Latest news with #regenerativefarming
ABC News
7 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Meatworks access tightens for producers competing with major supermarket chains
Farmers trying to sell direct to consumers or build their own brands say it is becoming increasingly difficult to access processing at Australian meatworks. A growing number of producers claim abattoirs are "effectively locked up" by supermarkets and exporters. Impact Ag Australia managing director Hugh Killen oversees 17 sheep and cattle farms from Bundaberg in Queensland to Cootamundra in New South Wales. Mr Killen wants to market meat raised on those farms as regeneratively produced — a type of farming based on prioritising soil health and grass-fed animals. The business is privately funded and despite having relatively large numbers of livestock, Mr Killen says it is very difficult to find meat processing that will allow him to build his own brand for Australian consumers. "It's a very limiting factor, getting the kill spot so you can actually take that risk in market and build a brand out." Mr Killen, a former chief executive at Australia's largest publicly listed cattle company AACo, said processing was highly competitive and highly constrained for producers trying "to do things differently". He said 75 per cent of Australian beef was exported and more than 80 per cent of the red meat produced for the domestic market was supplied to supermarkets. "Programs that are not either aimed around the biggest supermarkets in Australia or the biggest export supply chains, it's very hard to build into that space a smaller program in Australia right now," Mr Killen said. "It's not as easy as just ringing up and saying, 'Look, I've got 500 head [of cattle] this week I want to be able to process'. I get that the processors need to have a surety of supply, but the spots are very hard to find." The Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) represents abattoir operators, butchers and smallgoods producers. AMIC chief executive Tim Ryan said there was no issue with producers getting access to slaughter in Australia, and the number of animals being processed was relatively stable. "If you look into the 1990s, we processed about 7.5 million head of cattle each year on average and likewise between 30 million and 35 million sheep and lambs every year," Mr Ryan said. National processing volumes for sheep and cattle had remained steady over the past decade, he said. "We've been roughly following those same numbers, so overall we haven't seen a reduction in capacity, but we do see periods of elevated turn-off or undersupply as we go through changing seasonal conditions. "Around the country there's about 137 sites that process livestock or at least the vast majority of those livestock on scale." Typically, most Australian farmers raising livestock sell to a supermarket, feedlot or processor and do not see their produce after it leaves the farm or saleyard. However, it is difficult to determine how many processors or meatworks offer service kills, which is when an abattoir slaughters an animal and returns the carcass to the producer to be sold at their discretion. Mr Ryan said the decision to offer service kill was a commercial decision for abattoir operators. Among those raising the issue is the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA), a group of 350 members, about half of whom are farmers. The organisation is concerned about access to slaughter for livestock. "Years of vertical integration and consolidation of ownership … has really killed off the regional abattoirs in most states. "Queensland actually still has the most small-scale abattoirs still servicing local communities, but Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, we've been just steadily losing all those smaller facilities." Ms Jonas, a pig and cattle producer, is building a micro-abattoir on her farm near Daylesford in Victoria. She made the decision to build her own facility when the abattoir she had relied upon for more than a decade was sold and new owners introduced minimum requirements for service kills. Ms Jonas said it was one of six abattoirs to close or restrict service kills over a four-month period late last year, prompting AFSA to conduct a survey of producers. Of more than 140 farmers surveyed, almost 80 per cent reported that they had either lost access to an abattoir or expected to lose access soon. The National Farmers' Federation declined to comment. Watch ABC TV's Landline at 12:30pm AEST on Sunday or stream anytime on ABC iview.
Telegraph
02-07-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Prince of Wales: Regenerative farming should be ‘foundation stone' of British agriculture
The Prince of Wales has called for regenerative farming to become the 'foundation stone' of British agriculture. Prince William, 43, made the impassioned plea at the Groundswell Regenerative Agriculture Festival in Hertfordshire on Wednesday. Billed as a 'very special surprise guest', he spoke to the audience about the group's 'commitment to a brighter, resilient and regenerative future'. The Prince made the 'rallying call' at what marked his second appearance at the annual festival, explaining that regenerative farming is 'not a fringe alternative'. 'It must be a foundation stone of British agriculture to help us rebuild the health of our nation,' he said. It comes after the Government announced that the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) – which rewards farmers for managing their land in a way that benefits the environment – will be revised. After last month's spending review, a cap is to be placed on how much money farmers can receive, which countryside campaigners have warned will threaten wildlife and damage attempts to protect the rural environment. The Prince's speech touched on his first-hand experience since he took charge of the Duchy of Cornwall, the sprawling estate spanning 128,494 acres of land across 20 counties. He aims to visit part of the Duchy once every four to six weeks to meet families and staff that make up the estate, including its farms and offices. Speaking at Groundswell on Wednesday, he said: 'As Duke of Cornwall, I've enjoyed becoming closer to farmers and farming, listening and learning from this remarkable community, who are the heart of the Duchy's rural estate, and working in partnership to enhance the land we share with nature.' He added that farming was not simply about growing food, but 'stewardship of the land, the health of our soils, the purity of our water, and the resilience of our rural society in harmony with nature'. The Prince noted that 'too much' land had been depleted and soils degraded, while nature remained 'in free-fall'. Citing the necessity of a 'different approach' thanks to climate change and mounting economic pressure on farmers, he called for regenerative farming as 'a movement that understands the need for more than just stewardship'. 'Regenerative farming offers a hopeful path forward, a way of working with nature, not against it, of enhancing soil health rather than depleting it, of building resilient systems that are economically viable and ecologically sound,' he said. In the Duchy, he added, farmers are 'already pioneering the future through mob grazing, cover cropping, companion planting, agroforestry and adapted management'. These methods mark the ongoing work of the Duchy's tenant farmers to explore innovative approaches on the road to net zero. During the Prince's visit to Groundswell, he is said to have enjoyed learning about agri-tech and the use of artificial intelligence in farming while listening to other key speakers. He explained that regenerative farming is 'not a single method or dogma, but a mindset' that he has witnessed 'from Herefordshire to the Scilly Isles'. 'We recognise that the transition to regenerative farming is not easy and not without risk. Farmers cannot do it alone,' he added. 'We must work harder to ensure society supports those who are taking bold steps towards regenerative practices.' However, the Government's SFI scheme has long been on the Treasury's hit list because they believe it does not deliver value for money. It could mark the latest blow to British farmers following the Labour Government's decision to impose inheritance tax on farmers in last year's Budget. The Prince urged consumers to 're-educate' themselves on what they eat and where it comes from, pointing out that people must understand 'the true cost of its production'. He concluded: 'To the farmers here today, I offer my respect and encouragement. 'You are at the heart of this transformation, yours is a profession of huge consequence and uncomplaining graft. 'If we as a society are to meet the challenges ahead, it will be by learning from the land, and those who tend it, with wisdom and humility.'
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Experimental farm uses innovative method to save over a billion gallons of water: 'If we can do it here, we can do it anywhere'
A cutting-edge farming technique being implemented on an experimental ranch in Arizona's Sonoran Desert has already saved a billion gallons of water over five years, according to Civil Eats, a news site covering America's food system. The water conservation is impressive considering the region was experiencing well over 100 degree heat in spring along with a drought. The National Park Service reported that the average temperature during the three summer months has increased 4 degrees Fahrenheit since 1950 because of the overheating planet. On the 665-acre Oatman Flats Ranch, the team is using special techniques to sustain wheat, barley, and other crops despite the brutal conditions. "I joke that this farm is a little better than Death Valley, but I'm not really joking," farm director Yadi Wang said. The ranch is implementing regenerative organic farming in answer to drying rivers and arid, nutrient-poor dirt. The goal is to improve soil health and biodiversity as well as to limit water use and capture planet-warming carbon with vegetation. Started in 2021, the project has earned accolades and is considered a learning site by the Regenerative Organic Alliance, per Civil Eats. Regenerative farming uses a mix of strategies, including Indigenous methods dating back thousands of years, to better manage farmland. They include crop rotation, vegetative cover, rotational grazing, and eliminating toxic pesticides and fertilizers, according to the alliance. Natural fertilizers, for example, have already proved successful at providing bountiful harvests as part of other projects, including tomato research in Italy. In the Arizona desert, farmers are also dealing with unprecedented droughts. NASA and other experts have linked planetary warming, caused largely by burning fossil fuels, to increased risks for water shortages and extreme weather events. That's on top of the poor soil quality, resulting from decades of neglect and conventional farming practices. As a result, the Oatman team is rebuilding irrigation systems, clearing invasive trees, and using other regenerative practices. Water-conserving crops were added to combat drought and overdraw from nearby farms that grow acres of alfalfa and corn for feed and fuels. The land also got a healthy dose of manure, all according to Civil Eats. Should the government be allowed to restrict how much water we use? Definitely Only during major droughts No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Sheep are natural mowers that also leave fertilizing droppings. Other species that have long been absent are returning, including dragonflies. Wang said the insects are proof of the advancements in water conservation. "If we're going to hold on to farmland, we need a significant change in how we farm and what we farm," ranch owner Dax Hansen added. The effort is paying off. In addition to the water gains, the team has doubled healthy organic matter in the dirt. It's a mindset that can be applied in any environment at nearly any scale. At home, you can cultivate a sustainable backyard by letting nature take over. Natural lawns with native blooming plants can also boost local pollinator health. Government experts say that 35% of the world's food supply is reliant on struggling pollinators. In Arizona, the ranchers also have them in mind. They spent $100,000 on native hedgerows that also help to retain soil and provide habitat for bees, birds, and other species, according to Civil Eats. The team intends to continue restoring farmland in the extreme conditions. The project has been bolstered by government funds, but the goal is for a sustainable, "financially viable" system, per Civil Eats. "You've seen what the land looks like in five years; imagine it in 10," Hansen said. "If we can do it here, we can do it anywhere." Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Irish Times
14-06-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Ireland's Greenest Places: From Dún Laoghaire's active travel to Kiltimagh's biodiversity park - some of the entries so far
The search for genuine sustainability is challenging when there is so much rampant greenwashing, especially in a country where environmental commitments too often fall short of what is required. The competition to find Ireland's greenest places is an attempt to identify locations where true sustainability is being pursued successfully. There are some reassuring aspects in entries to the competition so far: strong commitments to farming in regenerative ways; an easing of increasing environmental pressures on urban places; adoption of renewables at scale; sustained commitment found in volunteerism – a powerful mode of collective action; and indications that impact can be hyperlocal. Such an impact can be evident within the confines of a single street. It is evidence of what writer Rebecca Solnit has called 'hope in the dark', in the face of accelerating climate disruption and unrelenting nature loss. READ MORE People in every corner of Ireland are looking to their immediate locality and taking grassroots action. While despair can lead to inaction, it's a luxury we cannot afford. No human can justifiably do nothing in the face of accelerating global warming, species wipeout and pollution (most obvious in poor water quality). [ What are Ireland's Greenest Places in 2025? Share the places you feel are contributing to a better environment Opens in new window ] A flavour of entries outlined in this piece may prompt other communities (in the broadest sense) to consider entering. By any measure the scale of local environmental betterment with the help of many hands is impressive. It ranges across groups engaging in bog restoration – enabling vast tracts of land to become carbon stores, slowing water to mitigate flooding and enhancing biodiversity – to towns transforming cityscapes into more liveable locations. So this is a call-out to them; an opportunity to get recognition for their endeavours. There is also the option of individuals nominating their home place, where they work or where they visit. Highlighting projects here is not indication of likely winners, who will emerge from a separate judging process. The categories are Ireland's greenest suburb; greenest village, greenest town and Ireland's greenest community – from which an overall winner will be selected. The ability of an area as small as a suburb to pursue transformative actions is typified in the work of Connecting Cabra , which is involved in a multiplicity of activities, including staging biodiversity festivals and helping to convert gardens and open spaces into mini-nature reserves. This extends into adopting renewable energy, helping people pursue retrofitting in some of the poorest areas of Dublin and facilitating authentic 'circular living'. At the Starling Pond off Faussagh Avenue, Cabra are Connecting Cabra's Stephen Shanahan (right) showing a froglet to St Finbarr's BNS students Caden Ledwidge and Carter Ledwidge with Louisa Moss, Dublin Northwest Partnership, and Michelle Nolan of Connecting Cabra. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill 'I could list dozens more activities that Connecting Cabra and other groups run ... but that would miss the main point; that Cabra is addressing climate action and sustainability together as a community in a way that involves and actively empowers everybody and is focused on climate justice,' says Connecting Cabra chair Brian Gormley. With two of the top 10 electoral districts most affected by climate change being in its locality, Connecting Cabra is determined nobody should be left behind, Gormley, a brother of former Green Party leader John Gormley, adds. Through Cabra Warmer Homes Project, group members go door-to-door to help residents to apply for retrofitting grants. Residents of Seafield Road in Booterstown , Co Dublin, illustrate how a single action can be impactful – in their case the planting of 60,000 flowering bulbs (seven different varieties) and 60 trees, along a 300m stretch of a residential street. The initiative adds to the visual appeal of a neighbourhood but also plays a crucial role in supporting local biodiversity. Flowering bulbs bloom in succession, providing a continuous source of nectar and pollen throughout the growing season, giving pollinators and other beneficial insects a reliable food source. Adding to ecological benefits is an innovative rain garden, designed to efficiently harvest stormwater. This not only mitigates flooding but also promotes 'groundwater recharge' ensuring a greener landscape. Dublin Landscaping was entrusted with the project, which showcases how, with community engagement, a residential street can become an environmentally friendly haven, benefiting both people and the wider ecosystem. The coastal village of Castlegregory , Co Kerry, illustrates the benefits of building on a TidyTowns platform of consistently ensuring that thriving green areas are well used by local people and visitors, and with minimal littering. In tandem with this, pollinator-friendly planting, use of native trees and a 'no spray policy' promoting sustainable, chemical-free practices, allow biodiversity to thrive. 'Castlegregory is a small village with a big environmental commitment, where community, climate action and biodiversity go hand in hand,' says Bettina Pickering, who nominated the village. The breadth of activities keeps volunteers 'connected and involved', she adds. 'Our green efforts go beyond TidyTowns. The community council hosts annual circular economy events ... A tree planting group runs meitheals for native planting in private gardens and the nature park behind the secondary school also uses this space for biodiversity and geopark learning.' Emigrant Park: The pond has been planted with native aquatic species, such as water lilies, and the surrounding marsh area has been seeded with wildflowers like ragged robin and kidney vetch, alongside native oak and larch. Photograph: Michael McLaughlin Emigrant Park: Kiltimagh's community-driven biodiversity and amenity park. Photograph: Michael McLaughlin Kiltimagh in Co Mayo has a green heart; a 6.5-acre biodiversity park at its centre, which opened last year. It is called Emigrant Park, in tribute to Bill Durkan, a native of the area who emigrated to Britain and donated €100,000 for its creation. Gary Smyth of Kiltimagh Amenity Park, a voluntary group that developed the park, says some initial reaction was negative; people said paths were not maintained, some even said 'it's too wild'. But when members explained thatno pesticides or herbicides were used in the best interests of biodiversity, attitudes quickly changed. 'Now they say, 'we love it' ... It's a place to go for a coffee to de-stress.' The park has features such as a nesting wall for sand martins, designed to be educational on the importance of nature. 'In many ways, it's replicating a bog road,' says Smyth. He describes the village as an island surrounded by rivers. This includes the Pollagh, 'a bluedot river' indicating that it is one of the highest-quality rivers in the country. 'Our community are deeply invested in protecting and enhancing our natural heritage,' says Smyth. Dún Laoghaire blends smart urban planning, environmental care and inclusive values, making it a model suburb for green and resilient living in Ireland — Rob McCullagh Dún Laoghaire , Co Dublin, is tilting private car usage towards public transport and active travel – walking and cycling. This has been facilitated by residents backing a 'living streets' project, says Claire Macken. 'It will be implemented through 2025-2026. It involves sustainable mobility and public realm improvements. It aims to make our local streets safer and greener, our communities more connected and to keep our economy vibrant,' she explains. It is complemented by Dún Laoghaire Harbour Master initiatives, that 'reimagine urban spaces to prioritise pedestrians and cyclists and access to the marina, reduce car dominance, and enhance biodiversity with more trees, seating and shared public spaces'. 'Dún Laoghaire blends smart urban planning, environmental care and inclusive values, making it a model suburb for green and resilient living in Ireland,' says Rob McCullagh, who nominated it in the suburb category. Rathcroghan Mound, Co Roscommon, where the Farming Rathcrogan project has 60 participating farming families, with others waiting to join. Photograph: Joe Fenwick/NUI Galway The Farming Rathcroghan project in Co Roscommon is addressing the critical challenges of rural depopulation, sustainable land use and climate change. That alone is challenging in modern Ireland, but the project is operating in an important archaeological landscape. 'The farmland comprising the ancient 'royal' landscape of Rathcroghan is a little greener than most, due to the initiative of the local landowners, farmers and the surrounding community,' says Joe Fenwick. It was the prehistoric capital of Connacht. Rathcroghan Mound was where the kings and queens of the province were inaugurated in a ritual 'mating' with the local Earth goddess. Established in 2018, the project is supported by the EU Just Transition Fund, and has 60 participating farming families, with others waiting to join. Its 'success can be measured in the positive impact, ambition and cohesion that it has brought to the wider community. It is based on a simple model of collaborative, community-led governance', says Fenwick. It promotes solutions and innovations devised by local people with a view to sustaining fulfilling farming livelihoods, while promoting the stewardship, conservation and protection of the archaeological, ecological and cultural heritage of the area. It also addresses wider environmental concerns; maintaining groundwater quality, carbon sequestration and other actions in support of achieving climate neutrality. Those involved have demonstrated the benefits of embracing farming traditions that are as old as the locality's archaeological monuments, Fenwick believes, but also apply modern, imaginative, green innovations. The Millbrook initiative shows how the GAA community can contribute to lowering carbon emissions, teaching people about biodiversity and the benefits of green spaces — Ealma Purcell The greening of Millbrook, surrounding Oldcastle Gaelic Football Club 's pitches in Co Meath, is a perfect example of starting small and reaping benefits over time. '[It] shows how the GAA community can contribute to lowering carbon emissions, teaching people about biodiversity and the benefits of green spaces,' says Ealma Purcell. Pitches are surrounded by a walking track beside the river Inny. Extensive recent planting is delivering rich biodiversity. 'Signs carry information for people, and local schools visit for nature walks. We start with a bed of nepeta, adored by pollinators, a hive of buzzing activity. The riverbank is fenced off for safety, allowing it to become a wildlife haven, with otters and a resident heron,' says Purcell. 'We never cut the grass here, making it a totally safe environment for any creature that calls it home, and you can often hear the squeaks of little mammals. We let nettles and all sorts of other native plants [grow], providing food and nesting places for insects and butterflies. We have bird boxes and recently added in 12 fruit trees, the start of our own community orchard.' [ Restoring the Wicklow hills: 'It's like the Sahara at times up there with peat moving around like sand dunes in the desert' Opens in new window ] Jacksmill: An innovative regeneration project by farmer Huw O'Toole, who converted his farm into allotments and created a remote hub for hybrid working in a renovated sawmill. Photograph: Alan Betson Jacksmill: A remote hub for hybrid working in the renovated sawmill. Photograph: Alan Betson Jacksmill is a small farm diversification project in north Wicklow owned by Huw O'Toole and his family. Located between Wicklow town and Bray, it is made up of a large forest garden and 'Hub13', a rural remote working hub repurposed from a disused sawmill into studios with co-working and office spaces. The garden is 2.8 hectares (seven acres) of regenerated pastoral farmland transformed from heavily sheep-grazed ryegrass. Within the project are various small and family-sized allotments maintained through no pesticide use and deploying 'no dig' organic methods. Taking over the family farm in 2014, 'Huw saw the pronounced decline in insects he remembered seeing in the meadow when he was child. He was asked to sell sites for one-off housing but made a decision instead to enhance the environment and restore lost biodiversity,' says Caroline Costigan, who works there part-time. The allotments provide families with space and awareness to care for nature and the opportunity to make sustainable choices to grow their own food, limit food waste and avoid chemicals and excessive plastic packaging. Hub13 provides a rural biodiversity-focused workplace to people including creative artists and those who were feeling isolated working at home or were previously commuters on the N11, she adds. It has become, 'a thriving blueprint of the resilience of small farms and of how they can be diversified to lead climate and biodiversity action'. The Dingle peninsula: 'It's about local people having a real say in shaping their community's future' The Dingle Peninsula-Corca Dhuibhne is a standout example of how sustainability can be multilayered and adopted across a large area embracing every aspect of the local economy. It is about joining forces to find solutions that work, says Gráinne Kelleher. 'Diverse local groups work diligently to help the peninsula move towards being more resilient, having cleaner energy, protecting our natural and beautiful landscape while keeping the local economy strong to ensure a vibrant, liveable place for future generations ... it's about local people having a real say in shaping their community's future.' Footprint for good The concept of a 'carbon footprint' has come to be understood as an indicator of our ecological impact on Earth, but it ignoble origins. The idea gained popularity in 2003 when fossil-fuel company BP launched an advertising campaign asking people on the street what their carbon footprint was. It emerged that marketing agency Ogilvy & Mather's brief was to promote the slant that climate change is not the fault of an oil giant, but of individuals. The company unveiled its ' carbon footprint calculator ' so people could assess how their normal daily life – going to work, buying food and travelling – is largely responsible for heating the globe. Initially, it was a guilt trigger. In spite of the sinister motivation of Big Oil, individuals can address their carbon footprint meaningfully; their actions add up to significant impact. However, it is only by collective action – in decarbonising, restoring nature and using water sustainably – that the necessary multiplier effect is deployed. Ireland's Greenest Places shows this type of combined effort is taking root in rural and urban heartlands across the island. The Irish Times Ireland's Greenest Places competition is in association with Electric Ireland
The National
05-06-2025
- Business
- The National
How Egyptian designer Emily Mikhaiel is reinventing ethical fashion
By the time Emily Mikhaiel launched Nazeerah, her Egyptian-American fashion label rooted in regenerative farming and circular design, she'd already flirted with composting toilets, kelp farms and aquaponics. 'If I'd known how hard it was going to be, no, I wouldn't have started,' she tells The National, half-laughing, half-serious. A decade in the making, Nazeerah is not just a brand. It is a manifesto of support for Egyptian cotton farmers and not harming people or the planet. Entirely made from sustainably grown Egyptian cotton at the end of their lifespan, Nazeerah pieces will compost down to nothing, and 'return to the soil, where it started,' Mikhaiel explains. The brand's origin story is deeply personal. As a child growing up in the US, Mikhaiel made her first trip to her father's homeland Egypt at the age of 10. 'It was a complete culture shock,' she recalls. 'It wasn't like the Aladdin movie,' she adds, smiling. A family sailing trip from Cairo to upper Egypt, however, left an indelible mark, kick-starting a yearning to learn more about her father's roots and upbringing. She went on to study international relations, environmental policy and law, but it was a course in sustainable business that connected the dots. 'I kept asking myself, wouldn't it be amazing to set a precedent showing things could be done in a better way?' Her early experiments were eclectic. 'I wrote my thesis on composting toilets, but in the US, the red tape was a nightmare,' she says. There were dalliances with kelp farming ('you need a boat, and to scuba dive'); soil regeneration; and carbon sequestration. Then came the breakthrough: a rediscovery of family history. Her grandfather was a cotton broker, she learnt, while her father, picked cotton after school. Her grandmother, Nazeerah, was the local seamstress, crafting garments for the community from local cotton. 'She sewed women and children's clothing made from the cotton that was grown in the surrounding area and produced at the factories,' she explains. The idea of being the link between different elements was exactly what Mikhaiel was searching for. Bringing together sustainable farming, hand weaving and ethical practices, she named the company Nazeerah in her grandmother's honour. Egyptian cotton, famed for its extra-long fibres and exquisite softness, is a byword for luxury. It's why top-tier hotels wrap guests in the smooth, lightweight sheets. But the cotton economy in Egypt has been under pressure for decades, from both environmental degradation and global competition. Since the construction of the Aswan High Dam in the 1970s, the Nile no longer floods the fields with nutrient-rich silt. Instead, farmers now have to rely on costly chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Mikhaiel found a group working to reverse that trend, training farmers in chemical-free techniques, from composting to beneficial insect cultivation. 'I got extremely lucky by finding an organisation that's working with farmers here in Egypt and teaching them regenerative farming,' she says. From there, the vision took shape. She sought out weavers in upper Egypt who still work on handlooms and then faced down the real challenge: producing women's ready-to-wear that is entirely biodegradable. It meant upending the entire manufacturing process. 'I can't design and then select the fabric and the trims. I have to select the fabric, source the trims and then design from there,' she explains. Cotton thread replaced polyester versions, nylon shoulder pads were swapped for ones made from repurposed baby blankets, while plastic buttons were replaced for locally sourced horn. Even conventional elastic was ditched for a version made with natural latex and organic cotton, while garment bags were reimagined in recyclable paper. The biggest struggle, she realised, was persuading factories to get on board. '99.99% of all clothing is sewn with polyester thread or a poly cotton combination,' she explains, making factories unsure of how other threads will fare in the machinery. 'They're worried that cotton thread will break too easily.' One factory even reused leftover polyester from another brand by mistake. Today, the only non-compostable element left is the zip tape. 'We couldn't find an alternative,' she admits. 'But aside from that, every single part will break down naturally. It has been a huge undertaking to get to this point, but I'm really excited that we're here.' This journey would not have been possible without enlisting textile veteran Mahmoud El-Gazzar to bring local manufacturing expertise. 'He has a lot of experience,' she explains. 'He knows all the factories in Egypt and most of the suppliers, so we were able to get going.' Nazeerah is currently sold online, with a focus on the US market. The typical client? 'She's eco-conscious, she's busy, and she wants to know the story behind her clothes. Whether it's for health, sustainability or ethics – she wants to trust what she's putting on her skin.' Now, expansion is on the horizon. A new warehouse in Egypt will support shipping across the Gulf and Europe. 'There's demand,' Mikhaiel says. 'But so few brands here are doing natural, organic fabrics at this level.' For Mikhaiel, it's about more than just clothes. It's about changing the narrative – of fashion, of sustainability, and of Egypt's place in the global creative economy. She's often the only woman in the room, and, as she puts it candidly, 'probably only sitting at the table because I was born in the US.' Yet here she is, crafting a new kind of clothing – one that honours her past, respects the planet and knows exactly what it's made of.
