Technology centres AZTI and NEIKER have signed a collaboration agreement to further develop ENVIRODIGITAL, a tool created by AZTI and based on the European Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology.
Currently in use by several agri-food companies, the platform enables businesses to measure, manage, and reduce the environmental footprint of their products and processes across the entire agri-food value chain—from primary production (fisheries, aquaculture, agriculture, and livestock farming) to distribution and final consumption.
This new partnership will enable the integration of advanced automation functionalities for data collection and processing in the agricultural sector, supporting faster, more accurate environmental assessments based on real field data. In addition, both organisations will join forces to promote the dissemination and adoption of ENVIRODIGITAL among companies and stakeholders across the sector.
AZTI brings extensive expertise in environmental footprint calculation and the development of digital solutions for the food industry, while NEIKER contributes its strong track record in environmental assessment and emissions calculation in agricultural and livestock systems, as well as in generating scientific knowledge to support the sustainability of primary production.
“We want sustainability to move beyond an abstract concept and become a practical tool for the sector,” explains Olatz Unamunzaga, CEO of NEIKER. “To achieve this, it is essential to join forces and contribute from our respective areas of expertise; in NEIKER’s case, through knowledge and methodologies for calculating emissions at the first stage of the value chain.”
Rogelio Pozo, CEO of AZTI, adds: “Our goal is to provide the agri-food sector with robust and user-friendly digital solutions that help reduce environmental impact while enhancing business competitiveness.”
Technology at the service of sustainability
ENVIRODIGITAL combines scientific rigor with an accessible interface designed for companies of all sizes.
Based on an algorithm that integrates 16 environmental impact categories—such as fossil resource use and human toxicity—the tool generates a single composite indicator known as Enviroscore®, which classifies products on a sustainability scale from A (best performance) to E (highest impact).
Through this collaboration, AZTI and NEIKER reinforce their commitment to sustainability, technological innovation, and the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, driving solutions that help reduce the environmental footprint of food and improve decision-making across the value chain.