What is Sustainable Gastronomy?
By definition, gastronomy is a study of food and culture, but it also includes nutritional facts, food science, and cooking techniques among other things.
First sanctioned by the United Nations in 2017, Sustainable Gastronomy Day acknowledges that food is a powerful cultural expression, deeply connected with the three dimensions of Sustainable Development; people, planet and profit.
Sustainable gastronomy incorporates cuisine from around the world which takes into account how the ingredients were grown, the consequences of farming to the land, and how it eventually made it onto our plates.
Why is Sustainable Gastronomy Day important?
Sustainable Gastronomy Day plays an active role in promoting agricultural development, food security, nutrition, sustainable food production and better food choices.
In doing so, it plays an important role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals and helps in the conservation of biodiversity.
Consumers, and in particular food lovers, are becoming more and more educated, informed and demanding as to where their food is coming from and how it arrives.
Sustainability is being taken very seriously across all industries, and food production, farming methods, and Fair Trade practices are top of the agenda in agriculture.
High on the list for sustainable gastronomy is local produce.
Eating sustainable, locally-produced foods supports farmers, reduces food wastage, and avoids processed foods, ensuring a healthier diet.
Olivado and sustainability
Olivado is committed to sustainability and carbon neutrality.
Our avocado is organically grown with climate-smart, rainwater conversation techniques and we are the first oil company to be carbon neutral, making a commitment to be carbon positive by 2023.
Our Biogas Project
Our factory in Murang’a, Kenya is on the cutting edge of sustainable practices thanks to the Olivado Biogas Project.
This project was created to find a responsible and sustainable solution for dealing with the waste the factory produces.
Biogas is a perfect solution for treating the organic waste from the factory, as it not only offers a renewable substitute to costly and unreliable grid electricity, but it is also an alternative to the environmentally damaging vehicle fuel that is currently used.
On top of that, a by-product from this process comes in the form of a bio-fertiliser from digester effluent, adding further value to this treatment process.
Environmentally sustainable farming
Organic farming uses less energy, emits fewer greenhouse gasses, nitrous oxide and ammonia, and causes less nitrogen leeching than a conventional field.
Our factory in Kenya and the farmers who supply us with avocados are certified organic and fair trade by IMO, a member of the international ECOCERT group based in France.
Organic practice is about sustainability and doing what’s right for the environment, and we wear our certification with pride.
We proudly train our farmers in organic growing techniques and have them certified by an international accrediting agency, raising the standard of living for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Our field officers work closely with the farmers year-round, ensuring that they understand the requirements of their organic status and provide education in farm management, organic fertilizing, and pruning.
Fair Trade Farming
We believe in equality, fairness, and accountability, which is why all our produce is Fair for Life as well as certified organic by EcoCert IMO.
We buy our avocados directly from small bio-diverse farms, paying a premium set price, thus bypassing brokers and guaranteeing the farmers a regular income.
We have improved the livelihoods of our farmers through increased income, enabling them to purchase and maintain livestock, educate their children, and build quality homes.
We have created 500 direct jobs and thousands of indirect jobs, both at the factory and on the farms, and our advance produce payments help farmers meet immediate needs and emergencies such as hospital bills and school fees.
Doing our bit for the planet
We are leading the way in the avocado industry with our approach to regeneration, sustainability, and converting all waste to energy.
We are carbon-neutral, sustainable, and biodiverse – a first for the cooking oil industry.
We believe in doing no harm to people or the planet and go beyond sustainability with innovative strategies that eliminate any environmental impact from our oil production to bring about positive results.
Our aim is to improve the lives of our suppliers, reduce our use of fossil fuels, and make life better for everyone in the production process.