Ramsco Biotechnologies: A Case Study in Advancing Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

Ramsco Biotechnologies, a private sector entity from Egypt, has been identified as a best practice in the 2025 BRICS Businesswomen Alliance report. The company is recognized for its women’s empowerment initiative, which effectively advances gender inclusion and food security. The report, incorporating input from over 20 countries, evaluated practices across six areas, including food and environmental security, inclusive economies, and innovation. Ramsco’s model exemplifies a successful integration of social responsibility and sustainable agricultural practices, directly contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Alignment with Key Sustainable Development Goals

Ramsco’s operational framework and strategic initiatives demonstrate a profound commitment to the SDG agenda through targeted, measurable actions.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The company’s core mission centers on empowering women in rural agricultural communities.

  1. Institutional policies have been implemented to establish fair working conditions for women.
  2. A fair wage system was introduced to eliminate the gender pay gap, addressing the prior inequality where women were paid half as much as men.
  3. The initiative actively promotes women’s participation in modern, technologically advanced farming systems.
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  Efforts are directly focused on enhancing food security and promoting sustainable agriculture.

  1. Advanced biotechnologies are utilized in organic farming to increase yield and product quality.
  2. Sustainable solutions, including organic fertilizers, are deployed to improve land productivity.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The company fosters inclusive economic growth by creating equitable employment.

  1. The guarantee of equal pay for work of equal value provides decent work for women.
  2. By empowering women economically, the initiative supports broader sustainable development within agricultural communities.
• SDG 12, 13, and 15: Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, and Life on Land

  Ramsco employs environmentally responsible technologies to combat climate change and protect ecosystems.

  1. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides have been replaced with proprietary bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides.
  2. The development and use of biochar technology improves soil health and contributes to climate change mitigation.
  3. These practices support sustainable regenerative agriculture, protecting terrestrial ecosystems from chemical degradation.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The company’s innovative farming techniques promote efficient water resource management.

  1. The adoption of advanced agricultural methods results in a 30% reduction in water consumption compared to conventional farming.

Strategic Initiatives and Technological Innovations

Under the leadership of CEO Rawya Mansour, Ramsco has developed specific programs and tools to achieve its sustainability objectives.

• Women’s Empowerment Initiative: This flagship program is central to the company’s social impact. It was designed specifically to tackle pay inequality and create fair labor conditions, viewing gender equity as fundamental to sustainable development.
• Sustainable Agricultural Technologies: Ramsco has pioneered modern solutions for organic farming.
  • Biochar Technology: A key tool used to enhance land productivity and combat climate change.
  • Organic Fertilizers: Custom-developed biological inputs that replace chemicals, resulting in higher-quality organic produce and improved environmental health.

Conclusion: International Recognition and Regional Impact

The international recognition from the BRICS Businesswomen Alliance confirms Ramsco Biotechnologies’ status as a leader in sustainable regenerative agriculture. The company’s model, driven by social and environmental responsibility, provides a powerful example of how the private sector can effectively empower women while simultaneously addressing critical global challenges related to food security, climate change, and economic inclusion. This approach solidifies Ramsco’s role as a key contributor to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the region.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on Ramsco Biotechnologies highlights several interconnected issues that directly relate to multiple Sustainable Development Goals. The company’s initiatives focus on gender equality, sustainable agriculture, food security, decent work, and climate action. The following SDGs are addressed:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The article’s core theme is food security, achieved through sustainable and advanced agricultural practices.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: A primary focus of the article is the empowerment of women in agriculture, specifically addressing pay inequality and promoting their participation in the workforce.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The implementation of fair wage systems and equal pay for women directly contributes to this goal.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The company’s methods, such as saving water and replacing chemical fertilizers, align with sustainable management of natural resources.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article explicitly mentions that Ramsco’s technologies, like biochar, help “mitigate climate change.”
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The use of organic fertilizers and biochar to “improve land productivity” and combat land degradation is relevant to this goal.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the actions and outcomes described in the article, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• Target 2.3: “By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women…” The article supports this by describing how Ramsco’s initiative tackles pay inequality for women in agriculture and uses technologies that “improve land productivity.”
• Target 2.4: “By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production…” This is addressed through Ramsco’s use of “sustainable agricultural solutions, including biochar technology and organic fertilisers” and replacing chemical inputs, which creates a more resilient and sustainable system.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• Target 5.5: “Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.” The article highlights the company’s success in “empowering rural women” and “promot[ing] women’s participation in modern farming systems.”
• Target 5.a: “Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources…” By implementing a “fair wage system” and ensuring “equal pay,” Ramsco is directly improving women’s access to economic resources.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value.” This is the most directly addressed target, as the article states the initiative “tackled pay inequality in agricultural communities, where women were often paid half as much as men, by implementing a fair wage system.”

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• Target 12.2: “By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.” This is demonstrated by the claim that Ramsco’s product “saves 30% water.”
• Target 12.4: “…achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals… and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil…” This is addressed by “replacing chemical fertilizers and pesticides” with “bio fertilizers and pesticides.”

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Target 13.1: “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.” The use of sustainable and resilient agricultural practices like biochar helps farming systems adapt to climate change.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• Target 15.3: “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil…” The article mentions that Ramsco’s tools, including biochar and organic fertilizers, “improve land productivity,” which is a key component of restoring degraded land.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article provides both qualitative and quantitative information that can serve as indicators to measure progress:

For SDG 2 & SDG 8 (Targets 2.3 & 8.5)

• Indicator (Implied): Change in the gender pay gap in the agricultural sector. The article provides a baseline, stating “women were often paid half as much as men,” and notes the outcome of implementing a “fair wage system” to ensure “equal pay.” This directly relates to indicator 8.5.1 (Average hourly earnings of female and male employees).
• Indicator (Implied): Increase in land productivity. The article states that the company’s technologies “improve land productivity,” which can be measured to track progress towards Target 2.3.

For SDG 5 (Target 5.5)

• Indicator (Qualitative): Level of women’s participation in modern farming. The article points to the “empowerment of women” and their increased “participation in modern farming systems” as a key outcome.

For SDG 12 (Target 12.2)

• Indicator (Quantitative): Water use efficiency. The article explicitly states that the company’s product “saves 30% water,” providing a clear, measurable indicator of progress.

For SDG 12, 13, & 15 (Targets 12.4, 13.1, 15.3)

• Indicator (Process-based): Reduction in the use of chemical inputs. The action of “replacing chemical fertilizers and pesticides” with bio-alternatives serves as a direct indicator of environmentally sound management.
• Indicator (Process-based): Adoption of sustainable agricultural technologies. The implementation of “biochar technology and organic fertilisers” is an indicator of progress in building resilience and restoring land.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: dailynewsegypt.com