SEKEM: Turning Egyptian Desert into Biodynamic Farmland

Founded in 1977 by Ibrahim Abouleish, SEKEM pioneered organic and biodynamic agriculture in Egypt, using compost, cover crops and natural pest predators to convert barren desert into productive farmland instead of relying on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Its land reclamation arm expanded cultivated desert land from 263 to over 1,600 feddans within a few years, building farms, schools and community health facilities on former wasteland. The wider SEKEM network now works with more than 2,000 partner farmers growing organic cotton, herbs, fruit and vegetables for local and export markets. In 2024, the UN Environment Programme named SEKEM a Champion of the Earth for its role in fighting desertification and land degradation through regenerative farming.