For an Earth Day more committed than ever

Beyond words, promises and greenwashing, Earth Day is marked with deeds. With real actions and commitments that show genuine awareness and make a positive impact on our planet. Because we know the future will be sustainable, or it won't be at all. And Fontclara knows this well: that's why it's a pioneering project when it comes to sustainability.

Nuri Torrent, Fontclara's director, tells us in a short interview about the company's commitment to caring for the land, a commitment that also goes far beyond producing a local, organic EVOO.

What is your connection and commitment to the land?

Our connection and commitment to the land is total. We're clear that to achieve our goal of producing the finest olive oil, we need to take the greatest possible care of our crops, and that extends to the land itself. Year after year we're improving our growing techniques, minimising intervention in the field and maximising the improvement of the environment.

What does producing an organic oil mean for you and for nature?

For us, there's no other way than to produce an oil within a sustainable, organic framework. We go many steps further than organic regulations require, to improve our crops, our soil and our surroundings.

Do you carry out activities to care for the land and vegetation of the area?

Yes, absolutely. Across all our estates we maintain a permanent ground cover that helps minimise erosion and the loss of organic matter, increases our biodiversity and helps with soil compaction issues. We also keep all the estate margins alive and have fruit trees planted among our olive trees to minimise the effects of monoculture.

Any other projects or initiatives you're involved in?

We're involved in a project measuring atmospheric carbon capture on our estates through our permanent ground cover. A few years ago we installed underground irrigation, which lets us save up to 40% of water compared with conventional drip irrigation. We're also in the process of becoming energy-sustainable through solar power: we're currently already at 90% efficiency, and all our estates are irrigated using solar energy.

How do you see yourselves in the future?

We're constantly thinking about what options and challenges we can take on to be pioneers in producing the highest-quality olive oil and to be a model of corporate sustainability.