EBDA in May 2025
EBDA Media & Communications Team
1. Educational Video Production and Publishing
- We successfully edited 10 learning videos this month as part of our ongoing effort to create accessible and informative content for our target audiences.
- The videos focused on all videos were uploaded to our official YouTube channel, ensuring easy access for farmers, partners, and the wider public.
- Each video was edited for clarity, visual engagement, and learning effectiveness, using subtitles, transitions, and voice-over where needed.
Objective: To expand our educational library and offer consistent learning material to support field training and online education efforts.
2. Social Media Content Creation
a. Climate Heroes Reels
- Produced and published 9 short reels featuring Climate Heroes—local individuals taking positive climate action.
- Each reel was scripted, filmed, and edited to highlight the human impact and inspire engagement.
- The content was shared on Instagram and Facebook, generating increased interaction and positive feedback.
Goal: To spotlight real-life examples of sustainable practices and motivate wider community participation.
b. Educational Reels
- Created 2 learning-focused reels tailored specifically for social media platforms.
- These short, visually engaging reels simplified key educational messages and farming techniques, making them digestible for mobile users.
Target Audience: Young farmers, trainees, and social media followers seeking quick, informative content.
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3. Event Coverage – Organic Egypt Training in Sekem El Sharkia
- The media team covered a training event organized by Organic Egypt, held at Sekem El Sharkia Farm, attended by a group of participants from Aswan.
Activities included:
- On-site photography capturing the training sessions, group activities, and key moments.
- Editing and selection of the best images for internal documentation and social media sharing.
- Filming and editing a recap reel summarizing the day, featuring highlights, testimonials, and shots of the farm environment.
Purpose: To document the collaboration between Organic Egypt and regional trainees, and to amplify the impact of the training through visual storytelling.
Summary
This month, the media team:
Delivered 21 media outputs in total:
10 long-form educational videos (YouTube)
11 social media reels (9 Climate Heroes + 2 Learning)
Covered and documented a key stakeholder event.
Strengthened our visual storytelling and increased audience engagement across platforms.
Communications Team
As part of the ongoing outreach and registration efforts, a total of 11 farms have been successfully registered between March and the 31 th of May, encompassing a combined area of 155 feddans.
The breakdown of farm registration channels is as follows:
- 4 farms were acquired through Facebook outreach efforts.
- 7 farms were contacted and registered via WhatsApp communication or direct phone calls.
These registrations were drawn from a broader database of 176 farms that are being actively targeted for potential onboarding.
Furthermore, additional farms are currently in the pipeline for registration, with several awaiting scheduled field visits by the designated engineers.
The registration process is ongoing and expected to expand as more outreach activities and follow-ups are conducted.
Achievements and Events
Justus Harm contributed to the Presencing Series
Justus Harm contributed to the Presencing Series and presented the work of the Egyptian Biodynamic Association and the Economy of Love initiative, showcasing how regenerative agriculture and conscious economic models can address pressing environmental and social challenges. His presentation emphasized the power of community-based transformation, biodynamic farming practices, and the role of inner development in creating sustainable systems. Through this global platform hosted by the Presencing Institute, Justus shared the inspiring story of how farmers in Egypt are pioneering a holistic approach to climate action and social equity.
Biodynamic Preparations Excavation Day
The day started in the morning at the BD Preps House, SEKEM Sharqiya Farm, Together the team worked on excavating:
Compost Preparations
The yarrow preparations BD502,the chamomile preparation BD503, the nettle preparation BD504, the preparations were successfully matured and they have been packaged and stored at the storage room inside the BD Preps House.
The Field Spray Preparations
All horns specified for the horn silica preparations were cleaned and ready to be filled. The horn silica preparation BD501 was filled and buried successfully.
Cleaning the flowers from the stems
The team worked on cleaning the dried Achillea flowers from the stems as part of the workshop activities.
Putting the labels of the preparations
The team worked on creating labels for each preparation as a sign of each prep buried at the BD Preps House. A talented student (Mohamed Mahmoud) from SEKEM Mid School drew the labels beautifully. Additionally, the labels were sent to the carpenter at SEKEM farm to be ready for its application on the field.
The BD Plant Breeding workshop
Introduction
The breeding workshop was conducted by Swiss wheat breeder Peter Kunz from the “Fund for Crop Plant Development,” alongside two Italian breeders, Federica and Samuele, from the initiative Seminare il Futuro.
Participants included three professors from the Faculty of Organic Agriculture (FOA) at Heliopolis University (HU), seven agricultural engineers from the Egyptian Biodynamic Association (EBDA) and HU who are actively engaged in plant breeding, and three students from HU FOA.
The workshop explored integrating biodynamic principles into plant breeding, emphasizing the importance of aligning agricultural practices with cosmic rhythms. The farm organism, vegetative growth, and ripening process were all examined as interconnected elements influenced by cosmic forces. The plant breeder’s task is to balance these dynamics — managing the dual influence of reproduction (linked to Moon, Venus, and Mercury) and ripening/nutritive value (influenced by Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn).
Key Discussions:
1- Establishing a Plant Breeding Center:
A proposal was made to establish a plant breeding center in collaboration with Mizan Company. The center will integrate a business-oriented approach to align breeding efforts with market needs and innovation goals.
2- Capacity Building and Knowledge Dissemination:
Emphasis was placed on intensifying training programs and specialized workshops to build local expertise and expand knowledge in plant breeding.
3- Tailored Breeding Programs:
Initiatives will be launched to breed crop varieties specifically suited for biodynamic farms. These efforts aim to enhance agricultural sustainability and strengthen Egypt’s food security.
4- Training Future Breeders:
Promising individuals will be selected and trained by Egyptian and international breeding experts to build a skilled new generation of plant breeders.
Upcoming Steps
- Seed Storage Facility:
Allocate a dedicated seed store equipped with optimal storage conditions, including proper ventilation, temperature regulation, and light control. The facility will be analyzed to determine its capacity and suitability. - Crop and Trait Prioritization:
A list of key crops and desired traits will be defined to initiate focused breeding programs aligned with strategic goals.
- Internship Opportunities:
Practical internships will be arranged for students and young breeders, enabling knowledge exchange and experience in diverse breeding contexts. Collaborations will be established with Ibiza (Italy) and Wageningen University (Netherlands). - Hands-On Training:
Two seasonal training sessions will be held to provide applied learning in plant breeding techniques and field practices. - Stakeholder Collaboration:
Partnerships will be formed with both official institutions and independent experts to strengthen program implementation and outreach. - Breeding Area Preparation:
A suitable breeding area will be prepared within El Mizan’s greenhouse. The selected area must have good soil quality and access to a reliable water source.
Conclusion
This workshop marked an important step in integrating biodynamic principles into structured breeding programs. Through strategic collaboration, training, and infrastructure development, the initiative aims to create resilient, high-quality crop varieties that serve ecological and economic goals.
Information Technology
The EBDA IT team is now responsible for managing the agriculture module of the ERP next data tool ,and some operations on the kobotool box, the offline data tool that helps the EBDA Engineers on the field.
Supporting the team with special reports (ERP next , kobo ) we’d like to appreciate the efforts of Eng. Ahmed Younis for his efforts in creating an efficient data source.
The team is working now on a plan to refine and improve ERP next to be more reliable and scalable.
EBDA Engineers’ Monthly Training
As part of the monthly training activities, the EBDA responsible team coordinated the participants in a comprehensive training session held in Libra at SEKEM Sharkia. The training was led by Dr. Saber Hendawy, professor of medicinal and aromatic plants and focused primarily on agroforestry and weed management. The sessions were conducted between May 3rd and May 6th and included both theoretical and practical components. Below is a summary of the key activities:
General Lecture on Agroforestry
Dr. Saber delivered an introductory lecture on agroforestry to all participating engineers. The session covered fundamental principles and the importance of integrating trees into agricultural landscapes for improved sustainability.
Theoretical Session on Weed Management
The group attended a detailed session on weed identification and management. The lecture was highly informative, and Dr. Saber encouraged open discussion, receiving valuable feedback from the engineers.
Practical Insights from Assistant Engineer
Eng. Abdullah Mohamed’s assistant delivered a follow-up lecture focused on practical weed management challenges. He facilitated a discussion on real-field issues and shared practical knowledge with the group. This session concluded with a field tour of a designated area in Libra containing various types of weeds to reinforce the concepts discussed.
Practical Field Training at El Mezan
Dr. Saber led a practical session in the El Mezan fields, demonstrating several weed species and the crops they typically affect. This hands-on experience enhanced the engineers’ ability to recognize and manage weed infestations effectively.
Final Sessions and Evaluation
The training concluded with both a theoretical and practical examination. The theoretical test was conducted in the Libra classroom, while the practical assessment took place in the El Mezan fields. These evaluations ensured the engineers could apply their learning confidently in real-world scenarios.
EBDA Farmers’ Growth
Farmers’ Training
EBDA Farmers’ Training (May 2025)
Farmers’ Training Supported by: ComON Foundation project
EBDA extension engineers successfully registered 544 new farms in May that included 2,020 farmers with a total area of 9,700 acres.
EBDA total registered information in the until May, 2025 as follows:
- Total farms: 5,988 farms registered
- Total farmers: 26,204 farmers registered
- Total area in acres: 114,519 Feddan
