The Egyptian Biodynamic Association (EBDA) Hosts the Fourth Climate Heroes Forum at Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development
Under the theme “The Role the Economy of Love in Empowering Women and Driving Community Development”:
The Egyptian Biodynamic Association (EBDA) Hosts the Fourth Climate Heroes Forum at Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development
The Egyptian Biodynamic Association (EBDA), in collaboration with the Economy of Love (EoL) standard, hosted the fourth edition of the Climate Heroes Forum under the theme “The Role of the Economy of Love in Empowering Women and Driving Community Development.” The forum, held at the Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development campus, brought together policymakers, academics, environmental experts, and development practitioners to celebrate smallholder farmers pioneering biodynamic agriculture and sustainable carbon sequestration practices, while highlighting the essential role of women in strengthening rural communities and advancing sustainable development.
The event underscored the government’s support for scaling up regenerative agriculture and advancing women’s empowerment in line with the Economy of Love standard.
Panel discussions highlighted how the Economy of Love standard enables women to take an active role in transforming their communities. By linking regenerative farming practices with access to carbon credits and fairer market participation, EoL provides women with pathways to economic independence while strengthening their social and cultural contributions. The forum also showcased holistic approaches, including health awareness initiatives that position women as central pillars of sustainable development, as well as financial inclusion solutions such as those presented by Do-Pay, which are essential for ensuring equitable access to the benefits of regenerative agriculture.
In his keynote address, Mr. Helmy Abouleish, CEO of SEKEM Holding and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development, said: “The Economy of Love is a holistic vision where ecology, economy, culture, and social well-being converge. By equipping women and men alike with the tools to contribute to their communities, we are laying the foundation for a more sustainable and equitable future for Egypt.”
The event also featured inspiring contributions from international speakers, who shared global perspectives on regenerative development, as well as an inspiring interventions by women from Marsa Matrouh, whose stories highlighted the vital role of women in advancing sustainable livelihoods in local communities
The forum also recognized the “Climate Heroes”, farmers from across Egypt who have demonstrated leadership in adopting EoL-certified practices. The Economy of Love standard is directly aligned with Egypt’s Sustainable Development Goals 2030 by reducing emissions, restoring soils, and building more resilient communities.
The fourth Climate Heroes Forum formed part of a series of national events held throughout 2025 to recognize farmers adopting the Economy of Love standard. The initiative has grown from 400 farmers in 2022 to more than 34,000 who have adopted biodynamic practices and benefitted from carbon credits. These forums highlight EBDA’s ongoing efforts to scale up regenerative agriculture nationwide and demonstrate the connection between sustainable farming, women’s empowerment, and community development
About Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development
In 2012, Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development was established as part of the SEKEM Initiative. The university was founded with the aim of pioneering the introduction of sustainable development concepts and principles to its students and the broader Egyptian community. The university has joined over 800 prestigious universities globally by signing the Magna Charta Universitatum and is recognized as a partner of the Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development in Cairo. In the latest Times Higher Education Impact Rankings for 2024, it was included for its contributions to Sustainable Development Goals, while also ranking 50th among Egyptian institutions in the Webometrics Ranking for citations as of July 2024.
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About the Egyptian Biodynamic Association (EBDA):
Founded 30 years ago, the Egyptian Biodynamic Association (EBDA) is an independent association that developed the “Economy of Love” (EoL) standard, highly inspired by the SEKEM vision. The EBDA is focused on scaling biodynamic agriculture, promoting a holistic transformation of farming communities. Through the “Economy of Love” Standard, the EBDA is enabling farmers to transition from conventional to a more profitable biodynamic, regenerative farming model while supporting community development. To date, it has supported over 15,000 farmers and converted over 47,000 acres of land.
