Mission

Our Mission


At bioNative Family Farm, we take our environmental mission seriously. Recognising that Spain's landscape is particularly arid and that water is a precious and limited resource, we have pledged to safeguard it on our farm. This commitment led us to collaborate with various conservation organisations, where we shared our vision and objectives for a sustainable future.

With the support of WWF, we developed a pioneering certification for agriculture, known as Bio-integral Agriculture, under the Arborigen label. Arborigen represents the highest standards in agro-ecological and bio-environmental practices for agronomic crops available today.

Bio-integral Agriculture builds upon the foundations of both Organic and Biodynamic agriculture. It enhances existing agricultural standards by incorporating additional agro-environmental measures that promote biodiversity, protect the natural environment, and encourage the reforestation and naturalisation of the agronomic landscape. Our approach ensures that we not only produce healthy, nutritionally rich crops but also nurture and conserve the natural surroundings of our farm. Our process allows a perfect Bio-integral balance, through the conservation of the water resources of the subsoil — dryland farming-, the use of indigenous rootstocks and traditional agronomic varieties, the botanical forest restoration with native species and the promotion of the farm's own integrated ecosystem, with minimal human intervention.

Bio-integral Agriculture (ARBORIGEN) is defined and regulated by based on five pillars

  • 3 Labels into 1

  • Traditional high quality varieties

  • Dryland Farming

  • Wild and native rootstocks

  • Botanical-Forest Restoration of the farm ecosystem

We offer 3 labels into 1

Bio-integral Agriculture at ARBORIGEN is built upon a cumulative approach that begins with official organic certification. This certification is granted in accordance with European regulations, serving as the foundation of our agricultural practices. All products grown under the ARBORIGEN label are cultivated without the use of pesticides, insecticides, or chemical fertilisers. We are dedicated to avoiding any processes that could compromise the natural environment of our farm, ensuring that the ecosystem remains undisturbed.

In addition to organic certification, ARBORIGEN adheres to the principles of biodynamic agriculture and holds Demeter certification. Our agricultural methods are aligned with biodynamic standards, such as timing activities to lunar phases and employing composting alongside diverse crop rotations. These practices are central to our philosophy, ensuring that the soil receives more nutrients and vitality than are extracted during cultivation. The ultimate aim of ARBORIGEN's bio-integral approach is to both maintain and increase soil fertility. By focusing on sustainable and regenerative techniques, we strive to give back to the land, securing its health and productivity for the future.

There was no agricultural standard high enough for our products, so we created one: ARBORIGEN.

We exclusively grow traditional high-quality varieties

Bio-integral Agriculture (ARBORIGEN) only uses native and/or traditional varieties to recover and promote our rich and vast agronomic heritage. We use ecotypes and ancestral varieties which are on the way to extinction as they are currently threatened by super-intensive conventional agriculture. We also work towards agricultural recovery and environmental reintroduction of extinct species - such as our pistachio that was previously extinct in the Iberian Peninsula about 500 years ago. We exclusively grow high quality noble varieties with excellent organoleptic and gastronomic qualities are taken into consideration when choosing our species.

We use strict extensive traditional dryland farming

Our approach to agriculture is firmly rooted in strict, extensive traditional dryland farming practices. These methods are implemented with a dual focus: firstly, to maintain and enhance all the organoleptic and nutritional qualities of our fruits; and secondly, to preserve the precious water resources of our lands.

We recognise the limitations of water resources on the Iberian Peninsula, which are increasingly threatened by the over-consumption of fossil and underground water. Traditional agriculture often relies heavily on these water sources to support crops that, in reality, are well-suited to thrive under the conditions of extensive dryland agriculture. Such crops include grapes, almonds, olives, and pistachios.

In our commitment to sustainability, we consciously avoid introducing the human impact that comes with irrigation infrastructure. Equipment such as high voltage lines, motor pumps, wires, drips, or rubber tubes can significantly alter the landscape and ecological balance of our land. For this reason, our farm is entirely free from such installations, ensuring that our agricultural environment remains as undisturbed as possible.

We select exclusively wild and native rootstocks

Bio-integral agriculture, practised under the ARBORIGEN methodology, is distinguished by its exclusive use of wild native rootstocks or those cultivated directly from seeds. This approach is central to our philosophy, ensuring that each plant is inherently suited to thrive in the challenging environments typical of dryland farming. The decision to rely solely on wild or seed-grown rootstocks is driven by their proven ability to withstand rigorous dryland conditions. These rootstocks exhibit a natural resilience to diseases and pests, particularly when subjected to water stress, making them ideal for sustainable cultivation in arid regions.

Whenever possible, wild rootstocks are selected to maximise the natural advantages they offer. In instances where wild specimens are unavailable, rootstocks are carefully grown from seedlings to maintain the integrity of the cultivation process. The use of hybrid species is expressly forbidden under our methodology, preserving the purity and adaptability of the crops.

A clear example of this practice is the grafting of the Kerman pistachio variety onto the wild pistachio plant, Pistacia terebinthus, also known as Cornicabra or Terebinto. This small, indigenous tree is widespread across the Iberian Peninsula and is renowned for imparting a distinctive "pine nutty" flavour to the pistachio fruit. The unique taste profile results from the resins and turpentines present in the wild rootstock, which enhance and elevate the fruit's natural flavour.

Botanical-Forest Restoration of the Farm Biodiversity

One of our core environmental objectives is to recover and restore the natural features of our land, focusing in particular on the hedges, boundaries, and copses. By using only indigenous species of Iberian forestry, we aim to create habitats that serve as refuges for beneficial fauna, such as insectivorous birds and small mammals.

The restoration of these areas is designed to encourage the presence of wildlife that plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of our farm. These species contribute to the natural control of pests in our crops, promoting a system of biological battle that reduces the need for artificial pest management methods.

This process of botanical regeneration not only enriches the landscape through increased diversification but also strengthens biological connectivity across the farm. By breaking away from the uniformity of a single crop, we introduce areas of wild bushes and varied vegetation, which supports the overall biodiversity of our land.

Through these dedicated efforts, we have succeeded in recreating authentic botanical and forestry reserves that showcase the native Iberian flora of the region. These reserves stand as a testament to our commitment to preserving local plant species and supporting a thriving, balanced ecosystem on our farm.