
Natalia Díaz
Ambassador
Ecoalpispa
Spain
Environmental
Farming
Remote rural areas
The innovation journey
Ecoalpispa was created by Natalia Díaz in 2017 in the Canary Islands, Spain, with the production of eco-wrapping for home use. Later in 2020, La Abejera was created as part of Ecoalpispa: a place dedicated to eco-agrotourism and where care for bees and the earth can be discovered. Taking care of bees is the main objective of this project: working with ecological apiculture that respects these insects to keep the soil alive. La Abejera functions through 100% clean and renewable energy. A 100% wastewater purification system was also installed. In La Abejera, initiation courses to apiculture are offered, as well as internships for students from the University of La Laguna and the Institute of Occupational Training.
Furthermore, La Abejera works for biodiversity conservation in different projects in collaboration with the University of La Laguna and at the European level. The business was granted the National Award for Young Entrepreneurs 2020 from the Instituto de la Juventud (Injuve) of the Ministry of Social Rights and 2030 Agenda. Nowadays, La Abajera’s products can be bought in 29 places in the Canary Islands and also found in mainland Spain.
The innovation impact
Ecoalpispa is a foremost innovative and sustainable business that works at the local level but also collaborates with several universities and European entities. Ecoalpispa shows other businesses that there is a different way of doing things and that multifunctional agriculture has a great potential. It also demonstrates that collaboration with other businesses and entities is of great importance.