Sweet Water News
Milwaukee to Egypt—Beyond the Arab Spring
Monday, February 6th, 2012 5pm - 7pm Sweet Water Organics 2151 S. Robinson Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53207 ( map)
Milwaukee to Egypt—Beyond the Arab Spring
A Potluck Discussion at Sweet Water, Monday, February 6, 5 to 7 p.m.
Many of us were riveted last Spring by the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions. Democracy has already taken hold in Tunisia and appears to be on the way in Cairo, although the path is likely to be a rocky one. What are the future prospects for Egypt’s democracy-demanding youth? Can there be a ‘good boom’ in Egypt and other Middle East democracies to help resolve their economic and environmental problems? This is obviously a highly speculative question but worth pondering in light of Milwaukee’s urban renaissance in places like Bay View helped along by entrepreneurial and socially responsible businesses like Sweet Water Organics. Do we in Milwaukee have any lessons to offer?
Organic agriculture possesses the potential for fostering a ‘good boom’ and the creation of a compact, nutritious cuisine in Egypt that can be marketed to the world. A compact cuisine is one not taking much space away from nature and minimizing fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Egyptian organic agriculture fills the bill for both and has the capacity to create significant employment in rural Egypt. Let me explain by way of an example.
The SEKEM group, headquartered in rural Egypt, is composed of five different companies that employ 1,800 people and produce and distribute a variety of organic products including natural medicines, cereals, rice, vegetables, pasta, honey, jams, dates, spices, herbs, edible oils, herbal teas, juices, coffee, milk, eggs, beef, sheep, chicken, seeds, and organic cotton textiles and clothing. One company, ISIS, distributes more than 80 percent of the herbal teas sold in Egypt. SEKEM operates four farms on reclaimed desert lands that provide almost a third of the companies organic raw materials and develops permanent ties with small farmers to produce the rest in compliance with Fair Trade standards. SEKEM’s secret weapon in desert reclamation is compost, of which it produces and sells a surplus to other farmers. Compost rich soils in deserts increase fertility and productivity, retain much more water than conventional farm soils (essential in an arid climate), and sequesters substantial amounts of carbon in its organic matter. As a result of its aerobic composting operation, SEKEM is awarded carbon credits which it can sell in the European carbon allowance market. SEKEM delivers health care and educational services through its foundation to employees and local communities in which it operates. The foundation also provides training to farmers in organic methods as well as support for research in organics. For a complete picture of SEKEM’s activities check out its web site at http://www.sekem.com/english/default.aspx, and look at its annual report at http://www.sekem.com/Files/PDFs/SEKEM%20%20Report%20on%20Sustainable%20Development%202010_en.pdf.
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