving water with sub-surface-irrigation § Poverty: More than 2000 employees, mainly from rural communities, more than 20% women § Health: cultivation without chemicals and pesticides, healthy food; SEKEM Medical Center 7
SEKEM‘s contribution III § Education: – SEKEM schools, vocational center, Heliopolis University – EBDA Egyptian Biodymaic Association: Training of Engineers and Farmers in Biodynamic agriculture
§ Food souvereignty: – Fairtrade strengthens the producers – Training of farmers in Biodynamic agriculture (see EBDA)
§ Food security: – Capacity building for sustainable agriculture, greening the desert to increase fertile land 8
SEKEM‘s contribution IV
§ SEKEM has been making use of and further developing the multi-functionality of agriculture for more than 30 years § SEKEM‘s is working to address global challenges in manifold ways
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SEKEM as a best-practice agricultural company according to the statements of the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development 9
Sustainable Agriculture – Common Concerns
Too expensive? à In true cost prices, Sustainable Agriculture is cheaper!
Not enough? à Only Sustainable Agriculture can feed the world!
Not really Sustainable? à Just ‘organic’ is not enough. Comprehensive Sustainability approaches will lead the way.
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Sustainable Agriculture is cheaper! § Today – ≈20% premium in Egypt vanishes from a macro perspective. § ≈ 3% result from subsidized water usage in agriculture § ≈ 6% from subsidized energy usage (on farm & fertilizer production)
§ Short to medium term – Cost-competitive with conventional products
§ Medium to long term – Even cheaper, as soon as the real costs reach the customers
§ We need to consider the true costs/benefits! – preservation of soil, saving of water resources and energy, reduced pollution, health of farmers/consumers, additional rural jobs, …. 11
In the long run, Sustainable Agriculture is the only way to ‘feed the world’! Quantitative aspect: § Organic agriculture can produce high yields with low yield risks due to resilience of diversity § Conventional methods threaten long-term food security by affecting soils and eco-systems and depending on non-renewable resources e.g. fossil fuels, phosphorous Qualitative aspect: § Food security depends on politics and markets § Healthy food for a sustainable diet in the future 12
Just ‘organic’ is not enough.
§ Organic Agriculture = best practice § BUT: not always sustainable – No regulation for water management and energy efficiency – Limited number and scope of binding standards – No holistic approach including the culture and human development aspect è Organic
Standards must be amended with sustainability indicators!
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Engagement for Biodynamic agriculture
§ Political Engagement and private initatives on a national and international level § Presentations and media work about the potential of biodynamic and sustainable agriculture § Research on eco-intensification, comparative studies on organic vs. conventional, study on 100% organic agriculture in Egypt
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Threats of reductionistic approaches § Genetic Engineering: - Threats to biodiversity, health and food security / sovereignty
§ Agrochem. industry campaign with „sustainability“ – Bio-ethanol and biochar with monocropping plantations – CO2 sequestration through GMO and less plowing through the application of pesticides
§ Negative consequences – Damaged eco-systems – Competition for food production – Reduced local added value 15
The Way forward…. Eco-Intensification and increasing productivity § Improved pest control techniques § Significant increase of yields per hectare § Improved resource-efficiency and eco-efficiency
Awareness and Advocacy § Re-defining Sustainable Agriculture § Pointing out dangers of unsustainable alternatives (Carbon Sequestration.via GMO crops, …) § Highlighting Best Practice, Knowledge Exchange
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Greening the Desert with Sustainable Agriculture. Today. Celebration of inaugurating the Sinai Project 2008‌
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Greening the Desert with Sustainable Agriculture. Today.
‌ and after 18 months. 18
Land reclamation in the Desert near Minya, Upper Egypt, September 2010
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Thank you for your attention!
www.sekem.com Helmy Abouleish SEKEM Group P.O. Box 2834 El Horreya Cairo, Egypt helmy.abouleish@sekem.com