Sekem - Egypt

Sekem was founded by Dr Ibrahim Abouleish in 1977 on 125 acres of desert land 60km north east of Cairo. Today, Sekem farm over 150 farms comprising 6500 acres using biodynamic methods of agriculture. “Sekem” is a translation from an ancient Egyptian hieroglyph meaning “vitality from the sun”.

Sekem grow a wide variety of crops and medicinal plants as well as cotton. They also process these raw materials into medicines, condiments, and textiles. At their farms, Sekem educate 260 children from nursery through to secondary school, as well as train 160 adults at their vocational training centre. They also run a primary health care centre which treats thousands of local people.

In 2003, Dr Abouleish won the Right Livelihood Award 2003 widely known as the Alternative Nobel Prize for its approach to socially responsible economics.

Tropical Wholefoods are buying their first container of dates from Sekem in November 2005. The dates are certified organic by Demeter and have equivalency with the Soil Association.