More and more companies are joining this system and applying for certification. The latest to achieve it are Isla Sanabria and Isla del Adelfal, both located in Extremadura and dedicated to growing broccoli, cauliflower and processing tomatoes, as well as Castillo de Canena, an olive oil producer based in Córdoba.
These three now join companies such as Costa de Níjar, Hortamira, Keops Agro, Cuna de Platero, Biosabor, Horto Villa Manrique and Hortofrutícola Poli.
More companies are currently in the process of certification—including cherry and cereal growers—not only in Spain, but also across the Atlantic, in countries such as Chile, Mexico and Peru, where the number of companies interested in certification continues to grow and several are already in the implementation phase.
Global sustainability
The Epigen Healthy Bite model is based on agronomic measures grounded in sustainability across three key areas: environmental, agronomic and economic. “If yield or productivity is overlooked, the model wouldn’t be sustainable,” explains Francisco Javier del Águila, CEO of Epigen Healthy Bite. “When crops are healthier, they produce more. The benefits are practically immediate. The system works and is sustainable over time.”
More broccoli with less water
The CEBAS-CSIC research centre has conducted several studies—soon to be published—that show highly positive results for this model. In a fertigation trial involving four different management practices applied to broccoli crops, it was found that the Epigen model required only half the amount of water per tonne of broccoli compared to conventional farming.
Additionally, by applying this methodology and appropriate fertilisation, carbon capture was significantly higher, according to Francisco Javier del Águila.
“Measuring and using data correctly is key. Regenerative agriculture is a blend of traditional agronomic knowledge and technology. Some companies, like Horto Villa Manrique, are already applying artificial intelligence (AI) in combination with the Epigen system,” he adds.
