"Here in Tuscany, Luigia works for an organic and eco-sustainable agricultural supply chain, cultivating the land according to the rhythms of nature. For me it is an extraordinary experience that I could not have even imagined: that's Luigia!"
Giuseppe Magnoli, former Partner di Luigia Rive Droite Genève, from two years retired became the project custodian.
Take 60 hectares of good Tuscan land, in the province of Grosseto, where the hills of Magliano draw geometries of intact, natural beauty.
In this welcoming and fruitful land we have sown the vision of Luigia, like a small plant that takes deep roots and grows strong towards the sky.
This is how our organic and sustainable agriculture project took off.
We believe in the excellence of the raw material and we search for it, constantly and without compromise. That's why, in addition to the circular economy project curated by Luigia Academy in Geneva, we acquired the arable land of Col di Lupo and the farmhouse of Poggio alle Streghe.
Not a return to the past but a shot towards the future. Because with grace and awareness we want to become farmers ourselves and do "fair" agriculture for the environment and for those who work there.
After an initial period of testing to verify the potential of our Tuscan lands and the creation of a working group, we will select the most interesting crops for the menu Luigia and more suitable for enhancing the entire project, recovering, if possible, those of tradition.
We will also open up to collaborations with local producers and processors to enhance the typical Italian products that we will use as excellent raw materials in our restaurants. And, to begin with, we have already planted 3000 olive trees which will give us an excellent extra virgin olive oil.
Obviously transforming everything into Bio.
To grow we follow natural rhythms. This is why this year we decided to leave the 3.2 hectares of artichoke fields to rest by implementing a rotation of the land, essential to maintain its fertility. When artichoke production drops (usually after 6-8 years), rotation with improving crops such as alfalfa is necessary. This plant of the Leguminous family fixes atmospheric nitrogen in the soil thanks to nitrogen-fixing bacteria that live in its deep roots: the ammonia nitrogen thus made available will also be used by other plants.
At Col di Lupo we will grow alfalfa for the next 5 years, improving the structure of the soil and oxygenating the soil. Later we will replace the alfalfa with cereals such as wheat, sorghum or oats to balance the nutrients in the soil. At the end of this cycle, we will be ready to plant a new artichoke field. Without haste, with the respect due to the land that gives us nourishment.
Our farm will be open to experimentation and training of our collaborators. But also to customers who want to know the food chain, touch the application of the principles of organic farming and sustainability.
Here in Tuscany we will build little, and that little will favor construction techniques and materials with low environmental impact. Where will we get the energy to accomplish all of this? Of course… only from renewable sources! Because for us of Luigia the catering of the future begins with respect for the land that hosts us.
