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gebana ag's collaboration with gebana Maghreb developed after the tragic accident of south Geman farmer and entrepreneur Christian Zengler who, in 1998, had founded South Organic with his Tunisian partner. Following his accident in 2003 he was no longer able to run the project himself. In talks with gebana ag in 2004 it was agreed that gebana ag would continue to run South Organic as an organic&fair project. After great difficulties during the business years 2003 and 2004 the company has been established in the last two years. In 2006, with the participation of gebana ag and the formal creation of gebana Maghreb the collaboration has become a binding force.
The most important challenges for the future are on one hand the increasing competition as a result of cheap imports from Pakistan (for dates that cannot be sold under the Max Havelaar label); on the other hand increasing demands for certification and control from European wholesalers are a constant issue.
As it is of great importance for gebana Maghreb to be able to process a large amount of dates each year before Christmas, the expansion of processing and storage facilities is planned. gebana ag is trying to find suitable financing options for gebana Maghreb - private lenders and institutional investors as well as direct participation from gebana customers. | 
