The ‘special’ relationship between BioCultura and CompartoClima

The next BioCultura Madrid 2024 / 40th Anniversary fair will bring together many people and entities, including CompartoClima and other eco-entrepreneurs whose actions and products contribute to putting a stop to current climate crossroads that affects us locally and globally.

After 40 years organizing BioCultura, the Vida Sana Association has proposed to collect in a guide the testimony of visitors and exhibitors to promote more sustainable lifestyles. Everyone talks about climate change and that we have to do something to avoid it. The Vida Sana Association has been reporting for many years that things are not going well and BioCultura (November 21 to 24, Madrid. Ifema) has become its main tool to demonstrate that there are other options for producing and consuming .

At the fair, a reference for many conscientious people, the idea that a change of model based on agroecological food production and responsible consumption…to get out of the climate crossroads.

Industrial agriculture and livestock farming (which the fair combats) are responsible for the emission of enormous quantities of greenhouse gases, decline in biodiversity and erosion of agricultural soilin addition to endless health, social and economic problems.

We want a system change, not a climate change… Anonymous on the networks

The disasters caused by climate distortion are going to be increasingly dramatic, as we have already seen with the last DANA. We are very aware of the latest examples and their devastation, too. BioCultura has been warning about the consequences of the current agri-food and economic model for a long time.

But not everyone contributes to global warming. There are ecoentrepreneurs who have been betting for decades, and also right now, on a model that combats global warming and adverse climate phenomenology. A very clear example are the BioCultura exhibitors themselves.

Behind their companies there are usually very aware people who have turned their profession into a form of activism. They not only offer goods and services that improve the health of people and the environmentbut rather they live a life consistent with what they defend in their economic activity.

Let’s clarify that, in case someone hasn’t heard yet, agroecology cools the climate, maintains soil moisture, prevents desertification, protects water resources, promotes biodiversitygives life to towns, distributes wealth more fairly, preserves the health of farmers and consumers, protects native species and local gastronomic traditions, etc.

On the contrary, the Industrial livestock farming and agriculture are behind endless environmental problemshealth, social and economic, of which climate warming is just one more, but perhaps one of the most serious.

CompartoClima

The BioCultura organization knows this and points out: “Among the exhibitors there are people with lives that are very inspiring.” For this reason, when the Vida Sana Association proposed carrying out the CompartoClima projectit was clear that not only the testimony of the people who visit the fair would be useful, but also that of all the exhibitors.

The CompartoClima project seeks, according to its leaders, Healthy Living, “identify and promote resilient lifestyles adapted to climate change in Spain based on the testimony of visitors and exhibitors at the BioCultura fair and has the support of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, through the Call for subsidies to carry out projects that contribute to implementing the National Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change (2021-2030)”.

Over the course of a year, these testimonies have been collected, inviting all exhibitors to share their daily lives to be more resilient in the face of climate change. In May 2025 will publish a guide that will collect their experiencesas well as that of other people who have visited BioCultura.

We share the advice of three exhibitors who have joined the project and who we will find again at the next BioCultura Madrid 2024 / 40th Anniversary (November 21 to 24, at Ifema).

Cr Olivareros: eco olive oils

Ángela Cabanillas de Cr Olivareros 1898 – Siberia Extremadura: “We are living on this planet as if we had a spare one”

Angela is organic extra virgin olive oil producerexpert in agroecology, oil tasting and sommelier. He lives in Talarrubias (Badajoz). It represents the fourth generation of CR Olivareros, a family business that, since 1989, has been a pioneer in organic farming. Continuing with the family’s ecological commitment, Angela not only mitigates the environmental impact, but also creates a role model.

His life and work reflect the possibility of achieving a balance between progress and preservation, stressing that adaptation to climate change is an opportunity to build a healthier and more equitable future for future generations.

These are Angela’s tips to be more resilient to climate change:

  • Act now, from your position. Realize that there is only one planet and that we have to take care of it. For you and for future generations. Don’t expect the damage to be irreversible.
  • Choose organically sourced foods, which not only offer superior taste and quality, but also help reduce food waste and protect your health.
  • Join with your work network, friends and family. Try to build healthy, constructive, caring and generous relationships.
  • Value ancient knowledge. Previous generations know a lot about resilience.

Advice for producers

  • Adopt and implement green practicesfollows certification and control standards in organic production. This ensures that your methods are appropriate and that your products are produced responsibly and effectively.
  • Share your knowledge and experiences about green practices with others to foster a culture of sustainability and environmental responsibility in your community.

La Biznaguera: everything organic

Helena Saracho from La Biznaguera: “Start your transformation from the logic of something you enjoy; In this way it will be one more step in your personal development”

Helena Saracho is the founder of La Biznaguera, a project dedicated to artisanal production of personal hygiene products and organic cosmetics and lives in Córdoba. Helena, in addition to managing her company, has integrated sustainability into her daily life through practices such as bioconstruction in her home, the use of ethical banking, and the promotion of food sovereignty.

It is an active participant in the Córdoba Ecomarket and the movement for food sovereignty “Nos Plantamos”. Their commitment goes beyond the professional field, promoting sustainable lifestyles both in their immediate environment and in the broader community.

Helena’s tips to be more resilient to climate change are:

  • Begins the transition to a sustainable lifestyle with actions that you find pleasurable, so that the process feels like personal growth and not a burden. This way, you will facilitate gradual and broader changes.
  • Recycle at home, reduce waste, avoid plastics single use, buy in bulk and reuse or donate items. These simple actions will reduce your ecological footprint effectively.
  • Whenever you can, buy local products and from small businesses with sustainable practices.
  • Choose natural and durable materials for your home.
  • Take advantage of contact with nature to learn to care. Walking through green areas, picking up trash during walks and enjoying the natural environment is a way to relax and take care of yourself while contributing to the care of the environment.

Perihelion: home and well-being

“There is a lot of knowledge about healthy eating and its effects on health, but there is a lot of ignorance about the home. Living in an unhealthy place has a lot of impact on our stress, the quality of our work and our human relationships. Unhealthy housing drives poor home health equal or more than the same diet”

Jesús is a bioconstructor and specialist in thermal and photovoltaic energy and lives in Chinchón (Madrid). Passionate about materials science, he founded the company Perihelio/La Ruta Natural, where promotes energy sovereignty, eco-habitat and healthy housing.

It rescues old sustainable construction techniques that were very commonly used in the past and combines with modern technologies to improve the resilience of homes. Their work contributes to designing smart and healthy living spaces, empowering people to live more economically and in greater harmony with the environment.

Jesus’ advice to be more resilient in the face of climate change:

  • Learn to do things yourself. Develop skills to be self-sufficient, It will reduce your expenses and you will gain freedom, autonomy and well-being.
  • For your home, opt for local, recycled and easy-to-replace materials.
  • Start with small details and evaluate its concrete impact on your life. Test things gradually before making bigger adjustments. For example, try a new pillow and evaluate how it improves your rest and well-being. Identify improvements in your health and well-being through simple, everyday decisions.
  • Change your mindset about cheap and consider the changes as an investment. Reflect on the saying: «Cheating goes up dearly«. Sometimes it is worth investing in quality to avoid problems or expenses in the future.
  • Live without haste. Lead a calm life, avoiding anxiety and acceleration. Enjoy the process of changes and don’t rush to achieve immediate results.
  • Enjoy the little things. Appreciate the small moments of everyday life. Well-being and happiness can be found in the simple things that we often overlook.
  • Take things with humor. Approach challenges and difficulties with a light and positive attitude. Humor can be a powerful tool for coping with stress
  • Be curious and keep learning. Maintain an attitude of curiosity towards life. Read, research and always seek to learn new things, as this enriches your mind and perspective.

The Visibility of BioCultura

“BioCultura has helped for 40 years to give visibility to those who already denounced the consequences of the massive emission of greenhouse gases when no one was talking about it. The fair has also helped to show alternatives to production models that warm the climate, reduce biodiversity, destroy rural life, impoverish the population in favor of a global minority and negatively affect the health of citizens.

Hay regenerative alternatives to the destructive system that causes major environmental, economic, health and climate disasters. There are other ways of producing, consuming and living and they are in BioCultura. And CompartoClima is documenting them in a guide because a part of the population and the business community do not want to throw in the towel in the face of the climate disruption that is already affecting us so dramatically, as we have seen in recent days,” the organization of the fair points out. .

For this reason and for many other reasons, attending the next BioCultura Madrid 2024 / 40th Anniversary fair that will be held at the IFEMA venue from November 21 to 24 will be an enriching experience in all aspects.