De La Tierra in the Community
A few words from our Director and Founder:
My life has been shaped by and benefited from my education and career, and I am keen to pay back to the sector that has served me well. Here are some examples of my historical and ongoing voluntary work promoting sustainability at home and abroad.
ATHANASIOS MANDIS
BSc MSc MIAGrE
Founder of DE LA TIERRA LTD
The Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform
The SAI Platform is dedicated to growing a sustainable, healthy and resilient agricultural sector whilst creating strong and secure supply chains. With its 150-plus members, the SAI Platform represents one of the largest international platforms.
One of its success stories is the launch of the Farm Sustainability Assessment. This sustainability verification scheme is one of the most widely recognised sustainability standards among the agrifood sector.
I am Chair of the Systems Working Group, responsible for overseeing an overhaul of the FSA questionnaire and continuous improvement programme. Version 3.0 represents an innovative and tailored approach to sustainability, recognising, accommodating and celebrating the differences found among producers worldwide.
For more information, visit: saiplatform.org/fsa/
The Sustainable Juice Platform
The SJP was founded in 2013 as part of an industry-wide collaboration to drive improvements in sustainability within international juice supply chains. Its 50-odd members represent over 90% of juice traded within Europe.
The main focus of working groups, projects and other initiatives is to:
- Mitigate hot spots in strategic supply chains,
- Initiate collaborative improvement opportunities, and
- Educate and raise awareness of European legislation.
As Chair of the SJP, I have overseen an overhaul of the organisational structure and governance to ensure it is relevant and fit-for-purpose given the ever-changing sustainability landscape. I am frequently invited to speak on behalf of the SJP at various sustainable events and summits.
For more information, visit: sustainablejuiceplatform.eu/
Local Neighbourhood Plan: Landscape & Biodiversity Topic Paper
Our quality of life as a family is enhanced by the world where we live. Here, on the North Downs, situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), I get to enjoy some of my favourite hobbies, including Nordic-walking, running and cold-water swimming. Given the demand for urbanisation and other pressures on the AONB, I welcomed the recent opportunity to join the Working Group responsible for the Landscape & Biodiversity Working Group. Our recommendations were shared with the Chartham Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, tasked to finalise the Neighbourhood Plan to submit to Canterbury City Council.
For more information, visit: charthamnp.com
