Environmental sustainability

Compare irrigation on demand (RAD) with traditional irrigation. The result was a 6% lower production of the RAD, and a difference in irrigation of 17% of water consumption in favor of the RAD.

• Water use reduction plan: Our main source of water comes from desalination plants. 90% of our greenhouse crops are under a hydroponics system. We have an irrigation system programmed by demand tray (it is only watered when the plant needs it). In addition, we have high-tech programmers, humidity and electrical conductivity probes (SMART WATER POINT) for soil crops.
  To certify that our action plan meets the objectives, we calculate the water footprint and water footprint according to the Water Footprint Network (WFN) and ISO 14046:2014 standards, respectively. In addition, we have been certified in AWS (Alliance for Water Stewarship).

• Plan to reduce energy and CO2 emissions. We currently have a large number of solar plants that serve our facilities, our goal being to be able to produce with 100% renewable energy. Since 2020 we have carried out these installations in order to serve our heads and warehouses. Some of them are installed on the surface of reservoirs, with this, we manage to reduce CO2 emissions from our activity and reduce the evaporation of water from the reservoirs where they are installed.
  Currently, we are in full swing of changes in our facilities to favor the reduction of energy consumption (LED light, electric cars, lithium batteries…).
  In addition, we crush the vegetable remains generated in all our fruit trees, to avoid agricultural burning. With this we have managed to incorporate 100% of the waste produced into the soil and thus have reduced CO2 emissions.

  To certify that our action plan meets the objectives, we carry out the carbon calculation according to the ISO 14067:2018 standard.

  Thanks to our reduction plans, in the last year we managed to reduce the water footprint by 50% and energy consumption by 40%.

Understanding the origin of the emissions, the measurement methodology and planning of reduction actions

Application of innovative techniques to achieve resource optimization

Challenge: Maximum use of each available drop of water.

Application of different innovative techniques to maximize sustainable production

We apply 5 innovative strategies to achieve an improvement in soil health.

Challenges Improvement in:

• Irrigation and nutritional control
• Application of beneficial organisms
• Use of alternative planting media
• Development of ground covers
• Innovation in multifunctional margins

After acquisition in 2014, Agolives developed agronomic techniques and practices to achieve a sustainable olive growing model that balanced the environment with economic profitability. It was a model that could be transported to other farmers as the basis of the company’s sustainability protocol. The techniques and practices applied support more efficient risk management, relying on field measurement and control techniques such as meteorological stations. They also practiced deficit irrigation, controlling the use of water on the farm and integrated production, to reduce the use of chemical products as much as possible.

The most innovative project carried out is LivinGro, that provides a new and more comprehensive vision of biodiversity by studying the microbiota and macrobiota of the soil and its influence on the quality and quantity of the harvest and therefore on profitability.

90% of our greenhouse crops are under a hydroponic system. We have an irrigation system programmed by demand tray (it is only watered when the plant needs it). In addition, we have high-tech programmers, humidity and electrical conductivity probes (SMART WATER POINT) for soil crops. Since 2016 we have carried out the calculation and verification of the Water Footprint, in the last year we have also carried out the Water Footprint. We have reached the calculation of 300 ha of hydroponic tomato, table grape, nectarine and pomegranate cultivation, which represents 30% of the surface. They have been verified according to the Water Footprint Network (WFN) and ISO 14046: 2014 standards respectively. We have five solar plants, three of which are located in our reservoirs. With this, we manage to reduce CO2 emissions from our activity, water evaporation and energy consumption.

Soil and water legality on farms
The objective is to have an approximation of compliance with the environmental regulations of the agricultural farms that produce fruit for Driscoll’s in Huelva.
• Land use.
• Water concessions.
• Rafts.
• Others: streams, cattle trails, corridors, …
Special attention to the surroundings of Doñana.
Commitment to transparency with clients.

Management of water resources and fertilization:
Mediterranean area
• Use of padding that optimizes the use of water and herbicides.
• Agrometeorological station.
• Organic amendments.
Management of water resources and fertilization:
Mediterranean area
• Use of padding that optimizes the use of water and herbicides.
• Agrometeorological station.
• Organic amendments.
Management of water resources and fertilization:
Mediterranean area
• Use of padding that optimizes the use of water and herbicides.
• Agrometeorological station.
• Organic amendments.

In the different initiatives, it has been possible to save between 30% -60% of water.