Biocultura is the leading sustainable products fair in Spain. 40 editions in Madrid endorse the trajectory of a call that has evolved from the first edition, back in 1985, which brought together mainly organic food producers, when in Spain almost no one knew what that was -, to the 400 planned for this anus. Already with sectors as diverse as cosmetics, fashion, health, bioconstruction, ethical banking, sports and much more. Although, as always, organic food products are the most numerous exhibitors. When there were only 40 the first year and when there are 400 of this edition. And, also, always with the audience numbers growing: from 15,000 in the first to 50,000 last year.
Who has seen and who sees Biocultura, right?
Of course. Taking a historical tour, when we started with the first one, with the help of the then mayor of Madrid, Enrique Tierno Galván, many people must have thought we were crazy. We did not expect the success it had at that time, and until now. I think time has proven us right.
Creating a fair from scratch in a country, which was almost beginning a democracy and with hardly any environmental concerns, perhaps they were a little crazy, right?
Maybe yes. We were a group of restless young people, wanting to do things but we were alone. And we realized that there were more people with our same concerns who were also willing to act. But time has proven us right.
How did they manage to locate organic producers, when there were hardly any in Spain?
Well, itching here and there. As it was a topic that was also moving in Europe, many of those 40 exhibitors were French, German and Italian companies, which opted to help us carry out the first edition.
It is striking that there were so many visitors.
It surprised us too, in fact. I think that in large part they were people who were moved by curiosity, they wanted to see what that was. But also people who had the same concerns as us about the environment and food.
How has Biocultura evolved in these 40 editions?
It has evolved and grown a lot, up to 400 exhibitors this year. As for companies, their profile has also changed. At that time they were mainly entrepreneurs, who launched themselves but with little knowledge, not only of management, but of the market. Now organic production companies are very professional and increasingly larger. Even the large agri-food industry has also entered the sector. So much has changed that we have gone from having practically no organic agriculture to being the first country in the European Union, with more than three million hectares and a market value of more than 3,000 million euros.
What other sectors have grown?
Organic cosmetics. Lot. So much so that it is the second sector in number of exhibitors at the fair. And, one thing that fills me with satisfaction: practically all certified organic cosmetics companies are national.
In previous editions I also thought I saw more fashion.
Well, sustainable clothing and footwear is also another of the sectors that have developed the most recently. And that is noticeable at the fair. Also, in the case of fashion with many trends and styles to choose from. For us, furthermore, it is like a subsector of agricultural production because the fibers come from agriculture and we have to think that cotton production is one of the most polluting on the planet. And we talk about clothing, which is in contact with the skin.
From a fair like Biocultura, is there an evolution of the public?
Yes, without a doubt. We see that there is more and more knowledge, as well as concern for the environment. And that everything we are experiencing is no longer an idea for the future, but rather affects us today and us, at home. I also see that the public that visits us is now much more educated. And, notice, young people also look for other added values, not just ecological ones. Also social, taking into account labor rights, impacts on territories, and the carbon footprint of companies.
Forty editions and growing. What does it feel like?
Excitement, great desire and hope. We are even nervous, to see what is going to happen, if we are going to reach 60,000 visitors. In any case, for us it is very exciting, because there is a lot of daily work put in there, and for many years. All the work of the Vida Sana Association is concentrated at the fair. Therefore, we are happy to see that there are more and more conscious people who decide to make that change in their lives, towards a truly more sustainable future.
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A pioneering and tireless activist
Director of Bioculture and president of the Vidasana Association. She is a pioneering and tireless activist in favor of healthy food, preferably organic, she suggests looking at the labels of everything that is sold as natural, sustainable and respectful, because of greenwashing. He is aware that there is a lot of work ahead so that the consumption of organic products exceeds the 64 euros on average that the statistics say. The fact that the shelves of large stores are increasingly longer encourages him to think that the objective of organic farming can be met: that anyone can consume it and that the producers charge a fair price for them.