From a small village to building a sustainable startup

My name is Mohamed Elghaly, and I come from a small village in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt, where agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Growing up in a farming family, I spent much of my childhood helping my parents in the fields. Witnessing the daily challenges faced by farmers inspired me to pursue agricultural education and dedicate my future to finding practical solutions for rural communities.

A turning point in my journey came when I was selected to join the MOBILISE traineeship program in the Netherlands. During my training, I experienced modern greenhouse production, sustainable farming practices, and innovative approaches to resource management. More importantly, I learned that agricultural waste should not be seen as a problem but as an opportunity to create value while protecting the environment.

When I returned to Egypt, I began looking at the challenges in my own community through a new perspective. One issue stood out: every banana harvest season, large amounts of banana plants were burned or dumped into waterways after harvest, causing environmental pollution and wasting a valuable resource.

Inspired by what I had learned through MOBILISE, I started researching this problem. I discovered that banana waste can be transformed into natural fibers for the textile industry and nutrient-rich sap that can be used to produce organic fertilizers. This idea gradually evolved into Golden Fiber, a startup that aims to convert agricultural waste into environmentally friendly products while creating additional income opportunities for farmers and rural communities.

With the support of my professors, I evaluated the project's technical and economic feasibility. Then, together with a team of university colleagues and young people from my village, I started turning the idea into reality. Our project was accepted into the FAO Smart Agriculture Program, and we later joined Orange Corners to strengthen our entrepreneurial and business management skills. Today, we are completing the legal registration of our company and preparing to launch our operations.

Since then, we have made further progress towards officially launching our project. We have completed a large part of the required government procedures and paperwork and are now preparing for the next steps. Another exciting development is our planned participation in an exhibition in October, where we will showcase our Golden Fiber products and demonstrate how banana waste can be transformed into useful and sustainable products. Representatives from FAO, UNICEF, and the Egyptian government are expected to attend, providing a valuable opportunity to present our work, connect with potential partners, and explore opportunities for future collaboration.

Looking back, I can confidently say that MOBILISE was more than just an international traineeship. It transformed the way I think about agriculture, sustainability, and innovation. It gave me the confidence to believe that a student from a small rural village can create solutions with real environmental and social impact.

I hope that Golden Fiber will become a successful example of how knowledge gained through international cooperation can be transformed into practical solutions that support farmers, protect the environment, and contribute to a more sustainable future.