We are pleased to share with you the interview with Mª José Núñez Arroyo, Technical Director of the Industry and Architecture Unit at ARRAM Consultores, recently published in the Autumn 2025 edition of Caudal Extremadura magazine.
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1.- WHAT ROLE DOES ENGINEERING PLAY IN THE TRANSITION TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY?
Engineering plays a key role in the transition towards a sustainable agri-food industry, as it enables the design and optimisation of technical solutions that reduce environmental impact and promote efficient resource use. This translates into cleaner production processes, responsible waste management, and lower energy consumption, fundamental factors for ensuring the competitiveness and long-term economic sustainability of the sector. The use of more efficient materials and construction techniques in processing plants, the modernisation of factory and warehouse infrastructures, and the integration of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, or agricultural biomass are essential strategies to reduce CO₂ emissions and move towards a low-carbon economy.
In this sense, engineering companies must offer the agri-food sector solutions that ensure access to safe, affordable, modern, and sustainable energy throughout the entire value chain, from production in the field to processing, preservation, and distribution of food products.
At ARRAM, we commit to a dual objective with our clients: on the one hand, to bring clean and cost-effective technologies to farms or facilities that lack a reliable energy supply; and on the other, to mitigate the impact of climate change by promoting the use of renewable energy sources that do not generate carbon dioxide. In doing so, we help safeguard the future viability of the agri-food industry.
| Technical Director, Industry and Architecture Unit |
2.- WHAT ARE THE MAIN TECHNICAL CHALLENGES WHEN IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE DESIGNS IN AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY FACILITIES?
One of the main challenges is adapting the technology and resources currently available to each process and each client. At times, the most efficient technology is either unavailable or prohibitively expensive. Simply integrating renewable solutions into projects is no longer enough; this must now be an intrinsic part of the design process. We must also ensure that these solutions are functional, efficient, and economically viable.
Nowadays, one of the great complexities we face is selecting efficient technologies suited to the client’s needs and adapted to local conditions. All these variables must be carefully balanced for each project.
The main challenges can be summarised as follows:
- Selection and efficiency of sustainable technologies
- Management of energy resources: renewable energy depends on weather conditions and the ability to guarantee a stable supply. This has become a highly topical issue due to the historic blackout that Spain experienced on 28 April this year, which has prompted many industries to re-evaluate their energy model along the lines we are discussing.
- Infrastructure: closely linked to the previous point, adapting the existing electrical infrastructure to support the growing share of renewable generation remains an unresolved issue in Spain. Beyond the growth of renewables, upgrading and expanding infrastructure is essential for the country’s development. Without them, it is impossible to attract investment and new projects that boost regional economic growth.
- Impact monitoring: we must have tools to measure the real impact of sustainability measures and adjust strategies accordingly. What is not measured cannot be improved.
- Data management: sustainable projects require large-scale data collection and processing, which poses challenges in terms of storage, security and analysis.
- Life cycle and circular economy: incorporating sustainable materials and learning to reuse existing ones, minimising waste generation.
- Education and training: the transition requires trained personnel with attitudes and habits aligned with sustainability.
3. - WHAT RECENT ADVANCES WOULD YOU HIGHLIGHT IN THE FIELD OF SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY?
The most relevant advances in sustainability applied to the agri-food sector are focused on three main areas: process optimisation, digitalisation, and clean energy. These developments not only help companies comply with increasingly stringent environmental regulations but also reduce operating costs and improve competitiveness.
Energy efficiency and electrification
Replacement of fossil-fuel boilers or thermal systems with industrial heat pumps and electric ovens.
On-site integration of renewable energy
Photovoltaic panels installed on warehouse roofs or the use of biogas generated from agri-food by-products.
Digitalisation and advanced control
Digital twins to simulate and optimise production lines in real time.
Artificial intelligence for predictive maintenance, reducing failures in refrigeration, packaging or transport equipment.
Circular resource management
Valorisation of organic waste through anaerobic digestion to produce energy or biofertilisers.
Implementation of water-reuse systems for cleaning and irrigation processes.
Use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to measure and reduce the carbon footprint of each product.
Materials and certifications
Use of sustainable materials in the construction and refurbishment of processing and storage plants (low-carbon cement, biocomposites).
Integration of recognised sustainability standards (LEED, BREEAM) in agri-food facility design.
In short, agri-food engineering is increasingly relying on digitalisation, renewable energy, and circular-economy principles to achieve processes that are more sustainable, resilient, and profitable, in line with decarbonisation and food-security objectives.
4.- HOW DOES REGULATION AFFECT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING PROJECTS IN THE AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY? HOW DOES REGULATION INFLUENCE SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING PROJECTS?
Regulation acts as a driving force for the implementation of sustainable measures, as it can speed up or hinder the incorporation of new technologies in the agri-food industry. Clear and stable regulation is essential for attracting investment, reducing uncertainty and establishing minimum requirements in key areas such as responsible resource use, emissions reduction and energy efficiency.
In this regard, stronger and more decisive national regulations are still needed to encourage the shift towards more sustainable agri-food processes, ensuring the sector’s competitiveness and compliance with climate commitments.
5.- WHICH INDUSTRY WITHIN THE AGRI-FOOD SECTOR IS INVESTING MOST IN SUSTAINABILITY?
There is no conclusive data that allows us to give a definitive answer, as it depends greatly on the region under consideration. However, trends can be observed among the leading industries. The sectors currently investing most in sustainability are:
- 1.- Organic plant-based products and ecological agriculture, production of fruit, vegetables, pulses, cereals, etc., under organic/ecological standards.
- 2.- Regenerative agriculture
Regenerative agriculture is becoming an essential tool to address major challenges in the sector.
Many industries purchase raw materials such as soy, sugar, cereals, cocoa, coffee, and invest in making the production of these products more sustainable. In the context of the transition towards a more sustainable agri-food model, regenerative agriculture emerges as a key strategy to tackle the sector’s main challenges. From an agronomic engineering perspective, its implementation helps improve soil structure and fertility, optimise the use of natural resources, and ensure long-term productivity.
Our clients, such as PEPSICO, adopt these practices not only to reduce the environmental footprint of production but also to increase the resilience of the agri-food system against climatic and market variations. As factors such as proximity to raw materials, logistical efficiency, and territorial integration gain greater importance, PEPSICO focuses on developing a collaborative model in which farmers, producers, and consumers participate within the same value chain oriented towards future sustainability. This company works to ensure that farmers within its production chain adopt better practices in their crops. They do not merely aim to reduce emissions; they also actively work to reduce water consumption and improve farm profitability.
ALVALLE Gazpacho Factory (PEPSICO), Project and Construction Management by ARRAM Consultores
- 3.- Dairy and livestock production (cows, sheep, etc.), focused on reducing emissions and improving animal welfare.
Focusing on emissions reduction and animal welfare.
In this sector, projects have been carried out to reduce methane, improve pasture management, enhance animal nutrition, ensure traceability, and promote overall welfare.
- 4.- Food production and distribution.
These types of companies are making strong commitments to integrate sustainability measures into their processes. Companies that process, package, transport, and sell food are adopting sustainability policies in areas such as packaging, waste reduction, plant energy efficiency, green logistics, and offering greener product options for consumers, etc.
To mention another of our clients who stands out in the sector for implementing regenerative agricultural practices, carbon footprint improvement projects, biodiversity initiatives, etc., in Extremadura, NESTLÉ is carrying out projects to ensure that the cereals used in this brand’s baby cereals come from regenerative agriculture.
6. HOW IS THE SUSTAINABLE IMPACT OF AN ENGINEERING PROJECT MEASURED?
There are indicators such as carbon footprint, material life cycle, and energy savings that are used. The social and economic impacts produced are also currently taken into account.
7. CAN YOU MENTION A SPECIFIC PROJECT THAT SUCCESSFULLY COMBINES ENGINEERING AND SUSTAINABILITY?
One of the projects developed at ARRAM that combines these factors is the HaciendasBio Fruit Horticultural Centre.
The principles that HaciendasBio applies to its processes and products are not limited to its economic activity; they are also considered and applied to all areas in which the company is involved. The concept of Biodynamic production, from the farm to the consumer, is reflected in the criteria that ARRAM used to design the horticultural centre.
The main focus of this project’s design was the Sustainable Energy Management of the new HaciendasBio centre, located on the Hacienda la Albuera estate.
HaciendasBio Horticultural Centre, Project and Construction Management by ARRAM Consultores
Avoiding conventional and often inefficient solutions, the energy management of the centre was studied from the source of the energy produced to the management of raw material intake and factory operations, integrating energy demand with energy generation to achieve the following objectives:
- Minimise energy demand, analysing aspects where action is possible, including harvest times, intake hours at the centre, operating periods, field cooling, etc.
- Flatten the energy-demand curve, so that the different energy generation sources can be managed in the most efficient and environmentally friendly way.
- Maximise the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar, biomass, geothermal, etc.
- Integrate energy demand and generation into a master control system, allowing the provision of high-quality energy while ensuring efficient management of its production.
To achieve these ambitious objectives, combinations of different technologies were studied from both a technical and economic perspective, as summarised in the following table:
ENERGY GENERATION INSTALLATIONS – Photovoltaic, Geothermal, Biomass, Gas or Biomass Cogeneration, Wind, Backup Generators
Estimated hours/year
Thermal Power
Cooling Power
Electric Power
DEMAND: TOTAL POWER REQUIRED (WITHOUT SIMULTANEITY), SIMULTANEITY – GRID-SUPPORTED SYSTEM, TOTAL GRID-SUPPORTED POWER, SIMULTANEITY – PV ISLAND SYSTEM, TOTAL PV ISLAND POWER
GENERATION: GRID AVAILABILITY, COGENERATION AVAILABILITY, GRID + COGENERATION AVAILABILITY, AVAILABLE POWER – FIXED PV ISLAND GENERATION, AVAILABLE POWER – SINGLE-AXIS PV ISLAND GENERATION
BALANCES: GRID-SUPPORTED SYSTEM BALANCE, Maximum meter, Grid Supply, Cogeneration Supply, Sale to grid, FIXED PV ISLAND SYSTEM BALANCE, SINGLE-AXIS PV ISLAND SYSTEM BALANCE
8. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AGRO-FOOD INDUSTRY FACING THE FUTURE?
They must prepare for a sector that is increasingly demanding in terms of food safety, automation, digitalization, and sustainability, with a more knowledgeable end consumer, while, of course, remaining cost-competitive. They should not wait for trends to become mandatory, but instead anticipate them and explore how to integrate all these aspects into their production chain.
CONCLUSION
The future of the agri-food industry lies in anticipating three main pillars: sustainability, digitalisation, and adaptation to a more demanding consumer. It is not simply a matter of complying with regulations, but of turning these challenges into opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and international competitiveness. Those who integrate clean energy, digital traceability, and healthy products today will be the ones leading the market tomorrow.
