Last year Davos was all about the cryptocurrency and blockchain! This year humanity and discussions from mental health to planet health are at the top of the agenda! And about time..

 “What we do now, and in the next few years, will profoundly affect the next few thousand years.” (Sir David Attenborough)

Every day we depend on biodiversity (the sheer variety of life found on Earth) to keep us alive and healthy. The air we breathe, the water we drink, the foods we eat and the medications we take are all by-products of a healthy planet.

We rely on biodiversity to produce traditional medicines and aide in the development of pharmaceuticals that keep our communities healthy. Plant biodiversity provides both health and economic benefits, as plants have been the single greatest source of natural medicines to date – from aspirin to cancer drugs. When we lose plant species, we lose the opportunity to discover potential drugs in the future. 

But our world, and the diversity of life it supports, is under threat. Deforestation, pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, draining of wetlands, climate change, globalization and other factors of modern life are wiping out species and damaging ecosystems at unprecedented rates.

Environmental aggressors such as water pollution‚ air pollution, soil contaminants, etc. alter plant metabolism which is a problem when trying to isolate active ingredients from plants. At Albiva, to isolate the most effective active ingredients that are pollution free‚ our Gemmotherapy extract is grown in a special facility under controlled environment. Light‚ air‚ temperature‚ water and nutrients are auto-controlled. In this protected ecosystem‚ it is possible to harvest buds that are pesticide free‚ fresh and rich in nutrients. (Find out more on Gemmotherapy from our previous post.)

Because humankind has caused mass extinctions of many plant and animal species, polluted the oceans and altered the atmosphere, among other lasting impacts, scientists argue the new, Anthropocene era has begun.

At a time when it seems as though humanity is edging beyond a point of no return, it is great to see more and more of us committed to finding a path towards a better, more sustainable, and healthier future. In the Anthropocene era, it is impossible to draw a clear line between human civilisation and natural systems.

With this in mind, it is crucial that we do not forget that it is the choices that our societies make that will determine the planet's future and consequently, our own. Planetary health needs to be at the centre of these choices.

At Albiva, sustainability‚ waste reduction‚ reducing carbon footprint and taking care of the Earth is at the heart of what we do and we choose to work with companies sharing our quality standards and ethos. We believe it is our responsibility to cherish what remains of our nature and foster its renewal‚ and in the process be the best we can be.