A GROWING OPPORTUNITY

Producing and exporting medicinal plants is a growing business opportunity in Egypt. GEBAL’s partner, the Union for Ethical Bio-trade (UEBT), works with a total of 16 companies employing over 600 Egyptian farmers on growing medicinal herbs and plants.

Local ecosystems create unique growing conditions for medicinal plants across different parts of Egypt, shaping microclimates, soil quality, and water availability. However, unsustainable growing practices negatively affect the quality of medicinal plants. These include inefficient irrigation practices, the overuse or inappropriate use of agrochemicals, and unsustainable waste management techniques. Such practices can have a detrimental impact on ecosystem health and biodiversity. Therefore, a sustainable expansion of the market requires sustainable cultivation.

UNDERSTANDING THE ECOSYSTEM IMPACT

For UEBT, GEBAL assessed the current growing conditions for medicinal plants in Egypt. This entailed a mapping of appropriate growing areas for different medicinal plants including herbs and jasmine. A clustering of these growing areas and examining their environmental conditions, including water, soil, and biodiversity, will help identify where the growing of medicinal plants is most appropriate, and what ecosystem impacts can be expected. To evaluate ecosystem, native species, and biodiversity impact, GEBAL looked at indicators such as the number of irrigation wells, well depths, irrigation practices, or sources of water and soil contamination. Our team further considered climate change impacts in current and future growing areas to evaluate long-term growing potential.

EXPANDING MEDICINAL PLANT PRODUCTION

Based on this evaluation, GEBAL formulated concrete and tangible suggestions for how good practices can help abate risks and negative impacts. More efficient water management, the use of non-harmful fertilizers and pest control mechanisms, the integration of native species into growing practices and farm management, and the identification of existing conservation initiatives can all help develop production methods that generate co-benefits for ecosystem health.

To assist better implementation of good practices, GEBAL reviewed the Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) produced by 9 farms operated by UEBT-certified Egyptian companies, assessed their implementation, and contributed to the training of auditors to guarantee a continuous and efficient monitoring process for more sustainable growing processes.