Making the Impossible Possible

As part of Culturescapes 2025 – Sahara, we present inspiring success stories from desert regions, showing how innovative and biodynamic agriculture is transforming arid lands into fertile soil and creating sustainable livelihoods in some of the world’s most challenging environments. Through a lively interaction between agriculture and the arts, we open up new, future-oriented perspectives.

Programme

10:00
A Welcome from Culturescapes – The Sahara Program
Jurriaan Cooiman
Biodynamics in Arid Regions
Ueli Hurter
The Story of Sekem
Helmy Abouleish

An Invitation to Jhaimitna
Asria Mohamed

11:00
Coffee Break with Asria Mohamed
Women in Western Sahara

11:30
Greening the Desert – The Hazoua Project in Tunisia
Salah Saidi
Agroforestry and Biodiversity
Roland Frutig
Conclusions and Outlook
Ueli Hurter

12:30
Lunch Break
Visuals by Mohamed Sleiman · Jhaimitna Exhibition

13:30
Building Value Chains with Social and Environmental Impact in Morocco
Alexander Batran
The Economy of Love Initiative – Improving Livelihoods in the Desert
Buthaina Elhosieny

14:30
Coffee Break
Visuals by Mohamed Sleiman · Jhaimitna Exhibition

15:00
Growing Food in Impossible Places  – Experienes from Taleb Brahim
Taleb Brahim
Panel Conversation
Alexander Batran, Taleb Brahim, Ueli Hurter, Asria Mohamed

Music
Young jazz and vocal musicians under the direction of Djim Radé

16:00
Closing

The programme is held in English. Simultaneous translation into German will be provided.

Prices (including lunch and coffee breaks)
Standard: CHF 60
Reduced: CHF 40
Supporter: CHF 100

Tickets 

A Conversation with Ueli Hurter and Jurriaan Cooimann (in German)

Press Release