Dr Abouleish's wife oversees the packing process with a watchful eye. From organic vegetables to healing herbs and children's clothing, business at Sekem is buzzing. But how could they turn a dry patch of desert land into a successful farm?

For Abouleish, the answer lies in composting. 'The biological, organic principle is based on symbiosis between all living things. Here, you produce this by using compost'. At Sekem, recycling organic waste has become a science. As opposed to industrial farming which exhausts the land, the aim here is to leave the soil in a better condition for future generations.

Sekem is also a new business model, a 'corporate model for the 21st century, which combines business success with social and cultural development'. With schools, a clinic and even a theatre on site, Sekem's workers feel they work for their community and not just for a boss: 'It belongs to us all, not to the doctor alone'

But the real beauty of this project is the bold optimism, which emanates from everyone. Whether in the schools, the fields or the research lab, all who work at Sekem believe that they can make a difference on a global scale. And who knows, maybe they will.