Celebrating the International Day for Biological Diversity with a Food and Drinks Party

The International Day for Biological Diversity, celebrated annually on 22 May, today, is a perfect opportunity to appreciate and promote the diversity of life on our planet. 

Hosting a food and drinks party to mark this day is not only a fun way to gather friends and family, but also an educational experience to highlight the importance of biodiversity. Here’s how to plan a celebration that’s both enjoyable and meaningful.

1. Choose a Theme

Selecting a theme that reflects the essence of biodiversity can make your party more engaging and cohesive. Consider themes such as:

Rainforest Retreat: Emphasise the richness of tropical rainforests.

Garden of Delights: Highlight the variety of fruits, vegetables, and flowers found in local gardens.

Under the Sea: Celebrate marine biodiversity with seafood and ocean-themed decor.

2. Sustainable Invitations

Send out invitations that reflect your commitment to the environment. Opt for digital invitations to save paper or use recycled paper if you prefer physical ones. Include information about the significance of the day and encourage guests to participate in eco-friendly practices.

3. Eco-friendly Decor

Decorate your space with sustainable materials. Use potted plants, wildflowers, and recycled or reusable items to create a natural and inviting atmosphere. Avoid single-use plastics and opt for biodegradable or compostable options where possible.

4. A Biodiverse Menu

Plan a menu that showcases the variety of foods available from different ecosystems. Here are some ideas:

Appetisers: Serve a variety of dips made from local vegetables and herbs, such as hummus, beetroot dip, and pesto.

Main Courses: Feature dishes from different cultures to highlight global biodiversity. Consider a Mediterranean platter with olives, falafel, and tabbouleh, or an Asian spread with sushi, stir-fried vegetables, and rice dishes.

Desserts: Offer a selection of fruits from different regions, along with desserts made from sustainable ingredients, like a honey and almond cake or chocolate mousse using fair-trade cocoa.

Drinks: Provide a range of beverages that celebrate diversity, such as herbal teas, fruit-infused water, and cocktails made with local or organic spirits.

5. Interactive Activities

Incorporate activities that educate and engage your guests:

Biodiversity Quiz: Create a fun and informative quiz about different species, ecosystems, and conservation efforts.

Plant a Tree or Herb: Set up a station where guests can plant a tree sapling or an herb to take home, promoting the idea of growing local biodiversity.

Documentary Screening: Show a documentary or short films about biodiversity and conservation efforts around the world.

6. Supporting Local and Sustainable Products

Where possible, source your food and drinks from local farmers and producers who use sustainable practices. This not only supports local economies but also reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation.

7. Reduce Waste

Implement a waste reduction plan for your party. Provide clearly labelled bins for recycling, composting, and general waste. Encourage guests to bring their own reusable containers for leftovers.

8. Spread the Word

Use social media to share your celebration and raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity. Post pictures, share facts, and encourage your followers to learn more and take action in their own lives.

Celebrating the International Day for Biological Diversity with a food and drinks party is a delightful way to honour the variety of life on Earth. By incorporating sustainable practices and educational elements, you can create a memorable event that inspires appreciation and action towards preserving our planet's biodiversity. Cheers to a vibrant and biodiverse future!

Startup NatureMetrics wins 2023 Tesco Agri T-Jam competition and the chance to partner with Tesco’s suppliers

NatureMetrics has won the 2023 Tesco Agri T-Jam Competition, securing fast-track introductions to the Tesco supplier network and a trial with one of the retailer’s supply chain partners.

Now in year, six, the Tesco Agri T-Jam pitching event, run in partnership with Leading Edge Only, saw 10 different agri start-ups pitch to a panel of Tesco sustainable agriculture and commercial experts, Tesco suppliers, and stakeholders to find the most promising agriculture innovations that were available.

This year, the event was dominated by innovations capable of contributing to Tesco’s aim of building more sustainable supply chains, incorporating ideas with solutions to support on-farm measurement, data analytics, and supporting farmers in making informed choices around complex sustainability issues.

NatureMetrics, represented at the pitch event by its Head of Agriculture, Tom Ludwig, won the competition for its innovative solution which measures biodiversity using eDNA analysis of soil, water, and insects. 

The innovation converts this complex but vitally important data into simple metrics which can be viewed through its Nature Intelligence Platform, allowing users to comprehensively report on biodiversity improvement in their supply chain.

Commenting on the competition this year, Natalie Smith, Head of Sustainable Agriculture at Tesco, said: “We are obviously absolutely thrilled to welcome NatureMetrics to our network, and to offer them the important opportunity to work with our suppliers and experience direct feedback and mentoring from our Sustainable Agriculture team. In an incredibly strong field, Tom Ludwig demonstrated his commitment to biodiversity and really impressed the whole of the judging panel."

She went on to say: “This competition is designed to help us find innovators who can help us build long-term resilience within our supply base, addressing key sustainability challenges so we can continue our progress towards our stretching climate and biodiversity targets. I’d like to thank all of our finalists for taking part. And I’m absolutely certain that there will be more opportunities in the future for these innovators to work with Tesco suppliers.”

Ludwig will also receive a one-year free membership to both Agri-TechE and Agri-EPI Centre and will have the fantastic chance to present on stage at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit taking place in London on 26-27 September, to an audience of nearly 1,000 international senior ag-tech decision-makers and innovators.

Alongside Tom Ludwig, the other finalists were: Viridian (Angus Middleton), Flexifarm (Kevin Gooding), Map of Ag (Joe Towers), Bloomfield (Mark DeSantis), Laguzze (Laurent Vigouelle), Yard Stick PBC (Chris Tolles), Snapp Laab (Donat Posta), Protiomix Ltd (Stephan Jaffe), and Sunamp (Ana Amaral).

Scott Sharp, founder and CEO of Leading Edge Only, said: “We're please and delighted for Tom and for all of the applicants who were shortlisted. This is a life-changing opportunity and it's incredibly exciting to see the level of talent across start-ups in the agri-tech space. We are confident that we will continue to hear these names as they each make their stamp within the landscape over the next few years.”

www.tesco.com