SEKEM was established by Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish, on an area of 70 hectares of desert sand. Biodynamic cultivation of the land started.

SEKEM sent the first shipment of medicinal herbs and food ingredients to the U.S.A.

SEKEM launched its first product line of herbal remedies on the local pharmaceutical market under the brand name SEKEM HERBS and foodstuff was introduced to the local market under the brand name ISIS.
TThe ASSOCIATION FOR CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN EGYPT was founded as a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) in Germany.

The EGYPTIAN SOCIETY FOR CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT (SCD) started its activities with employee training in the arts and science.

ATOS PHARMA was established as a joint venture company between SEKEM, Deutsche Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG) and Dr. Schaette KG, to develop the Egyptian natural pharmaceutical market.

The first SEKEM Kindergarten and the MAHAD Adult Training Institute were established.

LIBRA EGYPT was founded as a company specialized in packing and exporting fresh fruit and vegetables to Europe.

The SEKEM School started with primary and secondary stages.

ATOS PHARMA set up regional sales or distribution offices in Alexandria, Assiut and Mansoura.
LIBRA EGYPT started, in cooperation with EOSTA and Organic Farm Foods, the export of organic fresh fruits and vegetables to Europe.
SEKEM encouraged the foundation of the CENTRE OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN EGYPT (COAE) as an independent certification body, working in accordance with Demeter guidelines and later the European Regulation for Organic Agriculture.

LIBRA for Organic Cultivation was established to coordinate the organic cultivation of cotton and all other crops organically grown in Egypt.

CONYTEX, a new company for manufacturing Organic Cotton Textiles was established.
The EGYPTIAN BIODYNAMIC ASSOCIATION (EBDA) was founded as an independent non-governmental organization to provide agricultural training and consultancy services in Egypt.

ATOS PHARMA launched a range of phytopharmaceuticals and started clinical trials in different medical departments at all university hospitals in Egypt.

HATOR, a company for Fresh Organic Produce was established.
Nature's Best Shops were opened in Cairo to sell organically cultivated healthy food products and organic textiles.
EGYPTIAN SOCIETY FOR CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT opened the SEKEM Medical Centre.
The INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PARTNERSHIP (IAP) was established between SEKEM and many of its business partners.

SEKEM, ATOS PHARMA, CONYTEX and HATOR were ISO 9001 certified for the first time.
ISIS was founded as a company to manufacture organic foodstuff.
The SEKEM VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE (VTC) and ART SCHOOL were established by the EGYPTIAN SOCIETY FOR CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT. A Literacy Programme for disadvantaged children was introduced.

LIBRA opened its new mill and cleaning line for cereals, rice and dry legumes.

The CENTRE OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN EGYPT (COAE) attained accreditation according to the international quality management procedures for product certifying bodies (EN45011).

SEKEM ACADEMY FOR APPLIED ARTS AND SCIENCE was founded and started research in the fields of medicine, pharmacy, agriculture and arts.
The COOPERATIVE OF SEKEM EMPLOYEES (CSE) was founded.

The SEKEM Holding was established for the purpose of supporting, supervising and evaluating Sekem's companies.
The SEKEM INFORMATION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (SIS) was introduced by all companies.
ATOS PHARMA installed a new pilot extraction unit for medicinal plants.
LIBRA extended its capacity by building new greenhouses, stables for cows and chicken farms.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), one of the World Bank affiliates, and DEG participated in new investments of the SEKEM Group of companies.
SEKEM ACADEMY FOR APPLIED ARTS AND SCIENCE built pharmaceutical and soil fertility laboratories.

SEKEM received the Alternative Nobel Prize or Right Livelihood Award. The jury sees in SEKEM "a business model for the 21st century in which commercial success is integrated with and promotes the social and cultural development of society through the `economics of love´".
Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish was selected as an "Outstanding Social Entrepreneur" by the Schwab Foundation.
Citrus fruit and potatoes were among the first products sold as fair-trade certified by FLO Germany.
SEKEM ACADEMY started training courses for Eurhythmy at the workplace.

SEKEM and Acumend Fund are financing a project to increase the growth of the organic cultivation of the land and the number of Egyptian farmers.
The EGYPTIAN SOCIETY FOR CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT together with the University Witten/Herdecke formed a consortium with Cairo University, Helwan University, Zagazig University, Antwerp University, Marburg University, King's College London and the University London School of Pharmacy to carry out the EU project DOPSE-TEMPUS to develop a phyto-pharmacy curriculum.

LOTUS was founded as a company processing organic herbs and spices from biodynamically cultivated plants.
Establishment of SEKEM Europe to support the overall goal of SEKEM Holding to process and market healthy and ethical products made from biodynamic ingredients.
SEKEM Museum for natural history and human prehistory opens for visitors.
Egyptian Biodynamic Association started projects on new feed technology, improving seeds of medicinal and aromatic plants and use of solar dryers as alternative sustainable drying system for small growers.
Start of a 3 year project “Genetic Resources Policy Initiative in Egypt”.

MIZAN, a plant nursery grafting and raising young fruit and vegetable plants, was established. Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Child Labour, a 2-year project promoted by the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood. Comprehensive Poverty Alleviation Intervention in Rural Sharkeya, Egypt, a 3-year project funded by EU.

Foundation of LOTUS Upper Egypt, a new company for the extension of SEKEM’s drying herbs capacity EcoTec Holding was established as a sister organization of the SEKEM Holding, dedicated to renewable energy and other environmental services
Heliopolis Academy opened the Water Research Department working on advanced water and wastewater treatment technologies, advanced water disinfection techniques, doing research on state-of-the-art irrigation techniques as well as analyzing water for all applications.
The Sekem Environmental Science Center was founded to cooperate with the Sekem School and all schools in the region in the fields of practical environmental science training.

Establishment of SEKEM for land reclamation. It is planning to reclaim and plant 4000 acres in North Sinai, 2000 acres in the Oasis, and 1000 acres in Minia Governorate.
The Heliopolis Academy Innovation Center was established to foster innovation, to motivate the high potential researchers and engage them in think tank sessions with the stakeholders of new technology in order to create research-to-business partnerships. The Center established the Heliopolis Academy Innovation Award in 2009.
The Heliopolis Academy was renamed to Heliopolis Academy, Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development”
Under the umbrella of the Heliopolis Academy, the Sustainable Entrepreneurship Center was founded to promote sustainable change in the Egyptian economic sector, working to raise awareness and build capacity, and serving as a consultancy for sustainability reporting and related sustainability strategy services.

The Heliopolis Academy established Biotech-Lab which runs and manages Biotech - projects such as “producing bio-fuel from agricultural and industrial waste”.
Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development receives its acknowledgement by the Presidential Decree No. 298 in August 2009

Sekem Gender Equity Seal Sekem companies achieved 98% in Promoting Gender Equity and Productivity as a business model for Human development through One Business Community…Equal Opportunity Project in cooperation with the UNIFEM, World Bank and the Ministry of Investment