AUTÓKTONO is born 🌿 in the Nicoya Peninsula—one of the world’s original five Blue Zones. The Brainchild of: Social Entrepreneurs Carlos A. Coriano and Randy Siles Leandro, first Chef Ambassador of Costa Rica’s National Plan for Sustainable and Healthy Gastronomy. Our Mission: To transform our local communities through sustainable and healthy gastronomy. How? Through education, inspiration and action, we will empower cooks to transform the well-being of their communities. Why Cooks? Cooks are leaders, agents of change and influencers in their communities. What’s our Core? 1) Sustainable & Healthy Gastronomy; 2) Zero Kilometer Cooking Philosophy; 3) Research & Innovation; 4) Protecting and Preserving Cultural Identity and Culinary Heritage, and 5) Improving the Well-Being of our Communities. Our Goal? Develop sustainable community food systems. On June 7th, 2021, Autóktono forged an alliance with the Costa Rica's Ministry of Justice and Peace to deliver the first of its kind Sustainable and Healthy Gastronomy Course to youth who are in prison at the Zurquí Youth Training Center. "This innovative training will allow five young people to become certified in gastronomy, contributing to their social insertion by opening the doors to the labor market," said Minister of Justice and Peace, Fiorella Salazar. “It is an honor and pride for us to have the opportunity to collaborate with the Ministry of Justice and Peace and the Zurquí Youth Training Center to launch the first course on Sustainable and Healthy Gastronomy in Costa Rica with the purpose of educating young people deprived of liberty, and thus facilitate social reintegration”, affirmed chef Randy Siles and Carlos Coriano, co-founders of Autóktono.