The Egyptian Biodynamic Association is one of SEKEM´s initiatives. This association has been established in 1990 aiming at promoting the organic agriculture movement in Egypt. In 1996 it was registered in the Ministry of Social Affairs (No.336/96), as a non-governmental non-profit organization providing training, research, and advisory services in field of organic farming.

EBDA activities:

Agricultural extension:
Expertise in different fields of agriculture, work with the farmers during and after the transition period, supporting them in the phases and tasks of cultivation, helping them to implement the biodynamic methods, as well as the farm management and documentation, to enable their farms to be inspected by the national and international auditors.

Training:
The farmers and agricultural engineers are trained in regularly organized training seminars, workshops, farm visits and field trips. Training courses are also arranged for participants from other developing countries. The training courses are planned and introduced by experts from national and international universities and research centres.

Research:
EBDA plans and develops applied research in biodynamic agriculture, in cooperation with Egyptian and foreign scientists, to solve any problem that may face the farmers in areas of plant nutrition, plant protection and post harvest conditions.
EBDA is running a breeding programme for improving the seed quality of medicinal and aromatic plants, some of which are already released to the farmers. Also, farmers are supplied with seeds and planting materials originating from organically grown plants in EBDA's experimental farm.
The research activities are coordinated by the Scientific Committee. Representatives of universities, national and international research centres are members of this committee. Abstracts and conclusions are presented in conferences, seminars and the monthly EBDA newsletters .

Guidelines:
EBDA established a guideline committee to issue the "Egyptian Biodynamic Guidelines". These guidelines are focusing on the private labelling scheme "demeter", but they are principally based on the international Demeter guidelines, the EU and IFOAM regulations. EBDA already released the Egyptian guidelines for biodynamic agriculture, Egyptian guidelines for processing of organic products, and Egyptian guidelines of production and processing of organic cotton.

Marketing and public relations:
The marketing committee develops strategies to introduce organic labels in the local market. At the same time it is a contact point for international marketing and trade initiatives in the organic movement. The committee also pays much effort to help the farmers in marketing their products, and to realize fair trade between the farmers and the trading companies.

Financial resources:
EBDA is independent from any public resources. The members raise the financial resources of the association. Farmers and processing companies pay a yearly fee for the services they receive. All products sold with the private trademark "demeter" are charged with an administrative percentage fee.

Biodynamic Cotton Cultivation
For the first time in Egypt´s history, in 1991, cotton was cultivated using Biodynamic methods, a revolution in Egypt. Since 1994 the Egyptian Government has been supporting farmers to cultivate organic cotton. In 1997, 500.000 hectares of pesticide free cotton were planted.

Technical studies:
In the last two years, EBDA has been invited by some local and international authorities to prepare several technical studies, including:

• socio-economic study for conservation of wild medicinal plants in south Sinai ( GEF,UNDP project)
• Promoting medicinal and aromatic plants cultivation in Fayoum Governorate (Dutch Government project)
• Integration of organic farming in IPM program in Fayoum (Dutch Government project).
• Potentials of organic farming in Wadi Rayan protectorate (Italian Government project).

Inspection and Certification
The "demeter" Bund, IMO Switzerland, and the EBDA jointly established an independent inspection and certification body COAE (Centre of Organic Agriculture in Egypt) . The COAE ensures and guarantees that the international DEMETER and European regulations for organic production are fulfilled. SEKEM is also a member of IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movement)

Contact:
coae@tedata.net.eg