Mutti and WWF Partner to Create New Green Oasis

A Biodiversity Heritage for the Region: Mutti and WWF Italy Announce the Creation of the Montechiarugolo Affiliated Oasis

• The project, currently under development, unifies and expands various biodiversity protection and habitat restoration initiatives across an area of approximately 8 hectares.
• The initiative is part of the WWF Affiliated Oasis program, which networks natural areas managed by private entities to contribute to biodiversity conservation at a local level. Mutti is the first major food company to establish an Affiliated Oasis.

As outlined by the European Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, countering biodiversity loss requires expanding and strengthening the network of effectively protected natural areas.

In this context, Mutti – a European leader in the tomato derivatives market – is strengthening its commitment by progressively transforming the land surrounding its Montechiarugolo headquarters into a WWF Affiliated Oasis. This re-naturalized area aims to improve local ecosystems, increase biodiversity, and contribute to enhancing the region’s ecological heritage over the long term.

The initiative is part of the WWF Affiliated Oasis Program, developed by the association specifically to provide an operational response to the need for expanding the network of protected natural areas. Within this framework, WWF Italy, drawing on 60 years of experience in managing natural areas, directly involves private entities like corporations in land conservation. It networks these organizations and offers technical-scientific support to guide planning and management according to shared principles, guiding the participating entities without directly intervening in the operational management of the areas. Mutti is the first major food company to commit to a project of this kind.

The Montechiarugolo Affiliated Oasis project is part of a long-standing sustainability journey undertaken by Mutti and represents an ambitious milestone within its historic partnership with WWF Italy, which has supported the company since 2010 in measuring and continuously improving its environmental performance. Today, this commitment is integrated into a broader ESG strategy that encompasses the entire production chain—from cultivation to packaging—and guides corporate activities in strategic areas such as biodiversity, climate, the circular economy, and water resource management.

The Oasis: An Integrated Project for Re-naturalization

The Montechiarugolo Oasis was created to expand and unify several environmental restoration initiatives launched since 2019 into a single major project. These include:

• The “House of Swallows” (Casa delle Rondini): Built to support the nesting of protected bird species, providing a refuge for insects, small mammals, and birds. This was followed by the restoration of the neighboring natural habitat with the planting of more than 500 native shrubs.
• A re-naturalization project: This involved restoring 3 hectares north of the plant, planting more than 2,000 trees and 5,800 shrubs, and creating several wetlands.

“Creating a re-naturalized area within an industrial context is an ambitious and innovative challenge,” comments Laura Marchelli, Sustainability Manager at Mutti S.p.A. “With this project, we want to demonstrate that biodiversity protection can find a place right alongside production activities, becoming an integral part of a more resilient and sustainable industrial model.“

“We are proud to welcome Mutti into the WWF Affiliated Oasis program, which now reaches 17 private entities that have chosen to commit directly to conserving biodiversity on their land, totaling over 3,000 protected hectares for the benefit of nature and local communities. This is a tangible commitment that contributes to achieving the global, European, and Italian goal of protecting 30% of the territory. The Montechiarugolo site, with its diverse restored environments, represents a valuable node for the ecological connectivity of the upper Parma plains,” says Marco Galaverni, Director of Oasis, Education, and Activation at WWF Italy.

Future Outlook: A Heritage for the Community

The Oasis is a long-term project under development that will remain aligned with the principles of the Affiliated Oasis Program by consolidating the interventions already underway, further expanding the area, introducing organic farming practices, and collaborating with organizations dedicated to wildlife protection.

Once completed, the Oasis will occasionally be open to the public, particularly to the local community, to provide opportunities for education and awareness. Mutti’s goal is to turn it into a benchmark for the region, fostering the spread of a biodiversity culture and demonstrating how businesses can actively contribute to the regeneration and enhancement of ecosystems.

Source: Mutti