Explore Sovena's latest developments and projects across different geographies.
The year 2024 marked the beginning of a new strategic cycle, based on efficient and circular food production, professional development and well-being, and a responsible value chain.
We highlight the excellent work carried out in our agricultural operations, which received various recognitions. We strengthened our commitment to decarbonization, consolidated our operations in existing and new markets and businesses, and developed our supplier monitoring and capacity-building program. We continued to invest in the well-being and development of our people and communities, with a focus on leadership and sustainability, aiming to drive a deeper and faster transformation.
We invite you to read and share our 2024 Sustainability Report, recently published.
In the first half of 2025, we took part in several major international trade fairs, where we had the opportunity to showcase our products, present innovations, and strengthen business relationships. We participated in leading events such as Gulfood in Dubai, Sial Shanghai, Foodex in Tokyo, PLMA Amsterdam, and Seoul Food & Hotel, consolidating Sovena's global reach and reinforcing our ongoing commitment to quality and innovation.
This first semester, we reinforced our presence among young people by participating in job fairs—an essential step in continuing to attract and develop talent across all levels of education, from vocational to university.
We attended events at Nova SBE, ATEC, and even hosted a Sovena Day at Nova FCT, with a special guest, Chef Kiko, our Fula brand ambassador.
We remain committed to being a reference for young talent, showing that at Sovena, there is space to grow, innovate, and make a difference!
Because knowing us is the foundation of any personal or professional growth, we organized another Sovena Day, allowing our colleagues to learn more about our history and our current and future challenges. On this day, we explored the life of Alfredo da Silva and CUF and visited our Industrial Units in Barreiro and Palença.
Sovena once again took part with a volunteer team in organizing the Spring Games, an initiative promoted by Elo Social – Association for the Integration and Support of Young and Adult People with Intellectual Disabilities.
In May, Elo Social held the 30th edition of the Spring Games under the theme "Agrielo Games." The theme was inspired by the International Year of Cooperatives, and this year Sovena had a special role, as our brand Oliveira da Serra participated in one of the games – "Olive Harvest."
These inclusive games brought together more than 500 participants, including people with disabilities, seniors, youth, and schoolchildren.
To all who participated, thank you for making a difference and helping to reinforce Sovena's commitment to social responsibility!
On May 31st, we celebrated Sovena Family Day! With more than 460 participants, including employees and their families, this was a special day that strengthened the bonds that unite us, inside and outside the workplace.
With smiles, activities, and reunions, we reinforced the ties that make us Sovena.
Thank you to everyone who made this special day possible – together, we continue to nurture the best of our essence.
At the Palença (Almada) unit, an energy monitoring system is being implemented covering electricity, steam, gas, water, and compressed air. This new tool allows real-time monitoring of consumption, waste identification, and enhanced energy efficiency.
To enable this, the OT infrastructure was upgraded with expanded fiber optic networks and new automation servers. Meters and data concentrator PLCs were also installed to collect and structure the gathered information.
Currently, the team is finalizing the configuration of the FTEM platform and training users.
Next steps include in-depth data analysis, report generation, and the development of optimization projects. Expanding measurement points to reduce blind spots will also be crucial – an essential step to accelerate decarbonization and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Sovena Oilseeds has launched a strategic collaboration with Veolia, focusing on decarbonization and energy efficiency. This partnership combines Veolia's energy expertise with Sovena's knowledge of its industrial processes to create a solid foundation for sustainable solutions.
The project covers the entire plant, focusing on steam production and use, and has four main goals:
Scheduled to last two months, the project began with audits and data collection. Next are the phases of analysis, solution identification, assessment, and presentation of business model proposals.
The location of the Palença Industrial Unit by the Tagus River is a privilege – but also a challenge. Over the years, continuous river action has caused significant erosion and land subsidence along the waterfront, making structural intervention urgent.
In October 2024, the redevelopment of the waterfront began, covering 177 meters between piers 1 and 2. To minimize impacts, the work was divided into two phases: construction of a new retaining wall followed by infill of the affected area.
Completed in April 2025, this intervention strengthens the waterfront protection of the Palença Industrial Unit, ensuring greater stability and resilience for the years ahead.
At the Barreiro Industrial Unit, we celebrated another edition of "April – Occupational Safety and Health Month," with various initiatives promoting safety, health, and well-being of our employees.
Highlights included basic life support and fire extinguisher training, workplace stretching sessions at the start of each shift, and a Safety Rally.
In this activity, employees, organized in teams, toured the factory areas, tackling challenges related to workplace safety and health. A dynamic way to gain and reinforce knowledge while promoting team spirit.
And as expected, competitiveness was high: the race for first place was fierce until the end!
In June, the Barreiro Industrial Unit celebrated World Food Safety Day, this year under the theme "Food Safety: Science in Action."
The celebration included various initiatives highlighting the role of science in risk prevention and safe food production. One highlight was the talk "The Science Behind Food Safety" by Teresa Branco, Head of AGQ-Labiagro Portugal, emphasizing the importance of contaminant monitoring and technical expertise across the food chain.
To engage the team interactively, we held the quiz "Food Safety – the knowledge challenge!" and a Slogan Contest showcasing our employees' creativity. The winning slogan, by Rita Luz, was: "Sovena: where science cares, and safety is tasted in every flavor."
It was a day of sharing, learning, and valuing everyone's contribution to ensuring safe and quality food – a commitment that inspires us daily.
Sovena Spain reached a major milestone by becoming the group's first unit to obtain ISO 50001 certification, which recognizes excellence in energy management.
This achievement demonstrates our factory's ongoing commitment to sustainability, energy efficiency, and continuous improvement.
Implementing this international standard not only optimizes energy use but also reinforces the company's leadership in environmentally responsible practices.
During the 2024/25 campaign, Sovena Spain implemented a new filtration system for its EVOO and VOOs.
This innovative system enables remote process management, automatic parameter recording, and highly precise quality control.
Thanks to the integration of a camera vision system and turbidity analysis, only oils meeting established standards are sent to final storage. This technology optimizes process efficiency, completely eliminates steam use, reduces manual intervention, and ensures a top-quality final product.
Sovena Oilseeds successfully completed the installation of its rooftop solar plant on the filling unit, with a total capacity of 1.3 MWp.
Covering over 6,000 m² with 2,381 photovoltaic modules, the installation will enable an estimated annual self-consumption of 2,207 MWh – equivalent to the annual electricity use of over 600 households.
This project will prevent more than 7,100 tons of CO₂ emissions, reinforcing the company's commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency.
At Sovena, we continue moving toward a more sustainable future.
Our Andújar unit recently received the AENOR Zero Waste certification, which ensures that over 95% of generated waste is recovered through recycling and transformation processes.
Achieved thanks to everyone's efforts, this certification represents an important acknowledgment of our commitment to sustainability and efficient waste management, proving that business efficiency and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.
At Sovena USA, we believe that feeding the future also means caring for people and the planet. This spirit was evident in the two recent community initiatives we took part in.
On Earth Day, celebrated on April 19, more than 30 employees and family members joined in to clean areas of the Griffiss Business and Technology Park in Rome, New York. This action symbolizes our commitment to a healthier planet through sustainable decisions and active team engagement.
On May 1, we took part in the Go Red for Women luncheon hosted by the American Heart Association. This global movement focused on women's heart health had the support of Sovena USA, which contributes annually with extra virgin olive oil donations and employee participation – dressed in red as a sign of solidarity.
Two initiatives, one purpose: to help build a more conscious, healthy, and human world.
In May, Sovena USA hosted a "Business After Hours" event at its facilities and offices. Free for members of the Rome Chamber of Commerce, the event featured catered food and drinks, guided factory tours, educational moments about Sovena USA and the Sovena Group, and networking opportunities with local business leaders.
Attendees had the chance to explore the factory and facilities, received a bottle of olive oil, and enjoyed an evening of networking, experience sharing, and learning about Sovena USA's high-quality products and values.
On May 17, Sovena USA held another edition of its traditional Family Day, bringing together over 300 participants – including employees, friends, and family – for a day filled with fun and connection.
The event offered activities for all ages: inflatables, face painting, balloon sculptures, games with prizes, selfie stations, factory tours and O-Transport truck visits, along with lots of food, popcorn, and desserts.
Held alongside the Quarterly Business Review, Family Day also allowed many remote employees from across the country to join. After another year of dedication to quality and customer satisfaction, this was a well-deserved moment of relaxation and celebration.
On May 21, Sovena USA received the GEAR Award (Growth, Energy And Revitalization) from the CNY Business Journal, recognizing its contribution to revitalizing and energizing the Mohawk Valley region.
In addition to supplying quality products nationwide, Sovena stands out for its positive impact on local communities. We participate in community events, support social causes, assist in emergencies, and promote local well-being.
This award recognizes our community commitment and the essential role we play in the Central New York region.
In March, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mr. Rui Miguîns de Oliveira, to Sovena Angola, where he witnessed the work Sovena and Fula are doing in the country. From the quality and food safety of our products to our contribution to national growth and development through job creation, team training, and value chain strengthening.
The Minister also witnessed our commitment to people and efficiency, achieved through the growing vertical integration of the value chain – a distinctive feature of Sovena's DNA.