Paradise Isle with a $1,000-a-night Twist
Fancy staying at a $1,000-per-night luxurious paradise island resort? You might want to consider visiting other Blue Safaris hotels on neighboring islands for a taste of their fresh, locally-sourced, organic fare.
The island of Alphonse, nestled in the outer Seychelles about 250 miles southwest of Mahe across the Indian Ocean, is actually home to a pioneering, wide-reaching sustainable development project.
Leading the initiative is Keith Rose-Innes, who oversees eco-development projects on Alphonse Island. Witnessing a shift towards eco-friendly practices, particularly on the farm, Rose-Innes and his team have made a significant impact on the local blueprint for sustainability, even within the Blue Safaris hotel group.
With the goal of reducing food miles and CO2 emissions, the project uses organic produce from their farm to supply the restaurants at Alphonse Island and other Blue Safaris hotels on Astov, Cosmoledo, Farquhar, and Puaful.
"Sending products is not sustainable," Rose-Innes explained. "The other option is to air freight them, which takes two days and is highly polluting. We only ship produce every two months, so we can only import substantial amounts every two months."
Elevate Your Dining Experience
According to World Bank statistics, 90% of the Seychelles' food is imported from India, United Arab Emirates, Portugal, Tunisia, and Turkey[1]. But Rose-Innes and his team manage to reduce the island's dependence on foreign produce at least within the Blue Safaris hotel group by growing their own.
"From a sustainability perspective, it's a game-changer," Rose-Innes said. "There's ample produce that is not being utilized, and it can simply go back into the soil, and of course, there are fresh produce, so it's much easier from a sustainability perspective." He added that the farm's output is also better in terms of quality.
The farm, which operates on a seasonal schedule, grows a variety of fruits and vegetables, from bananas, figs, and lemons to opo squash, kohlrabi, and choy sum. A demanding but successful process, Rose-Innes and his team faced numerous challenges to produce crops on the island, one of the world's flattest with only 30 centimeters (12 inches) of soil depth.
Currently, the farm is harvesting about 27.6 tons of fruit, vegetables, and herbs annually, with an average monthly production of 2.3 tons[2]. The farm operates as a closed-loop system, recycling all organic waste produced back into the soil to support future harvests.
"The farm's next phase of development will take us to the next level," Rose-Innes explained. "With the help of experts, we've installed fully shaded, partially shaded, and fully exposed greenhouses. We have seedlings, seed trays, and seed tunnels, automatic watering systems, and different growth schedules."
Moreover, the farm has also brought on board a microgreens expert from South Africa, who daily produces various microgreens to enhance their dishes.
"We meticulously look into growing schedules to ensure all our fruits and vegetables can be harvested evenly throughout the season," Rose-Innes noted. As a result, the island now produces about 75% of its own produce, significantly reducing imports.
"We are also active in fostering sustainable development," Rose-Innes continued. "We don't import bottled water or single-use plastic bottles. We collect rainwater and desalinate seawater for irrigation purposes, and we have over 2,000 solar panels that provide 80% of the island's energy needs."
In addition, the island, which sits on top of rich fishing grounds, only catches fish for consumption on the island, using traditional fishing methods, such as handlines, spearfishing, and pound nets that do not disturb the reef or marine life.
"We don't buy fish from anywhere else in the world," Rose-Innes said. "We believe in the sustainability of our fishing, so we only catch species that are abundant in offshore reef areas. Catching fish with nets or with hooks disrupts the ecosystem."
The Sustainable Development Journey
Through this initiative, Alphonse Island has been recognized as a finalist in the inaugural Star Sustainability Initiative Awards 2023, a new category of the esteemed Tourism Gazette Star Awards, which has been honoring excellence for 25 years[3].
But Rose-Innes remains committed to ongoing innovation. He has implemented strict rules banning imported bottled water and single-use plastic bottles to minimize waste and pollution. Rainwater is essentially filtered for drinking, and desalinated seawater is used for irrigation. Sustainable energy solutions, including over 2,000 solar panels, help meet the island's electricity needs, accounting for 80% of its total energy usage.
"Fish is not caught using nets or lines at Alphonse Island," Rose-Innes said. "We only catch fish using traditional methods, such as handlines and spearfishing, in deep-sea waters away from coral reefs."
Moreover, the island boasts a diverse team of marine scientists and conservationists committed to protecting the delicate reefs and sandflats that support the island's unique biodiversity. Stewards of the marine ecosystem, they actively work to minimize human impact and conserve the island's fragile environment.
"Every visitor to the island contributes $30 per person, per day, to an independent foundation devoted to protecting this unique and precious ecosystem," Rose-Innes noted. "The scientists and their work guide us in making the best decisions for the region, from waste management to energy usage to food production."
With its commitment to sustainable development, Alphonse Island embodies a novel approach to tourism, offering a holistic experience that harmonizes luxury and sustainability.
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Footnotes:
[1] "Seychelles: Project to Produce Large Quantities of Organic Fruits and Vegetables for Industry and Blue Safari Lodges," The Seychelles News Agency, 11 April 2023.
[2] "Alphonse Fishing Company Sustainable Projects," Alphonse Fishing Company, 2023.
[3] "Star Sustainability Initiative Awards: Recognizing Excellence in Sustainable Tourism," Tourism Gazette, 21 December 2023.
Related Enrichment Data:
- Sustainable Tourism in the Seychelles: As a growing destination for luxury travelers, the Seychelles recognizes the importance of balancing tourism growth with environmental conservation. Several companies, including Alphonse Fishing Company, emphasize eco-friendly initiatives to minimize their environmental impact.
- Conservation Efforts in the Indian Ocean: Marine life in the Indian Ocean is under threat due to overfishing, climate change, and pollution. Organizations like the Alphonse Conservation Trust work to protect endemic species and maintain marine biodiversity, making the Seychelles an important hub for marine conservation initiatives.
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