Sustainable Food

Just two hours after the first day of the Terra i Gust Sustainable Food Festival opened in the Parc de la Ciutadella, one of the main dishes of the event was served up in the form of the 3rd Gastronomic Responsibility Awards fromSlow Food Barcelona, recognising individuals, groups and initiatives that contribute to environmental protection, sustainability and healthy food.

The three awards in this year’s edition went to the chef from the restaurant Aürt, Artur Martínez, the cooperative L’Olivera and the Fundació Ciutadania Multicultural-Mescladís (FCM). Daniele Rossi, joint founder of the slow food movement in Barcelona, and Francesc Povedano, representing the Councillor’s Office for Economic Promotion and Work at Barcelona City Council, were tasked with giving the awards.

Artur Martínez, award for responsible cooking
The current chef at the restaurant with one Michelin star, Aürt, was recognised for championing and promoting his own authentic discourse, based on the values of the slow food movement.

Aürt is a strike, a brief collision, describing exactly what Martínez promotes through his cooking: surprising the customer with the things around them, things unfamiliar to them, or familiar but the potential of which they are unaware of. This is what is known as the exoticness of proximity.

The jury also emphasised how his commitment to sustainability and the promotion of a conscientious cuisine makes his work an inspiring example of how fine cuisine can align with the principles of slow food.

L’Olivera, award for responsible production
The cooperative is marking its 50th anniversary this year, with the same philosophy as when it was launched: cultivating vines and olive trees and producing organic oils and wines, a project on a human scale that puts people at the centre.

This was the reason the jury chose to recognise the cooperative’s dedication over all these years, valuing its approach to organic agriculture, its respect for the environment and support for the local economy, reflecting a genuine commitment to sustainability and food justice.

The Cooperativa L’Olivera is fully aligned with the slow food mission of valuing good, clean and fair produce.

Mescladís, award for best responsible initiative

Finally, there was an award for Mescladís, a city organisation with a long trajectory of educating and fighting for social and and labour inclusion for people in vulnerable situations, particularly migrants, in the hospitality sector.

For the jury, Mescladís has more than demonstrated that innovation and dedication can help overcome the barriers to equal access to work. The jury also valued how the organisation’s work contributes significantly to creating a fairer and more inclusive society, where everybody has the chance to contribute and prosper.

The slow food movement in the city

Founded in 2005, as a local movement based on the principles of the international organisation, Slow Food Barcelona is a role-model in the city working on ecogastronomy to unite food culture and ecology, promoting the defence of local food biodiversity and the preservation of the rural and marine environment.