BBVA has teamed up with El Celler de Can Roca to unveil a new edition of the BBVA Awards for Spain’s Best Sustainable Producers. This initiative highlights ranchers, farmers, and food producers whose business models prioritize environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic resilience. In its fifth edition, a panel will pick ten national winners to be showcased in a recipe crafted by the Roca brothers and integrated into a broader promotional plan. A special prize of 5,000 euros will be awarded to the top producer across all five editions. Alberto Cano, head of SMEs at BBVA Spain, and the Roca brothers Joan, Josep, and Jordi announced the details of the new edition.
Entries for the BBVA Awards for Spain’s Best Sustainable Producers, along with the 5,000-euro anniversary prize, are open until April 16. Eligible participants include agricultural or food enterprises or sole proprietors operating in the organic sector with official organic certification and a single product presentation. The bank aims to spotlight local producers who demonstrate a sustained commitment to sustainability, inspiring other entrepreneurs. Evaluation will consider energy efficiency in production, support for rural communities, and generational renewal. Official data show about 58,500 producers are registered as organic in Spain.
Across the first four editions, nearly 500 candidacies were received from all autonomous communities, and 36 business models were recognized through the collaboration between BBVA and El Celler de Can Roca. These projects stood out for their ecological production and their contributions to a greener and more inclusive economy.
“Over the years we have heard remarkable stories from entrepreneurs deeply tied to their regions, choosing production methods that respect the environment and generate both economic and social momentum. We admire them and want to give them prominence, support them, and showcase them as exemplars for others to follow,” stated Alberto Cano during the launch. “Producers extend beyond farming and cattle; many excellent derivatives of organic products are thriving.”
From the outset, the Awards for the Best Sustainable Producers have sought to map local producers of all sizes who contribute to environmental protection, rural development, generational renewal, and social inclusion. “Sometimes a single entrepreneur can create a much larger impact than we imagine,” Cano added.
Rural Environment
The jury, formed by BBVA representatives, El Celler de Can Roca, and the consultancy Ecodes, will weigh environmental, strategic, and corporate criteria when assessing a company or sole proprietor. They will examine carbon footprint data, energy efficiency measures such as climate control and irrigation to reduce water use, and policies that promote sustainable mobility. Initiatives supporting generational renewal, rural development, and inclusive practices, along with broader social, economic, and environmental benefits for the region, will be evaluated as well.
The ten top sustainable producers of 2024 will be announced at the end of May. Their products will be included in a recipe curated by the Roca brothers, and they will take part in a promotional plan that highlights projects that are often the lifework of their creators. To mark the fifth anniversary, the jury will name the single best sustainable producer from all five editions at year’s end and award 5,000 euros.
“Producing with mindfulness and a clear commitment to the planet and society opens doors to locally sourced products of exceptional quality. It is essential to bring visibility to those who dedicate themselves to environmental, social, and economic sustainability in their production while supporting healthier eating. This motivates us to keep shining a light on local production,” commented Joan Roca during the event.
Producers who submitted candidacies in earlier editions but did not win can reapply with the same product or a new one. Interested parties can learn all participation basics and register at a marked citation.
During the fifth edition launch, Joan, Josep, and Jordi Roca introduced four recipes based on ingredients from the 2023 winning sustainable producers.
Specifically, they propose a fig and semi-cured goat cheese salad from Quesos Aborigen; a breaded hamburger from Ecológica de Los Pirineos with tomato chutney from Agromallorca and ox liver mushroom from Bolet Ben Fet; a tomato salad from Cortijo La Reina with almond garlic, La Abuela Carmen’s black onion, and Mas De Baix apricot; and, as a sweet culinary option, a goat cheese cake from Suerte Ampanera with caramelized strawberries, dried strawberries from Trasdeza Natur, and raspberry granita from BosqueSoria.
The Community of Valencia already has three previous winners: Saifresc mandarins from Valencia; Pedro Pérez Martínez’s carob; and Organic Citrus lemons from Castellón.
Quotations attributed within this article reflect the views of organizers and participants in the program regarding local production and sustainability.