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FROM THE FIELD TO THE SHOP SHELF
MorgenLand
Project
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Algeria
The initial impetus for the organic dates project
in Algeria came from the family of Orhan Yilmaz.
This recommendation led us to Biskra a few years
ago, a city situated at an oasis in the north-eastern Sahara in Algeria. There, in the midst of dry
steppes there are vast expanses of land on which
magnificent date palms flourish.
DE-ÖKO-001
MorgenLand Project
Algeria
Deglet Nour dates
MorgenLand has been working with growers
in Biskra since 2013 on one of the most popular date varieties, the “Deglet Nour”. These
are characterised in particular by their golden
colour. When held up to the sun, the sweet
fruit pulp of the thumb-sized date is almost
transparent, and the contours of the long pit
with pointed ends can be easily distinguished.
The date plantations of the MorgenLand
cultivation project were organically certified with the support of Project Manager
Kees Maris. In parts, up to 2500 real palms
stand ten metres apart in Algeria’s date fields.
They grow between 15 to 20 metres high and
bear fruit for up to a century. Every two years
the palms’ pollinated flowers bear new dates.
The fruits dry in the simmering heat of the
desert sun while still on the branch. As soon
as the drying phase is over, the very hard
dates are harvested by hand and then trans-
ported in crates to the processing facility
located in Biskra. There, they are first sorted
by size, degree of drying and
further criteria before they are
washed and sprinkled with drinking water until the desired moisture content has been reached.
The dates are then pitted by hand.
This method of processing and
in particular the moistening of
the dried raw goods gives the
Deglet Nour dates their
especially soft consistency.
“The bread
of the desert”
Due to their high nutrient
concentration, dates were
counted as a staple foodstuff as
far back as 5000 years ago, and
this is also the case today, particularly in the East. That is why
they are also known as “the
bread of the desert”.
The dates are pitted by
hand in the processing
facility in Biskra.
Not only can the sweet honey
caramel date fruit pulp be used
as an important food product
and energy source, but in the
desert the date pits are also
After they have arrived at the processing
facility, the dates are initially carefully sorted.
trampled down, mixed with a small amount
of water and used as animal food.
Dates are characterised not only by their
high number of vitamins and trace elements, but also by their significance in
human history. Due to its consistent blooming and very diverse uses, the date palm is
considered to be a tree of life in the Bible,
and has become a symbol of resurrection.
Dates also enjoy an important role in Islam.
During the fasting period of Ramadan, Muslims break their fast after sunset with a date
and a glass of water, as the Prophet Muhammad purportedly recommended.
“Deglet Nour” –
Finger of Light
When looking at their rich level of nutrients,
it is not surprising that dates have enjoyed such
a significant role in various stages of history.
The date variety “Deglet Nour”, which when
translated means “finger of light”, got its name
due to its particularly soft, almost transparent
fruit pulp and its full-bodied sweet flavour.
With its vitamins and mineral nutrients, it is
a highly effective combined energy source.
Interview
with Kees Maris, Project Manager MorgenLand
ML-Ed.: “The political situation in North
Africa has become more turbulent in the last
few years, the countries in the region are
plagued by terror and violence from extremist groups. The Foreign Office in Algeria is
also warning of terrorist attacks and hijacking. What effect does this tense political
situation have on farming in Biskra?”
The stakeholders in the MorgenLand
date project: Kees Maris, Farmer Boufenec,
Mokhtar Kenioua, Belkacem Bezziane
Kees: “It’s a fact that the overall situation
is tense. However, in the small cities situated at oases where our cultivation partners
live, this is less apparent. In most cases,
five to eight families live in areas like these.
The inhabitants are self-sufficient, plant
fruit and vegetables and keep cows. They
are committed to sustainable community
living, as they would not otherwise be
able to survive. They treat the environment
with incredible care, and also relations
with other people are very caring and
peaceful. People travel to the next town
only once, or at most twice per month in
order to trade their products, or occasionally buy medicines. Farming practices are
therefore not directly affected by political
circumstances. By not directly, I mean that
farmers can run their farms without disruption. However, only a few companies or
partners from abroad are prepared to
invest in cultivatable land in the country.
This is not least due to the political situation, although these areas actually have
ideal cultivation conditions.”
Kees Maris
regularly receives
information on the
project directly on site
ML-Ed.: “Why do these areas have ideal
cultivation conditions?”
Kees: “Because people there still carry out
traditional farming practices and don’t use
insecticides, herbicides and fungicides. On
the one hand, because these don’t work at
high temperatures and in dusty conditions,
and on the other hand because they just
don’t have the money for them. This smallscale farming is not of much interest to the
pharmaceutical industry. As the Deglet
Nour date variety with its distinctive flavour is cultivated here, this was the perfect
cultivation area for MorgenLand.”
MorgenLand Project
Algeria
ML-Ed.: “How do the inspection bodies
work on site? Are there special conditions
that need to be observed?”
Kees: “We have implemented a self-check
system on-site and in the processing facility.
This means that the farmers and the processing facilities are continually checking
whether each cultivation and processing
step they carry out is also in line with organic
requirements. Furthermore, MorgenLand
finances the certification process through
Control Union in accordance with the EU
organic farming regulation. It is ensured
that the certifiers are able to cope with the
geographical conditions and also with the
cultural circumstances.
This is vital in order to be able to carry out
any certification process in this country.”
ML-Ed.: “How do the farmers find the
switch over to organic cultivation areas?”
Kees: “Usually their traditional farming
practices are already in line with the guidelines for organic products. The farmers
already work without auxiliary chemicals
in a circular economy. It is still important
to train them in the practice of compost
Sorting and pitting
dates in Biskra.
preparation for the future. A long-term partnership is of particular importance to the
farmers, which is created by the organic
certification we finance. They enjoy both
economic and social benefits from this.
For us too, this ongoing partnership is our
alpha and omega - as it means we are able
to have an influence on and elucidate the
entire life cycle of a product from the field
until it hits shop shelves.”
ML-Ed.: “Thank you for the interview!”
An der Autobahn 28
D-28876 Oyten
Germany
Tel. +49 4207 6884 - 60
Fax +49 4207 6884 - 61
www.morgenland.bio
The date plantations in Biskra are
operated in accordance with traditional
farming practices.
DE-ÖKO-001
Version 08/2016
EgeSun GmbH