SEKEM Insight 06.11 EN

Nr. 106 - June 2011

Insight

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

Editorial Dear Readers,

Your Team of Editors Find SEKEM also on the Internet at:

Soil Quality

Agriculture

IAP Rethinks NorthSouth Cooperation

How SEKEM Improves Desert Soil

Agroforestry on SEKEM‘s Fields

Organic Development Through Equality in Partnership

In international development cooperation the topic of „NorthSouth cooperation“ is a contested one. The question of whether aid by the global West is actually doing any good to the countries of the South is as old as development work itself. Over the decades more and more aid organisations have proceeded to demand better and closer „South-South cooperation“. Institutions in poorer countries should not become entirely a dependent on the aid of industrial countries but get better at figuring out how to solve development challenges through cooperation among them.

The International Association for Partnership in Ecology and Trade (IAP), of which SEKEM is a member, is trying to go another way. It aims to make partners from the North and South think differently about the daily business they already do in developing countries. This way, already fruitful trade relations develop organically into new ways of cooperation that carry economic prosperity beyond the value chain and into the homes of citizens. In this issue we will introduce you to how the IAP works.

Partnership

The “International Association for Partnership in Ecology and Trade” rethinks North-South cooperation on the basis of dialogue.

IAP partners, SEKEM co-workers and guests: from left to right. top: Inas Nureldin (Salis IT), Goetz Rehn (Alnatura), Xander Meijer (Natudis), Matthijs Biermann (Triodos), Tobias Bandel (Soil & More), Volker Engelsman (EOSTA), Johannes Kahl, Peter Segger (Blaencamel). Bottom: Patrick Holden (Sustainable Food Trust), Matthias Keitel (SEKEM), Helmy Abouleish (SEKEM), Ulrich Walter (Ulrich Walter GmbH), Roland Schaette (Schaette AG).

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n 1996, SEKEM and a group of European trade partners founded the „International Association for Partnership in Ecology and Trade“ (IAP). The new initiative was supposed to enhance cooperation and mutual learning among farmers, manufacturers, and distributors from the North and South. In addition, it intended to steadily improve the quality of organic products cultivated in developing countries. Most of the initial members

of the group have been working together since 1984 to positively influence the development and the impact of bio-dynamic and organic farming practice on a global scale. Until today it has developed into a forum for economic partners who are committed to the holistic development of organic farming through global partnership.

Within the last 10 to 15 years the global reputation and market share SEKEM Insight | June 2011 | Page 1

Economy

of organically cultivated agricultural products has increased. Through broad support for new farming practices and a growing awareness of the importance of a new understanding of agriculture as a core element of human life, it has become essential to begin formulating answers to the question of how a healthy agriculture can form the basis of a healthy society.

Healthy agriculture for a healthy society The IAP is committed to implement a holistic approach that embraces economic, social, ecological, and spiritual aspects through dialogue on an equal level. The partners typically meet four times annually to assess progress, discuss strategies, and take decisions. This way they do not only check current market conditions, plan initiatives, and discuss the financing of new projects. Through the dialoguebased mode of cooperation they also gain a greater awareness of the consequences of their economic activity in a global development context.

A special feature of this mode of work is their stated concern for extending existing production and trade contacts in a natural or organic fashion. Instead of initiating development projects by providing financial or material assistance through channels of uninvolved sponsors, the partners aim to strengthen already prospering links. In doing so they consequently aim to carry the impact of these links beyond just the value chain and a simplified commercial cooperation framework. The partners are more than internationally experienced producers and distributors. They are also involved through their personal commitment for an improvement of human social and spiritual development in the countries they do business in. As „providers“ (producers) and „receivers“ (buyers) they share interests and consequently strive to share successes and failures through dialogue on an equal footing. They set an example for a mode of cooperation between the global north and south based on

The international partners of the IAP.

a common interest for human development through business.

One result of their recent collaboration is the revised „sustainability flower.“ The practical model of a holistic and sustainable approach to doing business makes it easy to monitor and communicate the impact of corporate activities. Since 2009 it has also been the basis for SEKEM’s own sustainability report.

Partners of the IAP There are currently 13 permanent members in addition to SEKEM from all around the world, represented by senior executive personalities. All are or were in the past doing business with SEKEM and are committed on corporate or personal levels to continue to strengthen organic agriculture.

Following a meeting on the SEKEM farm in Minya (Egypt) last January, the members met again in June in the Netherlands. About 20 participants came together to discuss issues including the nexus between sustainability, leadership, and corporate governance - a relevant topic as the flower of sustainability is constantly evolving in response to business realities.

IAP Partners Aarstiderne (Denmark): Organic home delivery service for fresh produce. http://www.aarstiderne.dk Alnatura (Germany): Organic supermarket chain in Germany. http://www.alnatura.de Ambootia Tea Group (India): Organic teas. http://www.ambootia.com Blaencamel (United Kingdom): Organic family business from Wales. http://www.blaencamel.com Chateau de Mavaleix (France): Travel agency for sustainable vacations. http://www.chateau-mavaleix.com Dr. Schaette AG (Germany): Pharmaceuticals and health concepts for animals. http://www.schaette.de Eosta (The Netherlands): Distributor of organic vegetables and fruits. http://www.eosta.com Shipton Mill (United Kingdom): Cereal mills and organic flours. http://www.shipton-mill.com Soil & More International (The Netherlands): Composting and CO2 footprint measurements. http://www.soilandmore.org Sustainable Food Trust (United Kingdom): Supports cooperation for sustainable agriculture. http://www.sustainablefoodtrust.org Rapunzel Naturkost (Germany): Production and distribution organic foodstuffs. http://www.rapunzel.de Triodos Bank (The Netherlands): Sustainable bank. http://www.triodos.nl Ulrich Walter GmbH (Germany): Organic products e.g. coffee, tea, herbs, and spices. http://www.lebensbaum.de

Matthias Keitel, Bijan Kafi

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Economy

How SEKEM Improves Soils Through Bio-Dynamic Agriculture Much has been reported on SEKEM’s approach of reclaiming desert soils through agriculture. But what exactly is it that SEKEM does in bio-dynamic agriculture?

land have been dramatically reduced.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 1961 4.307m2 of arable land were available per individual. 2007, there were only 2.137m2 left.

SEKEM’s approach to agriculture

Lush vegetation on SEKEM’s trial fields demonstrate the success of organic agriculture.

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hen the SEKEM initiative was founded on 60 hectares of desert ground, it was the stated goal to build a sprawling farm business on the basis of bio-dynamic farming methods. In doing so, a sustainable model for holistic community development was supposed to be developed the material basis of which was to be provided by an organic farm. The facility would first have to transform barren soil into fertile ground. Organic produce would then later be sold in Egypt and abroad as demeter-certified products.

The SEKEM farm’s original grounds have been reclaimed from the desert through flood irrigation fed by welldrawn water. Areas were also fertilized using compost enhanced with biodynamic preparations. Over the years, additional land could be acquired on plots adjacent to the SEKEM farm increasing its total surface area to about 180 acres. Depending on the plants being cultivated these fields are now also worked using sprinkler and drip irrigation systems.

Additionally, SEKEM works with more than 200 demeter farmers across the country who grow a variety of products that are further processed in SEKEM’s own companies. These range from food crops, cereals, and oil seeds to tea and medicinal herbs, fruits, vegetables and cotton.

Results demonstrate successes By today it has become increasingly clear that to employ bio-dynamic farming methods and concentrate on reclaiming desert ground was indeed the proper way to go. In the 34 years since its inception SEKEM has contributed to creating one of the biggest global organic markets outside Western industrialized countries. More than 6.000 hectares of soil could since then be reclaimed from the desert using bio-dynamic farming methods. All while both the world‘s rainforest and agricultural

Since 2007, the production of compost could be dramatically improved and expanded in cooperation with the company Soil & More (The Netherlands), an experienced developer of composting technologies.

Today, 60.000 tons of compost are produced by SEKEM every year.

These developments made it possible for SEKEM to work on three other major plots of desert land and to reclaim these areas through irrigation and the employment of large quantities of compost:

The Sinai-farm where oranges, potatoes, beans, and fodder crops are grown, and the farm in Minya, which meanders into the mountains at the bottom of a 18 kilometre long valley right next to the river Nile. Here herbs like basil, chamomile, dill, and onions are grown. Both farms have a surface area of roughly 1.000 hectares each.

In the Bahareya depression in the „Western Desert“ mint, palm trees, liquorice, clover, alfalfa, and geranium are growing on about 150 hectares of newly farmed land. This farm will also

“Today, 60.000 tons of compost are produced at SEKEM every year.“

reach its final surface area of about 1.000 hectares in a few years.

SEKEM uses only specially prepared compost as a fertilizer on all grounds.

It consists of rice straw, water hyacinths, wood chips, organic waste, clay, as well as chicken and cow manure.

Until today, most of the rice straw in the country is burned further worsening the environmental situation and destroying valuable biomass, a good Egypt is naturally short on. Employing SEKEM’s methods, rice straw can now be composted on a large scale for the first time. The compost is applied to fields twice a year when they are to be ploughed again in preparation for the next season.

The desert soils in the vicinity of SEKEM are slightly alkaline and are characterized by a low carbon composition and high salinity. The processing of compost, green manure, drugs Continued on page 4

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Economy

Agroforestry Makes Agriculture in the Desert Easier SEKEM uses a variety of methods such as composting, to wrest land from the expanding desert. But good ideas need to be combined to be effective.

Continued from page 3

and regular irrigation has over time led to a change in the composition of the soil with higher concentrations of organic substances.

Studies show success

At SEKEM extensive agroforestry protects young shoots and freshly sown fields from wind and sun.

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ou often see fields on which crops, vegetables or the like is being cultivated while forests have been pushed to the fringe of the agriculturally used land. However, using agroforestry trees are planted directly within fields to allow them to contribute positively to the local microclimate and the plants growing underneath.

Naturally, only those kinds of trees are appropriate to be used that do not grow too quickly and do not have roots growing too deep or too wide. They are planted in rows and then cut in such a fashion as to direct their growth into the vertical rather than the horizontal.

The trees later provide protection from wind, shade and reduce water evaporation in turn producing higher humidity levels. This will then lower the fields’

surface temperatures in summer by some degrees. The falling leaves also return nutrients to the soil and specifically legumes can efficiently improve the soil’s fertility through their nitrogen collection capacities. Over time, trees used in agroforestry may even incur a rise in groundwater levels.

A few years ago and in addition to classical agroforestry SEKEM has begun to plant trees also along its farm roads. Over 18-30 years many of these produce the much-coveted furniture wood that today is still mostly imported. These seedlings are grown in SEKEM’s own nursery.

Angela Hofmann Angela Hofmann is responsible for the implementation of demeter agriculture.

In a recent study by Soil & More International, the Louis Bolk Institute in The Netherlands, and the Heliopolis University Joris van der Kamp and Boki Luske demonstrate the positive long-term effects of biodynamic agriculture on the barren Egyptian desert soils. The results of their study show a strong increase in the organic carbon content in layers of up to 30cm depth in the soils that had been worked using SEKEM’s methods. By contrast, carbon levels of 0.06 to 0.08% could be detected in the pristine plots of desert around the SEKEM farm. On soils that are already been worked for managed for 30 years, organic carbon content in 0-10cm and 10-30cm of depth had already reached 0.99 to 1.39% and 0.32 to 0.39% respectively.

Using SEKEM’s measures for treating desert soils these grounds can be improved in such a way that they can eventually sequester an average of 3 tonnes of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gases per hectare per year. This in turn greatly improves water retention capabilities thus reducing the amount of water that has to be used for irrigation. The process also improves general soil fertility. These are important factors of an improved food security in a country like Egypt which even after decades of government-led land reclamation still consists of around 96% of plain desert.

Christina Boecker

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Culture

New Project in the Focus of this Year‘s SEKEM Day The project „House of Peace“ (Dar Es-Salaam) fascinates visitors of this year‘s SEKEM Day in Stuttgart‘s Liederhalle.

the house and its components in the areas of „education“, „religion,“ „art“, and „economy“. They will be united under the umbrella objective of fostering people’s future peace-keeping capacities. SEKEM Insight will be reporting on the project in detail in its September issue.

The Stuttgart Liederhalle‘s Schiller Hall was crowded on occasion of this year‘s SEKEM Day.

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he German support association of SEKEM, the “SEKEM Friends” (Association for the Promotion of Cultural Development in Egypt e.V.) was again in charge with organising this year’s SEKEM Day on 14 May in the Schiller Hall at Stuttgart’s Liederhalle.

The event was held in conjunction with the association’s annual general assembly.

Before a packed auditorium, Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish introduced participants to the current political situation in Egypt in detail. The economic slump in the country holds substantial burdens also for the SEKEM community.

But Abouleish’s powerful confidence and his optimism in SEKEM’s ability to turn the crisis into a challenge turned out to be a strong signal of motivation for everyone participating. Dr.

Abouleish was particularly thankful to the large circle of friends and supporters which are still accompanying and protecting developments in the entire SEKEM community.

An important new project: The House of Peace Despite all odds, SEKEM continues to pursue the objective of an opening of the Heliopolis University for students by the end of 2012 including its centrepiece the “House of Peace” („Dar al-Salaam“). The new project was in the centre of the later afternoon presentations in Stuttgart as it had also been declared the new joint funding objective of all European support associations.

Several speakers gave impressive presentations on the features of

The other leading ideas of the house - integration and interculturalism - were highlighted in a spirited and lively way through artistic contributions by students and seminarians from local Waldorf schools and the youth seminar, further illustrated by their wide variety of nationalities. One artistic performance focused especially on the eurythmic representation of the word „Salaam“. Starting out from the Arabic language in which the word’s meaning encompasses „peace“ but also „healing“ and „health“ the presentation focused on the visual expressions of the vowels and consonants: the „S“ visualises the connection from top to bottom and vice versa. The three vowels „A“ indicate a threefold openness towards transparency and astonishment. The „L“ in its flowing movement combines it all - top, bottom, right and left. Finally, the „M“, a social gesture, emphasises exchange and confrontation of the opposite, the “you”.

The original and imaginative „building action“ which encouraged the audience to „co-build“ the house itself created a first foundation for the new project that will now rely on friends and supporters to continue the work.

The organisers wish to thank everyone who participated in organizing the day.

Waltraud Bandel http://www.sekem-freunde.de

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Impressions

Impressions from SEKEM

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EKEM‘s sesame bars are popular and they are becoming even more so. In a reader survey in the well-known German organic food magazine “Schrot & Korn” SEKEM’s bars stood up against other well-established German organic brands. The orange-flavoured bars were conjuring up „oriental associations“, so the magazine. „Sesame, honey and fine orange oil combine to create a tasty and fruity sweetness.“ The bars, which can be bought in Germany, Austria and other European countries in four different varieties in organic food shops and in the SEKEM web shop (http://www.sekemshop.de) are among the most popular SEKEM products - in Egypt as in Europe. Approximately 5.000 of them are produced every day in the production facilities on the SEKEM farm produced mostly by women from local villages. They are sold in four flavours on the Egyptian market and shipped for export: Orange, black cumin, honey and cinnamon. You can read the “Schrot & Korn”-article here: http://www.schrotundkorn.de/2011/201106e04.php (in German).

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News in Brief

World Future Council Lauds Forest Protection Laws

Anthroposophical Businesses Lead the Way

Correction

The World Future Council (WFC), an international organization that develops effective legal solutions for policy-makers, will give its „2011 Future Policy Award 2011“ to the most inspiring, innovative and effective forest protection law. Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish supports the WFC in the area of economic development.

A new study by the Institute for Business Research in Cologne (IFH) is the first to systematically investigate the credibility of the CSR activities of 46 German retail companies from the consumer point of view (CSR: Corporate Social Responsibility). The first three places in the rankings that have just been published demonstrate are occupied by the anthroposophically inspired firms Alnatura, Tegut, and dm.

Some mindful readers pointed out that the article “Sustainable Development Must Encompass Education for Young and Old” published in the May 2011 issue of SEKEM Insight may be misleading as it gives the impression that the Heliopolis University has already opened its doors to students.

2011 has been declared the “International Year of Forests” by the United Nations, with the central theme “Forests for People”, to raise consciousness of the multiple values of forests and promote greater awareness of success stories and challenges which many of the world’s forests and the people who depend on them face.

Up to three winning policies will be announced on 21 September 2011 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Winners will represent the most inspiring, innovative and influential forest policies which contribute to the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations.

Alexandra Wandel, Executive Member of the Management Board of the World Future Council, said, “With the Future Policy Award we want to cast a spotlight on policies that lead by example. The aim of the World Future Council is to raise global awareness for visionary policies and speed up policy action.” Ahmed Djoghlaf, CEO of the Convention for Biodiversity (CBD), said: „Our forests harbour more than 80 percent of our biodiversity.

It became particularly clear in 2010 that deforestation and degeneration of forests are the main cause for our unprecedented loss in biodiversity.“

The market researchers suggest that Alnatura and the other firms benefit from positive spillover effects of their mostly certified range of products directed at the ethically responsible consumer. In addition, however, their corporate sustainability policies seem to be a major attraction, too. All three companies are credibly employing integrated economic policies: „good for you and the planet“ (Alnatura), „trade responsibly with good high-quality food“ (Tegut) or „companies are there for the people and not vice versa“ (dm). „Many companies have been working on a decidedly anthroposophical foundation for the realisation of sustainable corporate values​​since their inception.“ says Dr. Jens Heisterkamp,​​ editor of the book „Capital = Spirit“. „Commitment to the preservation of the environment alone is not enough,“ add the IFH market researchers. „Companies must also consider aspects such as honesty in communication, fairness in competition, or a social and fair treatment of employees.“ Respondents found employees and public relations to be most important. Interestingly, women are also significantly more concerned about the the issue of sustainability than men.

Source: WFC

Source: Medienstelle Anthroposophie

This, however, is not the case.

While the official approval of the Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development was given by the Egyptian government in August 2009 enrolment of students and regular teaching will not begin before September 2012.

Nevertheless the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education has already approved the institution’s participation in international research projects e.g. the EC’s TEMPUS activities several years ago. Thus, the university has been involved in numerous global projects for an extended time already.

SEKEM Insight Team of Editors

You can visit SEKEM yourself: www.SEKEM-reisen.de www.aventerra.de

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

Editors: Bijan Kafi Contact: SEKEM-Insight c/o SEKEM Holding P.O.Box 2834, El Horreya, Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt insight@SEKEM.com Pictures: Seiten 1, 2, 4: SEKEM; 3, 6: Bijan Kafi No republication without written consent by the publisher.

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More information:

http://www.worldfuturecouncil.org

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More information:

CSR-Tracker at http://www.ifhkoeln.de

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