Impact Makers: Helmy Abouleish
Pioneering biodynamic farming for a sustainable future in Egypt
By Climate Champions | November 6, 2024
NAME
Helmy Abouleish
TITLE
CEO, SEKEM
LOCATION
Cairo, Egypt
ABOUT
Helmy Abouleish is the CEO of SEKEM, a social enterprise working in collaboration with the Egyptian Biodynamic Association (EBDA) to promote sustainable agriculture in Egypt. Under Helmy’s leadership, the EBDA is transforming Egyptian agriculture by transitioning farmers from conventional methods to biodynamic and organic farming practices. The standout initiative under the EBDA is the Economy of Love (EoL) standard, launched in 2019, a certification that promotes sustainable practices across the entire supply chain.
The EoL standard has empowered Egyptian smallholder farmers by introducing a carbon credit scheme that recognizes their ecosystem services, enabling them to gain additional income streams through carbon certificates.
MOTIVATIONS
“Returning to Egypt at the age of 16 sparked a profound appreciation for my homeland and deepened my understanding of my father’s visionary aspirations behind the SEKEM Initiative. This experience connected me to my roots and highlighted the transformative potential of sustainable development, which my father advocated through his work in biodynamic agriculture and community building.
Over the past decades, we have embarked on a journey towards realizing our ambitious vision: a sustainable Egypt. We have established 16 SEKEM Vision Goals aimed at fostering environmental, economic, social, and cultural sustainability, with a goal of achieving a better Egypt by 2057. By promoting biodynamic farming, we are supporting a balanced ecosystem, sustainable water use, and renewable energy. This commitment has led to the establishment of several enterprises under the SEKEM umbrella that produce organic food, phytopharmaceuticals, and textiles.
IMPACTS
Before
While challenges persist, before the EoL, Egyptian smallholder farmers faced multiple barriers:
- Economic constraints and harsh desert conditions that limited productivity and environmental sustainability.
- Social inequalities that marginalized farmers, particularly regarding access to resources essential for sustainable growth.
- Limited opportunities for farmers to transition from conventional to regenerative practices, further impacted by a lack of infrastructure and financial support.
After
- SEKEM and the Egyptian Biodynamic Association (EBDA) have transformed over 47,000 acres into biodynamic farmland, working directly with more than 13,000 farmers. As well as improving agricultural productivity, it’s also raised the quality of life for many families, combining sustainable farming with support for education, healthcare, and social development to help communities thrive.
- Through the Economy of Love (EoL) initiative, EBDA has created new income opportunities for farmers by recognizing their work in ecosystem conservation. The program enables farmers to earn through carbon credits, while also supporting tree-planting projects, composting, and renewable energy adoption.
- EBDA provides extensive training to help farmers transition to organic and biodynamic practices, promoting healthier soil and ecosystems. Farmers certified under EoL gain fair trade status and new market opportunities, opening doors to local and international sales.
- Inspired by the success in Egypt, EoL has become a model for sustainable agriculture in other regions, with pilot programs in countries like India and growing interest worldwide in its potential to benefit both the economy and the environment.
- EBDA’s work extends beyond Egypt’s borders, actively shaping international climate policy. By participating in COP27 and COP28, they’ve played a role in global discussions on climate finance, sustainability standards, and regenerative agriculture, bringing a focus on sustainable farming to the international stage.
CHALLENGES
While EBDA and EoL have had substantial successes, the journey, according to Helmy, has encountered challenges:
- Limited personnel within EBDA restricts its ability to engage all stakeholders effectively.
- The initiative requires €219 million to reach 250,000 farmers by 2028, with resources directed towards renewable energy, tree planting, and capacity building.
- Ensuring fair fund distribution and microloan management for smallholder farmers presents ongoing logistical and oversight challenges.
- Selling EoL CO₂ certificates is challenging due to voluntary market limitations and demand constraints, as accreditation remains a barrier for smaller programs.
GOALS
“We envision expanding EBDA and EoL initiatives to support more farmers to transition to organic and biodynamic farming practices that address environmental and socio-economic challenges. Our ambitious plan includes reaching 40,000 farmers by 2025, 250,000 farmers by 2028 and eventually reaching all 7 million farmers in Egypt by 2057 through EoL certification, carbon credit systems, and other initiatives such as large-scale composting, renewable energy installations, and a tree-planting program.
Financially, this relies on substantial investments and low-interest microloans, aiming to create a compassionate, transparent economic model that connects responsible consumers with ethical producers, supporting food security, climate resilience, and community empowerment. Central to our mission, we are proud of our recent successful “Carbon Bonds program”, recently recognized by the Egyptian Financial Supervisory Authority. The initiative incentivizes farmers to adopt biodynamic practices, enhancing food security while mitigating climate change.”
HELMY’S ADVICE
- Deal with agriculture as part of a larger ecosystem. Focus on soil health, water use, biodiversity, and community factors. Use practices like intercropping and crop rotation to boost soil and ecosystem health.
- Include local communities in decision-making to ensure practices are socially acceptable. Educating farmers and sharing knowledge can drive innovation and support for sustainable methods.
- Invest in programs that teach sustainable farming. Use workshops and field demonstrations to show the benefits of regenerative practices, highlighting success stories to inspire others.
- Provide farmers with necessary resources like seeds, tools, and financing. Partner with local businesses, NGOs, and governments to make these resources available.
- Support policies that promote sustainable agriculture, such as incentives for regenerative practices and funding for research. Ensure land security for smallholder farmers as part of these policies.
- Use data to track and assess the impact of sustainable practices, helping to detect the effective strategies and areas needing improvement. Collaborative research can lead to new solutions.
- Build partnerships among farmers, researchers, NGOs, and private sectors to share resources and knowledge, fostering innovative solutions.
- Acknowledge that challenges like climate change and market shifts require flexible approaches. Encourage farmers to adopt strategies that allow them to respond to changes.
- Prioritize sustainability over short-term gains. Promote practices that improve soil health and biodiversity, even if they take time to show financial benefits.
- Share and celebrate the achievements of farmers who practise regenerative agriculture. This boosts morale and provides role models within the community.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
The Economy of Love initiative is building a resilient, sustainable agricultural framework that supports smallholder farmers and promotes climate action. Here’s how you can support:
For businesses and investors:
- Implement biodynamic farming methods to contribute to sustainable agriculture.
- Ensure that the benefits provided by ecosystems are being assessed and valued.
- Use True Cost Accounting with agricultural practices, factoring in environmental and social impacts.
- Advise businesses to measure their annual carbon emissions and work for zero emissions.
- Encourage the buying of carbon credits to help offset and neutralize their carbon footprint.
- Organize events where SEKEM shares its approach, inspiring others to adopt similar practices.
- Attending global events to showcase our model and promote its replication elsewhere.
For NGOs and policymakers:
- Connect Stakeholders and facilitate networking among farmers, businesses, and policymakers to strengthen collaboration in the agricultural sector.
- Advocate and represent the needs of smallholder farmers in national and international discussions and forums.
- Perform research on sustainable agricultural practices and their impacts, using data to guide policy and program decisions.
- Encourage multi-stakeholder partnerships between farmers, businesses, and NGOs to share resources and drive innovation in sustainable agriculture.
- Offer training programs and resources to smallholder farmers to enhance their skills in sustainable farming practices.
- Advocate for funding and support programs that assist smallholder farmers in implementing sustainable practices.
- Develop and implement policies that promote sustainable agriculture and protect the rights of smallholder farmers.
For individuals and donors:
- Raise awareness and educate others in your community about the importance of sustainable agriculture and climate action, highlighting the challenges faced by smallholder farmers.
- Offer education and training for farmers on sustainable and regenerative organic practices, assisting them in obtaining organic certification.
- Support farmers through purchasing their products and help them market their goods in a wider market.
- Help farmers in issuing certified carbon credits to create additional income opportunities.
- Implement fair trade practices to ensure farmers receive fair prices for their goods.
CONTACT HELMY
www.economyoflove.net
www.sekem.com
www.ebda.earth
