by basem mohammed | Dec 27, 2025 | Uncategorized
The MEDWET Project has made significant strides in wastewater recycling through the implementation of Constructed Wetland Treatment (CWT) technology, particularly at Sekem Farm in El-Wahat El-Bahariya, Egypt. In 2024, the project successfully deployed a full-scale CWT system, which operates with minimal energy requirements and has achieved an impressive 91% pollutant removal efficiency, meeting secondary treatment standards for irrigation.
The CWT system produces approximately 32-36 cubic meters of treated water daily, which is being utilized for irrigating various plants, including bamboo and shrubs, thereby enhancing carbon sequestration efforts. Additionally, the project has initiated awareness campaigns and training workshops, educating over 1,000 farmers and stakeholders on sustainable water management practices.
The MEDWET Project was recognized as one of the top 20 best-performing EU-PRIMA projects in 2024, culminating in a celebration in Cairo that highlighted its achievements and fostered partnerships for sustainable water solutions. As the project officially closed on October 25, 2024, its legacy continues to inspire further developments in low-cost water treatment technologies across the region.
by basem mohammed | Dec 27, 2025 | Uncategorized
Senna is recognized for its medicinal properties, particularly its natural laxatives derived from its leaves and pods. Adapted to arid environments, Senna contributes to soil stabilization and erosion control, making it suitable for dryland agroforestry. With high global demand in the pharmaceutical industry, Senna presents significant economic opportunities for local farmers.
Senna is a vital component of our agroforestry systems for its:
- Drought Tolerance requires minimal water making it suitable for marginal lands and dryland agroforestry.
- Soil Stabilization as its root system binds the soil and effectively reduces erosion, especially in sandy or degraded areas.
Other benefits:
- Medicinal Value: Senna’s leaves and pods contain sennosides, which are natural laxatives, besides being a traditional medicine for detoxification and colon cleansing.
- Economic Potential: For its global demand in the pharmaceutical industry, Senna provides substantial income opportunities through the sale of dried leaves and pods for export and local processing.
- Pollinator Support: Senna’s flowers attract bees and beneficial insects, enhancing ecosystem health and supporting pollination services.
Senna is not only beneficial for agriculture but also supports health and economic growth, making it an important asset in our sustainability initiatives.
by basem mohammed | Dec 27, 2025 | Uncategorized
SEKEM School was founded in 1989 with a vision to create a safe environment for students to express themselves. It is accredited by the Egyptian Ministry of Education and aims to serve the community while fostering individual development.
The school’s curriculum is based on the Egyptian government standards but employs an improved delivery method inspired by Waldorf Education. This philosophy emphasizes the development of intellectual, artistic, and practical skills, focusing on thinking, feeling, and willing. Our goal is to foster a balanced and honest personality from an early age.
SEKEM School at Wahat was established in 2021, with modest facilities and a small number of students and teachers. The first day of school marked a new beginning filled with hope and potential. Since its inception, SEKEM School has hosted a variety of activities:
- Daily circle sessions and lectures on climate change
- Parent-teacher meetings and school plays performed for farm workers
- Crafts and educational trips to local museums and notable sites
Our commitment to growth is evident in the construction of a new school building, where students actively participated alongside workers and engineers. This new facility has allowed us to enhance our educational offerings significantly. The educational buildings are designed for functionality, with age-appropriate classroom designs:
- Kindergarten features warm, curved designs.
- Elementary classrooms use stimulating orange colors.
- Middle school areas are painted in calming green.
- Secondary classrooms are adorned with blue or purple for deep thinking.
Currently, we have 76 students and 12 dedicated teachers in our preparatory stage. Our modern educational principles encourage:
- Learning Through Wonder by encouraging curiosity through questions.
- Activity-Based Learning through engaging students in hands-on activities.
- Promoting cleanliness and beauty in classrooms to create a positive learning environment..
Looking ahead, we anticipate doubling our student enrollment by 2025, with plans for three new classrooms and an expanded teaching staff. Our facilities will include:
- An agricultural laboratory, where students can cultivate land
- Modern classrooms designed for various age groups, ensuring an engaging learning environment
- A new cafeteria to serve our growing student body
- A 300-seat theater for weekly events
At SEKEM School, we are committed to nurturing the next generation of thinkers, creators, and responsible citizens. With an emphasis on sustainability and community, our students are not only learning academics but also how to engage meaningfully with the world around them. We look forward to the continued growth and success of our school as we strive to make a lasting impact in the community and beyond.
by basem mohammed | Dec 27, 2025 | Uncategorized
Prickly Pear (Opuntia), a versatile and resilient plant gaining global recognition for its nutritional value, economic potential, and environmental contributions.
Prickly Pear fruits (tunas) and pads (cladodes) are rich in fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants, making them a nutritious staple in many cultures. Beyond human consumption, cladodes provide excellent emergency fodder for livestock, offering hydration and nutrients during feed shortages.
Economically, Prickly Pear is a valuable resource for diverse industries. Its fruits and pads can be processed into jams, juices, and cosmetic products, meeting the growing demand in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic markets.
From an environmental perspective, Prickly Pear excels in drought resistance and thrives in arid climates, making it ideal for sustainable agroforestry. Its extensive root system stabilizes soil, prevents erosion, and acts as a natural barrier to protect other crops. Additionally, Prickly Pear supports carbon sequestration and enhances biodiversity by providing habitat and food for insects, birds, and small mammals.
As a cornerstone of food security and sustainable agriculture, Prickly Pear enriches ecosystems and supports communities worldwide. We encourage the adoption and promotion of this extraordinary plant to build a healthier, more sustainable future for all.
by basem mohammed | Dec 27, 2025 | Uncategorized
Pivot 16 was cultivated with chamomile during the last winter season. The results were satisfactory, with acceptable crop performance and signs of soil health improvement.
For the current summer season, this pivot is scheduled to be cultivated with sesame. The selection of sesame aligns with our crop rotation strategy aimed at promoting soil structure enhancement and diversifying outputs. We anticipate that this crop will continue the positive trend of increasing organic matter and microbial activity, particularly in light of the foundation laid during the winter season.
by basem mohammed | Dec 27, 2025 | Uncategorized
This is the first season of operation for Pivot 8 that is supported by Poppe Braam. The initial results are highly encouraging. The pivot was cultivated with chamomile, and it achieved both high yield and exceptional crop quality, exceeding initial projections. These outcomes reflect not only the fertility of the soil but also the effective implementation of good agricultural practices.
For the summer season, peanuts will be planted in this pivot. This choice complements the biological nitrogen-fixing capability of peanuts, which we expect to contribute further to soil enrichment and overall farm sustainability. Performance indicators will be closely monitored to evaluate the full impact of this rotation on soil nutrients and structure.
by basem mohammed | Dec 27, 2025 | Uncategorized
Pivots 2 and 5
Both pivots are supported by Lebensbaum.
Both Pivots 2 and 5 have shown substantial progress over the past seasons.
- Pivot 2 was planted with clover and beans last winter. These legumes have played a vital role in nitrogen fixation and enhancing soil fertility.
In the current summer season, the pivot is divided: one half is planted with sorghum, and the other with sesame. This mixed cultivation strategy aims to assess performance under varied crop requirements while continuing to build organic matter and microbial resilience. Observations already suggest increased soil fertility and noticeable improvements in soil structure and organic content.
- Pivot 5 was cultivated with beans in the last winter season. In the summer season, it has been split between hibiscus and sesame. The soil in this pivot has shown measurable improvements in terms of organic matter levels, confirming that the interventions are having the desired impact. The diversified crop selection further enhances soil microbial diversity and supports balanced nutrient cycling.
by basem mohammed | Dec 27, 2025 | Uncategorized
Irrigation used to be done by pumping water using solar power, which means irrigation can only take place during the day, which leads to high evaporation, especially in the pivots. A reservoir with a capacity of 22,000 m³ has now been created as a prototype on the slope above the fields. It is filled during the day and at night this water can be used for irrigation, only with the pressure from the difference in altitude.
Initial results from the wheat growing season using night irrigation on Pivot 20—compared to a daytime control plot on Pivot 5—are very promising. The night irrigation system led to a 15% reduction in water use, a 12.5% increase in wheat yield, and a remarkable 25.4% improvement in water efficiency (measured in cubic meters per kilogram of wheat). These outcomes exceed our initial water footprint reduction targets by 20%. The system is powered entirely by renewable energy and monitored with advanced soil sensors and digital water flow meters.
The project will generate over 1,100 carbon credits contributing significantly to the farm’s revenue and climate impact goals.
Harnessing Runoff Water for Sustainable Agriculture
SEKEM’s recent reports on its Wahat El Bahariya farm highlight a pioneering approach to water recycling within organic desert agriculture. During the implementation of a solar-powered night irrigation system, an unexpected opportunity for water reuse was discovered: irrigation runoff, along with water from neighboring farms, naturally accumulates at the farm’s lowest point due to an underground clay layer. Instead of allowing this runoff—now more saline than well water—to go to waste, SEKEM collects and recycles it to irrigate salt-tolerant perennial crops such as moringa and prickly pears. This innovative recycling not only maximizes water efficiency but also enables the productive use of water that would otherwise be lost, contributing to the farm’s overall sustainability.
by basem mohammed | Dec 27, 2025 | Uncategorized
Unlocking the Benefits of Moringa in Agroforestry
Moringa oleifera, known as the “Miracle Tree,” is celebrated for its exceptional nutritional profile, rich in vitamins, minerals, and protein. This versatile plant enhances soil health with its deep roots and nitrogen-rich leaves, making it an excellent green manure choice. Moringa also provides partial shade and acts as a windbreak, protecting sensitive crops and improving microclimatic conditions, especially in dry regions.
As a high-protein feed supplement, Moringa boosts milk and meat production in livestock. Its nutritional richness makes it a vital resource in combating malnutrition, particularly among children and pregnant women. Additionally, Moringa is renowned for its medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, and is traditionally used to treat various ailments. Crushed Moringa seeds can even purify water, offering a natural solution for clarifying turbid water.
Moringa stands as a crucial asset in agroforestry, promoting environmental sustainability and enhancing community health.
by basem mohammed | Dec 27, 2025 | Uncategorized
SEKEM has reached a major milestone in its efforts to regenerate Egypt’s Western Desert with the planting of 50,000 new trees at Wahat Farm. These trees ranging from Eucalyptus, Casuarina, Neem, Tipuana tipu, Dalbergia sissoo, Melia azedarach, Conocarpus, and Ziziphus spina-christi. They are selected for their resilience in arid climates and their ecological benefits, including shade, biodiversity, and soil regeneration. Many of these species also have important roles in agroforestry systems, offering benefits like wind protection, organic biomass, and carbon sequestration.
These 50,000 new trees add to the 400,000 previously planted trees at Wahat, which are being carefully maintained and show strong growth. Together, they represent a significant step toward SEKEM’s long-term vision of greening the desert through biodynamic methods.
The tree-planting initiative is more than an environmental gesture—it is part of an integrated, community-based development model. All farming practices at Wahat are Demeter- and EU Organic-certified and powered exclusively by renewable solar energy. With deep irrigation wells powered sustainably, and efforts to reduce evaporation through innovative water storage, even desert soils are being brought to life.
