Almo Nature/Fondazione Capellino partners with ifaw in Benin

Since 2019, Almo Nature (AN), a for-benefit company, owned by Fondazione Capellino (Capellino Foundation), that produces high quality food for cats and dogs, collaborated with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to support its Detection Dogs project in Benin. Pier Giovanni Capellino explains the reasons behind this partnership.

Why is Almo Nature/Fondazione Capellino so vested in wildlife and biodiversity conservation?

Pier Giovanni Capellino: Almo Nature Benefit S.p.A. is a firm owned by Fondazione Capellino, an independent, non-profit philanthropic organization that acts to contribute to the protection of biodiversity through a threefold viewpoint: nature and its habitats, the human mind, and culture. 

On January 1st, 2018, after a long consideration that started back in 2013, my brother Lorenzo and I donated – or should I say, “gave back” – to the Fondazione the asset born from our work: the whole property of our firm Almo Nature, producing high-quality petfood; thus dedicating the profits generated from that day on to the protection of biodiversity.

Following the 'economy of restitution' model, the Fondazione uses the profit generated by the sales of Almo Nature petfood to independently finance the projects implemented to achieve its goals. One of these projects, called 'Impact on Biodiversity', has among its objectives the protection of habitats and the species that inhabit them. This is why we have chosen to support IFAW and its project, Detection Dogs Benin.

What made AN/FC choose IFAW?

PGC: IFAW is a reliable partner, seriously committed to the worldwide preservation of biodiversity. Their Detection Dogs project in Benin is a very concrete action, from which we expect results in the fight against poaching and smuggling. Here, we have been given the opportunity to support dogs who are tasked with the protection of other animals. This is something we can only do because of the dogs and cats who choose to eat our pet food that's made with high-quality ingredients: a circular and regenerative approach that is made possible by partnering with IFAW.

In future, we hope to increase our cooperation on other matters and objectives.

How is AN/FC supporting IFAW?

PGC: In this particular case, Fondazione Capellino does not intervene directly, but instead through Almo Nature, which provides the Detection Dogs project in Benin with its HOLISTIC dry food for free. In concrete terms, this represents 600 grams (1.3 lbs) of food per day, to each of the 30 dogs, which in total is roughly 6,500 kilos (14,330 lbs) per year. 

In addition, the logistics company DVS Italia is taking care of the transportation of these goods to Cotonou for free.