Ventile and EBDA began their partnership in 2023 and say their efforts to create a chemical-free soil environment at the Salsol Farm and Ramadan Kamel Farm, both located in the Nile Delta region of Egypt, have been a success.

The duo say independent lab results show significant changes in the composition of the soil structure, including improvements in texture, soil stability, and aggregation. The activity has been carried out as part of the journey to implement biodynamic farming methods at the two farms.

In a bid to establish self-sustaining farms using biodynamic principles, the land has been cultivated to improve soil health, as observed through enhancements in soil organic matter, microbial activity, and overall soil fertility. In addition, the announcement states that extended measures such as establishing tree borders have been implemented to act as a protective barrier against potential contamination from neighbouring farms as well as fostering biodiversity.

The primary objective of the project is to support the production of high-quality, ethical and regenerative-grown organic cotton to meet the increasing demand in the textile industry. Early indications show that the long-term productivity and quality of cotton from the farms are expected to increase significantly with cotton yield increasing by 157kg per acre in the first year.

Ventile brand director Daniel Odermatt said: “Increasingly, it is becoming more and more challenging to source organic cotton that is both biodynamically farmed and of a high quality. Projects such as this provide farmers with the skills, knowledge, and access to experts, to support a move to regenerative farming methods. Working with EBDA supports our ongoing aim to provide environmentally conscious fabric solutions and it also supports the future production for the textile industry.”

Justus Harm, co-executive director of The Egyptian Biodynamic Association, added: “Our aim is to create a future where organic agriculture is recognised as a thriving sector that is socially conscious, economically viable, and environmentally sound. The initial results show what can be achieved when meaningful partnerships are developed, and innovative solutions are found to nurture primary producers. It is important that we look to support farming from the ground up and work with partners such as Ventile to bring about measurable change.”