The meat sector decides its future at the Meat Industry Fair.

Edison Next, an energy services company and subsidiary of the EDISON energy group and French giant EDF, will be present at the Meat Industry Fair (FIC) 2024, being held from June 11 to 14 at the Guijuelo fairgrounds in Salamanca. In its 21st edition, FIC has established itself as a benchmark event for the meat sector in Spain. With over 8,000 m² of exhibition space, this biennial event attracts professionals from around the world related to the meat industry, offering them a space for innovation and business opportunity creation. Edison Next’s participation in FIC 2024 responds to the growing demand for sustainable and decarbonization solutions from the meat industry. The energy company has joined the fair with the aim of presenting its value proposition, focused on reducing the carbon footprint of a sector that, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), accounts for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, even surpassing the transport sector. Today, the meat industry is one of the industries facing the most environmental challenges. In Spain, the European leader in meat consumption and fifth worldwide, livestock activity constitutes a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions come from both direct and indirect sources, derived from an intensive agricultural model that depends on oil and other fossil fuels. The high energy demand in all phases of meat production, from livestock breeding to processing and distribution, along with the considerable emissions associated with this activity, have raised concern among experts, who have urged the sector to take urgent measures to address this unsustainable situation. Faced with this reality, Edison Next has positioned itself as an energy partner for companies in the sector, offering innovative solutions to decarbonize their operations. The energy company advocates for a comprehensive and customized approach that is not limited to a single renewable technology but combines multiple solutions to maximize efficiency and sustainability. “Our participation in the Meat Industry Fair is an opportunity to highlight how our solutions can help companies in the sector reduce their carbon footprint and improve their operational efficiency. We are here to collaborate closely with meat industry companies and support them on their journey toward a more sustainable future,” explains Luis Urrutia, director of the circular economy business unit at Edison Next. Among the proposals that the energy company highlights at this fair are circular economy solutions, and especially BioCO2 generation solutions, due to their significant contribution to the sustainability and carbon footprint reduction of the meat industry. These solutions use slaughterhouse waste to generate biogas through anaerobic digestion, promoting the circular economy by converting this waste into a useful energy source. Carbon capture and water treatment solutions are also particularly effective for the sustainability of this industry. Firstly, carbon capture helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which is essential for mitigating the negative environmental impact associated with intensive animal farming and meat processing. On the other hand, proper wastewater treatment is crucial to minimize environmental pollution caused by effluents from meat processing facilities, protecting local water bodies and preserving water quality for surrounding communities. Furthermore, by combining these solutions with others such as energy efficiency and renewable energy sources like solar power, the benefits that companies in the sector would obtain from implementing sustainability initiatives could be multiplied. Luis Urrutia, director of the circular economy business unit at Edison Next, will address these topics in a presentation titled “Keys to Decarbonization, Energy Efficiency, and BIOCO2 in the Meat Sector.” Additionally, during his speech, Luis Urrutia will highlight how meat industry companies can maximize the benefits derived from their sustainability initiatives by introducing the new Energy Savings Certificates (CAEs) system, in which Edison Next plays a crucial role as a Delegated Subject. This system, backed by institutions, offers companies the opportunity to monetize the energy savings achieved through their energy efficiency projects. Through this initiative, which has years of experience in countries like Italy and France, companies can not only achieve new economic savings but also improve the profitability of their sustainability investments. The Meat Industry Fair aims to transform the activity and production of an increasingly competitive sector, which stands at a crossroads: deciding whether to opt for measures that lead to greater sustainability and energy efficiency or to maintain a model that, in addition to generating high polluting emissions, may become obsolete in the face of current demands for environmental responsibility.