Cairo, Egypt. Sekem receives an award.
The story of Sekem begins in 1977 in the Egyptian desert northeast of Cairo. This is where chemist Ibrahim Abouleish set up his tent with the intention of establishing an ecologically sustainable agricultural initiative. His first two investments were a tractor and a piano—to combine the practical side of the venture with an emotional connection to nature. Sekem has now been in existence for 47 years and is considered a successful model for the implementation of biodynamic agriculture in dry climatic conditions. The vision of the initiative, which is now led by Abouleish’s son Helmy, is to help 40,000 Egyptian farmers convert to biodynamics by the end of 2025. To achieve this goal, Sekem runs schools, training centers, and a university. The initiative has now been recognized for its work with the prestigious United Nations Champions of the Earth Award 2024 in the “Entrepreneurial Vision” category. This is the UN’s highest environmental award and recognizes pioneering work to protect the Earth.
More Sekem | Champions of the Earth
Translation Charles Cross
Image Helmy Abouleish, Photo: screenshot from the UN Environment Program film
