Iris Bio – Passion for Pasta

Iris Bio founder Maurizio Gritta is an organic stakeholder for almost 40 years by now. Photo © Karin Heinze

The mission is: Working for our planet. And to produce the best organic pasta from grains supplied by organic farmers from all over Italy, belonging to the cooperative Astra Bio. For 40 years now, organic pioneer Maurizio Gritta is the driving force behind the company. Convinced by the idea that there is an alternative to the common economic model, he has established the Italian company. Now, he plans to bring the brand Iris Bio to the German specialist trade’s shelves.

The first beginnings of today’s company Iris Bio date back into the year 1978. Back then, nine young people with completely different backgrounds paired up for one common goal: to engage in organic agriculture as well as to spread and develop the tradition of a environmentally friendly farming culture. Maurizio Gritta studied agriculture and was inspired by the philosophy of his father, to whom “the earth was holy”, as Gritta himself says. Others brought in different ideas – the common conviction, however, pursued the production of healthy food.

A wall painting at a building of the Iris Bio farmyard close to the pasta factory. Photo © Karin Heinze

From a country commune to a cooperative

From the origin of an alternative community in the Southern Lombardy, the agricultural cooperative Iris, founded in 1984, developed. At this point in time, the group of founders already wrote down their philosophy in four points. They are still valid: Iris pursues to spread organic farming methods in Italy, to create jobs for women and disabled persons, to gain and keep direct contact to the consumers and to lead the company as a cooperative with equal members – it belongs to all.

The organic farmyard and the fields belonging to Iris Bio. Photo © Iris Bio

“The beginnings were not easy“, Maurizio Gritta remembers. “On one hectare farmland, the members of the cooperative cultivated vegetables for the local market. It was hard work and we did not earn much money.” Over time, however, due to enormous efforts of persuasion, a successful company has developed, for which it was important to achieve fair prices for high quality products - and it worked. Gradually, the cultivation was expanded, products were refined and sold in two self-owned shops in the neighborhood. Besides that, the specific qualities of organic and biodynamic cultivation, of whole-food nutrition as well as the necessity of acting ecologically were brought closer to consumers at many events.