Nr. 125 - Februar 2013 Insight SEKEM‘s Journal for Culture, Economy, Society and Ecology in

Demeter DUNDU Partner News Bio-dynamic Art and Human Lebensbaum Wins Editorial Practice in Egypt Encounters Demeter Prize

Dear Readers, The Practice of Demeter

Demeter agriculture is virtually Agriculture in Egypt the lifeblood SEKEM, the fun- The focus of the foundation for successful development SEKEM’s work damental principle on which its is the bio-dynamic agriculture. On the initiative and they more and more development work is built, as far farmers in Egypt trust for more than 30 years. In a series of articles, as its engagement with the natu- we look at the specifics of the Demeter cultivation in Egypt. ral environment is concerned. It also deeply affects the care and management of its relations to its employees. Hardly any other approach is of more crucial signif- icance to the ethical and material importance of its work not only in Egypt, but also internationally.

SEKEM Insight has highlighted individual aspects of Demeter agriculture in Egypt in several of its previous issues. In this edition, we comprehensively consider the interaction of these elements in an article on the practice of bio- dynamic cultivation in the country. In a future issue, we will look more closely at the material basis of the approach.

The SEKEM team is delighted that Though SEKEM also cultivates raw materials itself at numerous large farms all over Egypt, its another pioneer of biodynamic companies traditionally work with many small-holding farmers such as this family from Fayoum. agriculture - long-term SEKEM partner and customer Lebens- white house with red roof tiles, to imagine a similar scene in Egypt, baum from - has recently A geraniums on the windowsills, a country virtually without rain, with won the distinction “Product of next to a barn, a cow peeps out of its vast deserts, and almost without any the Year” for another leading window and a cock crows on the dung cows or cattle? product of the global sustainable heap beside, surrounded by his flock Interestingly, the reality can be quite and fair trade movement: coffee. of hens, pecking. The whole idyllic different. In Egypt SEKEM is work- Congratulations! scene is located right next to a veg- ing in most of the country’s regions etable garden, green hills and yel- Your Team of Editors together with many farmers to pro- low-waving corn fields. Is that not a duce large quantities of organic food perfect representation of our imagina- according to the Demeter guidelines. Find SEKEM also on the Internet at: tion of a Demeter farm somewhere in Even though the sights and sounds of lush, green Europe? And is it not hard Egypt might differ a bit from those of

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Farm, many more farmers joined or expressed interest in learning more about the new technique. They were all naturally interested in a method that would allow them to reclaim desert ground, turn it into arable land, and to manage it in such a way that it would yield healthy food and contrib- ute to creating sustainable livelihoods for their families and their children in a profitable way. The basis of the agricultural work and the motivation of the farmers may be quite different in many of these locations, as it is on conven- tional farms. Of course, Demeter farm- ers also have to earn enough income to provide for themselves and their families. However, the motivational core for many is the service they may provide to the wellbeing of the earth More than 30 years of Demeter agriculture bear fruit in the soils of the original SEKEM Farm. Through compost application the sandy ground has gained so much in quality that it can be used for regular agriculture. itself. On the Demeter farms, soil fer- tility is improved through the use of specially prepared compost and by the fertile Europe, many of these products been improved for thousands of years balanced employment of crop rotation grown here are produced under simi- through the mud of the Nile that has on the individual fields. For the com- lar circumstances and will later be pro- been deposited here during each of post, vegetable scraps (green waste) cessed into foods, teas, medicines and the annual flooding cycles. Today, the from the farm itself as well as ani- textiles by the many companies of the quality of these soils must be actively mal manure from its own animals are SEKEM Group. preserved by the farmers themselves, used. In addition, the compost used is as no flooding occurs anymore due further refined through bio-dynamic Among each other, these farms - to the impact of the Aswan Dam built preparations is that are used by all ranging from small-holding farmers’ between 1960-1970. Demeter farmers. places to larger plantations - can seem very different: from tiny rural set- As different as these farms may The compost is usually brought onto tlements in the Nile Delta, that have seem, they all bear some typical the fields twice a year, during the prep- access to only 1-2 hectares, but boast “Demeter characteristics”, but often aration season. The fields are then dark, fertile soil and irrigation through exhibit them in many different ways: immediately ploughed. the channels that zigzag the Delta in The desert soils in and around most places, to large farms with hun- Improving Soil Fertility SEKEM are slightly alkaline with very dreds of hectares all of them form part low carbon and very high salt levels. of the wider SEKEM community of sup- On the SEKEM farm, cultivation Their treatment with compost, green pliers and co-workers. Some farms are according to biodynamic principles manure, bio-dynamic preparations, located in the oases of the Western began more than 30 years ago. During and regular irrigation has, over time, Desert, where date palms are grown the implementation of the basic foun- led to a change in the composition traditionally and herbs and spices. dations of Demeter agriculture in the of the soil and its improvement with Here the soil is poor and sandy, and Egyptian desert, Dr. Abouleish and higher levels of organic matter. dependent on irrigation from ground- his team were support and inspired water of the oases. Other farms are by many experts. Frieda Gögler and In a study by Soil & More located in the southern region of the Georg Merckens, for example, man- International, the Louis Bolk Institute country, right in the narrow strip of aged to transfer their decades of expe- and the Heliopolis University, the fertile soil left and right of the river rience with bio-dynamic farming in researchers Joris van der Kamp and Nile itself, such as the area of the Europe to the new circumstances in an Boki Luske could compare the effects towns of Minya, Sohag, and Beni Suef. arid country like Egypt and went on to of many years of bio-dynamic farming Here, many different varieties of food share their enthusiasm with the early on Egyptian desert soils with cultiva- plants can be grown, albeit in a very SEKEM co-workers. Based on the suc- tion on un-prepared, conventionally confined space, as soil fertility has cesses achieved on the seminal SEKEM tilled soils, specifically concerning the

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organic carbon content contained in sowing and the three-time applica- animal husbandry and breeding. She different soil layers. The results show tion of horn silica, the cotton harvest also strives share with SEKEM’s co- a strong increase of organic carbon improved by almost 20% (weight) workers a whole new attitude towards in layers of up to 30cm deep. In the compared to cotton which was grown animals in the context of the farm, pristine desert soil around SEKEM, on the same field but had remained which is marked by dignity and respect an organic carbon content of 0,06 untreated and whose farmers did not for their nature. Again and again she to 0,08% was measured. On soils observe cosmic rhythms. has experienced the challenge of that had been farmed for 30 years by changing the image of animals in a Since then, similar tests have been SEKEM, the organic carbon content society used to look at them in the first run under the direction of the EBDA in a depth of 0-10cm had increased place as tool for labour or as a provider because through the initial study and to levels between 0.99 to 1.39% and of meat. later regular work, lots of new ques- in 10-30cm depth to levels between tions arose, such as regarding the qual- However, by visiting the SEKEM farm 0.32 and 0.39%. Per hectare per year, ity of the preparations themselves. In or any other Demeter farm and by care- on average 3 tons of CO -equivalent 2 Egypt, the same treatments are man- fully observing the animals and their greenhouse gases are sequestered ufactured and used as in Europe. Even relationship to humans, visitors can and thus a major contribution to cli- though legitimate questions have get a first glimpse of what constitutes mate protection is made. been posed concerning the need for the individuality of each farm and its The higher organic matter content in different types of preparations to be specific bio-dynamic spirit. the soil also leads to a lower need for used in different climates, the good Thus, in Egypt in recent years, continuous irrigation and a generally results obtained through their applica- a strong Demeter movement has better soil fertility - important factors tion do not suggest a need for special emerged. On the one hand, recent suc- for improving food security in a water- manufacturing methods. cesses are entirely material and are scarce country like Egypt. reflected in the many healthy foods Animal Husbandry that are sold mostly in Egypt, and in The Application of Preparations and the farms, whose soils are farmed the Observation of Cosmic Rhythms All Demeter farms engage in animal husbandry, except for the occasional bio-dynamically and whose fertil- On the fields, bio-dynamic prepa- facility focussing on horticulture ity is constantly improving. On top rations are used in a comprehensive alone. In Egypt, these animals are of that, however, it has to be consid- fashion, namely horn manure and horn often traditional sheep or water buf- ered an important success for the silica. In addition, the farmers aim to falos. Pigs are not kept while cattle is whole of Egypt that precisely because orient their cultivation practice to cos- rare. Chickens, pigeons, ducks, and of the example SEKEM originally set mic rhythms, for instance concerning geese are also found on many farms. for bio-dynamic cotton production, the exact timing of the employment Some dispose of camels or donkeys as the spraying of pesticides by air has of preparations, during planting, fer- animals used in labour or they main- been abandoned long ago and that tilizing, and even soil preparation. tain beehives. the overall use of pesticides in Egypt They rely on the calendar authored by dropped by nearly 90%. The power of On the SEKEM farm itself, 230 dairy Maria Thun, a German bio-dynamic the Demeter movement is also visible cows are kept in stables. To these have author specialising in farming calen- in individual encouragement that cre- to be added some calves, heifers and dars. EBDA, the Egyptian Biodynamic ates a healthier culture of farming. It is some fattening animals that are home- Association, has conducted a num- a culture that continues to understand bred. A flock of sheep, many chickens ber of field trials in recent years that the practice of farming as a continuous and a few donkeys and camels also could confirm the effectiveness of the grappling new ideas and questions populate the farm. SEKEM even culti- use of treatments and the observance and not to resort to simple (chemical) vates bees. The large number of ani- of cosmic rhythms. The trails provided “One-size-fits-all” approaches. mals on the farm is justified (and even impressive insights and confirmed necessary) by the fact that the SEKEM At present, Demeter farmers in rising yields and the better quality of Farm is in an operating community Egypt are working hard on issues of clover plants, potatoes and cotton. with SEKEM’s neighbouring Adleya soil quality: what is their quality? How SEKEM’s farmers have been encour- farm. Here, herbs, fruits and vege- do roots develop in sandy ground? aged in their work very much (see tables are grown, which are depend- What does our treating it do to it? How also SEKEM Insight No. 30, 11.2004). ent on the compost produced with the is the soil compacted by working with Observing the suggested days for manure of animals kept by SEKEM. heavy tractors? What plants can I grow that help the soil regenerate? Egypt’s Since the beginning of the agri- Demeter movement is all about never cultural work on the farm, Angela You can visit SEKEM yourself: stopping to ask radical questions www.SEKEM-reisen.de Hofmann has been responsible for www.aventerra.de Christina Anlauf, Angela Hofmann

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The Business Development of the SEKEM Group Companies in 2012

Turnover (consolidated)

2011 209 Mio. EGP

2012 260 Mio. EGP

Sales Shares (Domestic vs. Export) 2011 2012

Local Local

Export Export

Sales Shares (by category)

20% 15% 15% 50%

Farming Pharma Textiles FMCG

SEKEM Insight | Februar 2013 | Page 4 Impressions

Impressions from SEKEM

UNDU („You And You“) is a 5m long puppet that has the power to engage people in an interactive and playful interaction wherever it appears. Interacting with DUNDU, you may easily forget time and D space because everyone is immediately fascinated by its charisma that speaks to souls anywhere in the world, and warms the heart of everyone by calling to life one’s „inner child“. With artistic genius and great empathy five DUNDU artists lead the doll. There‘s also a „DUNDU Baby“. It can be lead by anyone who holds it on his or her lap or lets it jump on his or her shoulder, but can also be used in performances of several people in coordination. The students of SEKEM’s Heliopolis University had an enjoyable day with DUNDU. DUNDU walked across the campus and visited the square in which SEKEM co-workers meet every day, the campus garden and many other places. It even entered the big lecture hall, which was then filled to the last seat.

SEKEM Insight | Februar 2013 | Page 5 News in Brief

Demeter Product of the Year Large Congress Attracts GLS Bank: Positive 2013 from Lebensbaum Waldorf Teachers to Vienna Outlook for the Future

The product “Espresso KaapiKerala From 1 to 3 May 2013, the Centre The German GLS Bank, a lead- (whole bean)” by Lebensbaum, a long- for Culture and Education on behalf of ing ethical bank and investor in the term SEKEM partner, has been selected the European Network for Academic SEKEM Initiative, recorded a strong “Demeter Product of the Year 2013”. Steiner Teacher Education (ENASTE) growth of clients and a tripling of their The spicy scent of the coffee that is in Vienna organises the international cooperative business credit this last produced according to bio-dynamic congress „The Educator‘s View of year. The bank also recorded growth standards as well as the long-standing the Human Being - Consequences for in customer deposits, a significantly and close cooperation of the producer Schools and Teacher Education“. The increased demand for credit and solid with its cultivation partners have both event is directed at teachers and edu- earnings across its entire business. been deemed entirely “persuasive” by cators in the field of Waldorf/Rudolf customers voting for the product. Steiner education on a global level. With 20 percent growth overall the GLS Bank remains firmly on the Educators, philosophers, theolo- Among the key features of the new path to strong growth in the immedi- gians, neuroscientists and histori- Demeter Product of the Year 2013 ate future. With an increase in capi- ans will use the congress to analyse are: strong demands on cultivation tal from 61 million euros to 93 million and discuss the importance of human methods, exemplary protection of euros, the members of the coopera- nature and an all-encompassing natural resources, and a clever refine- tive bank have substantially strength- understanding of the human being in ment of the finished product are all ened its equity base. Accordingly, GLS pedagogy, school-level education and coming together in “KaapiKerala”. Bank already fulfils the requirements education systems in general. The intense spicy flavour of the first for new capital rules posed by the new Basel III regulations. Demeter espresso is expertly com- As part of the congress 45 speakers posed of Arabica and Robusta beans. from America, Europe and Australia Last year, 27,000 new customers They mature bio-dynamically culti- will take to the stage at Vienna. opted for the GLS Bank, an increase of vated and protected under shade trees Numerous representatives from 23 percent. Customer deposits grew on the plantations of a long-standing Waldorf-based teacher training insti- by a total of 20 percent. Total lending cooperation partner of Lebensbaum tutions will participate in the event, rose by 26 percent. In 2012, the bank in South and the oldest Demeter which takes place in deliberate con- funded social, cultural and environ- coffee plantation in Mexico. At these nection with an international meet- mental, educational and residential farms, thanks to the extensive use of ing of Waldorf teachers. The congress projects with a total sum of 543 mil- bio-dynamic preparations, the soil aims to facilitate a fruitful dialogue lion euros. GLS Bank was also recently has continuously improved over many between the educational science and voted the most sustainable business years. This as well as the mountain cli- the Waldorf movement and especially in entire Germany. mate shapes the taste of the coffee lead to an increased awareness and beans, which is perfectly improved by appreciation of in Source: GLS Bank a gentle roasting process. an academic context.

The two farms are renowned for The conference will be held in the their protection of natural resources rooms of the Diplomatic Academy of and the provision of sustainable live- Vienna (Favoritenstraße 15a, 1040 Masthead: lihoods far beyond the biodynamic Vienna) and the Centre for Culture The editors of SEKEM Insight wish to scene and have won many awards. and Education (Tilgnerstraße 3, 1040 thank all contributors to this issue. Vienna). Editor: Klemens Fischer, member of the Bijan Kafi, Christina Anlauf Demeter board of directors, explains: Conference languages ​​will be Contact: „For the Demeter trademark commu- SEKEM-Insight English and German. A reduced regis- c/o SEKEM Holding nity, it is this link in the value chain P.O.Box 2834, El Horreya, tration fee is available for all applica- Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt from producer to consumer that has [email protected] tions received until 22 February. always been essential.“ Pictures: Source and information: www. 1, 4: SEKEM; 2: Bijan Kafi Source: Demeter ENASTEcongress2013.net No republication without written consent by the publisher.

More information: More information: ! http://www.lebensbaum.de ! http://www.ENASTEcongress2013.net

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