
Sustainability is a holistic concept that involves three fundamental dimensions: environmental, social and economic.
Environmental sustainability concerns the conservation of natural resources, the reduction of pollution and the protection of ecosystems. This involves adopting practices that minimize negative impacts on the environment and promote biodiversity. Social sustainability focuses on promoting human well-being, equity, social justice and inclusion, ensuring that all people have access to the resources and opportunities necessary for a life of dignity. Finally, economic sustainability implies the creation of economic systems that are resilient and capable of meeting current needs without compromising those of future generations. This requires an approach that balances economic efficiency with social and environmental responsibility.
The Osiride social Cooperative as an example of social economy in the area
In the context of services and projects aimed at people, sustainability manifests itself through initiatives that improve the quality of life of local communities. The Osiride Social Cooperative, founded in 2006 and operating in lower Lazio and upper Caserta, is an example of how the social economy can integrate these three aspects of sustainability. The cooperative promotes the right to care for others within a system of relational protection and a new economic and community model. This model, called social economy, puts the value of the person and the territory at the centre, including and not excluding, and carrying out a function of social protection and attitudinal rehabilitation.
Osiride manages a wide range of social-health, educational and welfare services. Among these there are four nursery schools, two day centers for disabled adults, specialist school assistance services aimed at disabled pupils in six municipalities, and home care. The cooperative is also registered in the regional register of NCC transport service managers to promote social inclusion processes throughout the territory. Through these activities, Osiride connects institutions, at-risk groups and communities, promoting interest and participation in social issues. A distinctive element of Osiride is the attention to training and the predisposition to welcome others on the part of its operators, mostly young women. Only with the right competence and passion, together with sharing the cooperative’s vision, is it possible to build sustainable models for communities.
Since 2012, Osiride has started a restructuring process which has led to investment in key sectors such as social agriculture, while continuing to specialize in the typical sectors of personal services. A concrete example of applied sustainability is the Nata Terra project, a social agriculture initiative born in 2018. Nata Terra operates in an area tormented by criminal economies and intensive land exploitation, recovering thousands of olive trees, including native cultivars of olive groves centuries-old, cultivating them with organic farming methods. The adoption of sustainable agronomic practices allows us to protect the environment and improve the quality of the final product. In its third year of life, Nata Terra has become part of the project with a double benefit: on the one hand, the production of high quality extra virgin olive oil that respects the environment; on the other, the creation of social and employment inclusion paths for the weakest sections of the community.
During the spring of 2024, work began on the development of the project financed by the Con il Sud Foundation which will see the addition of a Bottega a small shop and an Agribistrò to the oil mill for the transformation of olives, the new structure will host an educational farm to educate schools, families and anyone who wants to learn more about the world of extra virgin olive oil and agricultural sustainability. The company oil mill and olive groves will be open to educational and tourist visits, offering a direct experience of sustainable production and contributing to the spread of the culture of extra virgin olive oil.





The environmental sustainability of Nata Terra’s olive production
Retracing the phases of oil production, we discover that the olive tree has a much lower water requirement than other crops, a high efficiency in the use of water, which is zero in the case of Nata Terra, and a notable absorption capacity. and CO2 storage. This makes olive growing a potential ally against climate change. It is estimated, in fact, that olive growing can sequester up to six times the amount of CO2 emitted during production. Furthermore, cultivation systems in Italy are mostly traditional, characterized by low environmental impact techniques which involve a moderate use of chemical products, a low planting intensity and a limited level of mechanization. These plantations play a strategic role in soil conservation, combating desertification and runoff.
Olive oil, a leading expression of the quality of Made in Italy, is a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet and a symbol of well-being and quality of life thanks to its beneficial properties for health. When we talk about sustainability, three dimensions systematically intersect: environmental, social and economic. Olive growing generates positive impacts on the natural environment and the territory in which it is located, constituting an environmental heritage of biodiversity, social, cultural and tourism of great value.
The Osiride social cooperative, with its commitment, demonstrates how it is possible to practice sustainability in an integrated and meaningful way. Through the combination of organic farming, education and social inclusion, helping to create a positive impact on the community and the environment, promoting well-being and quality of life.