Flair Magazine By Menna Saad El Din
Since 2007, Dr. Mansour has been a trailblazer in organic farming in Egypt, establishing RAMSCO Construction & Eco-Villages with a focus on organic fertilizers and advanced agricultural technology. This led to the successful pilot project at her research center, paving the way for RAMSCO for Sustainable Agricultural Development in 2009, and later, OASIS (Organic Agriculture for Social International Solidarity) in Monaco in 2012. These initiatives, she asserts, are pivotal in addressing critical economic, social, and environmental challenges, and fostering poverty alleviation and environmental preservation.
Dr. Mansour’s innovative approach is grounded in solid research. She highlights Egypt’s enormous agricultural waste — an estimated 36 million tons — as a valuable resource. Through Biochar technology, this waste can be transformed into organic fertilizers, potentially revitalizing 1.5 million acres. Her ambitious vision proposes that establishing 300 organic-farming-based eco-villages could create 10 million jobs, reduce labor migration abroad, and secure food for the nation.
Her aspiration is clear: to build zero-waste eco-villages that ensure food for all citizens, especially the most vulnerable. Dr. Mansour identifies availability, accessibility, and affordability as the cornerstones of food security, while climate change, carbon footprint, and rising costs present significant hurdles.
Demonstrating her pragmatic approach, she moved away from the increasingly saline Delta region. Instead, she partnered with the Agricultural Research Center to reclaim 30 acres of desert land in Ismailia. For Dr. Mansour, this isn’t just about agricultural investment; it’s a real-life experiment in empowering rural women through innovative farming.
RAMSCO’s core innovation lies in its use of Biochar, a method that significantly reduces gas emissions. This technology also conserves water (reducing irrigation water consumption by 30% and drip-irrigation by 60%), enhances soil quality, and enables the production of healthy food without pesticides. This project truly embodies a circular economy by recycling all agricultural waste, making it a zero-waste endeavor. Furthermore, this distinctive approach empowers marginalized female farmers by training them in eco-friendly farming techniques, facilitating their transition to green economy practices and contributing to water conservation.
Dr. Mansour underscores the critical importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors. RAMSCO exemplifies this through partnerships with entities like the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, and Anchorage Investments.
Central to Dr. Mansour’s philosophy is the belief in the pivotal role of women in addressing climate change and sustainable development. Empowering rural women is a key objective across her diverse projects, providing them with fitting job opportunities within their communities, thereby alleviating poverty and tackling food shortages.
Dr. Mansour’s dedication remains unwavering: to implement projects that are environmentally beneficial, align with sustainable development goals, empower women, and elevate living standards through varied employment, training, and capacity-building opportunities.
