The gala highlighted the efforts of livestock farmers to improve innovation and sustainability and strengthen Iberian pork production in Spain.
The awards were distributed among some thirty farms, mainly located in Castile and León, Extremadura, and Andalusia, demonstrating their leadership in the sector.
The Guijuelo Fairgrounds (Salamanca) became the epicenter of the Iberian pork sector on June 13th with the celebration of the 9th Porc d’Or Ibérico Awards. More than 400 professionals gathered for a day that paid tribute to the effort, dedication, and achievements of the country’s most outstanding farms.
Organized by the Institute for Agrofood Research and Technology (IRTA) and based on the BDporc tool, the Pork Reference Database, the awards are granted by a jury of experts from the industry, livestock research, and administration.
In this edition, a total of 32 awards were presented to 22 farms from the autonomous communities of Castile and León, Extremadura, and Andalusia. All were selected based on the analysis of technical and production data for 2024, recorded in the BDporc Ibérico system.
The event began with a welcome from the mayor of Guijuelo, Roberto Martín, to those present. The gala was also attended by Elena Busutil Fernández, Director General of Agricultural Production and Markets of the Ministry of Agriculture, who praised the professionalism and expertise of the Iberian pork sector.
She was also accompanied by the Directors General of Agriculture and Livestock of the Regional Government of Castile and León and the Generalitat of Catalonia, as well as representatives of the Interprofessional Association of Iberian Pigs (ASICI) and the Association of Pork Producers (ANPROGAPOR). All of them, along with the organizers and sponsors, took part in the awards ceremony for the award-winning farms.
In his speech, Josep Usall, Director General of IRTA, expressed his gratitude for the presence of the attending authorities and the support of the sponsors, whose commitment makes each edition possible. He also congratulated all the award-winning farms, recognizing their daily efforts and commitment to excellence in Iberian pork production.
In this 9th edition, five special awards were presented recognizing key aspects of excellence in Iberian pork production. The Porc d’Or Ibérico Award for Maximum Productivity went to Ibéricos Encinas S.L., located in Encinas de Abajo (Salamanca) and part of Agrocesa – Grupo Vall Companys. This farm stood out for achieving the best results in the number of piglets weaned per Iberian sow per year, consolidating its position as a benchmark in technical efficiency.
The Iberian Porc d’Or Award for Outdoor Production went to Dehesa del Rey, located in Cardeña (Córdoba) and belonging to the Valle de los Pedroches livestock cooperative (Covap). This award recognizes good practices in extensive production integrated into the natural environment, with special attention to biosecurity, animal welfare, and the sustainable use of the dehesa.
The One Health Award from CEVA Animal Health went to La Ensancha, a farm in Fuente de Cantos (Badajoz) managed by the Santana Hernández Group. The jury particularly praised the effective collaboration between the veterinary and livestock teams, as well as the implementation of innovative practices aimed at improving animal health from a holistic perspective.
La Granja Morante, owned by Piensos Costa and located in La Roca de la Sierra (Badajoz), has received the MAPA Porc d’Or Ibérico Sustainability Award, granted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food. This recognition recognizes farms that stand out for their commitment to health, animal welfare, and respect for the environment.
Finally, the most prestigious award of the evening, the Iberian Porc d’Or Award with Diamond, went to the Covel Boceguillas farm, located in Boceguillas (Segovia) and also part of Agrocesa – Grupo Vall Companys. This distinction recognizes the farm’s overall excellence, both in animal handling and in all aspects of technical and production management.
The annual, nationwide Iberian Porc d’Or Awards are based on the Iberian Pork Reference Database, managed by IRTA, which compiles and analyzes production data from participating farms. This tool offers objective and comparable information, becoming a key resource for continuous improvement and decision-making in Iberian pork production.
Organized by IRTA, the Porc d’Or Awards are supported by Ceva Salud Animal as the main partner and co-organized by the Interprofessional Association of Iberian Pork (ASICI), which has supported the growth and consolidation of the event since its inception. Furthermore, the awards receive support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, and for this ninth edition, they have collaborated with the Guijuelo City Council as the local co-organizer.
This edition was made possible thanks to the commitment of the Premium sponsoring companies: Farm Faes, IFR, OPP Group, Sabdseg Banasegur, and Semen Cardona, all of which are recognized for their strong support of the Porc d’Or Awards. Likewise, this year’s sponsors—Aviporc, Exafan, Iberduroc Selección, Mapfre, Provimi-Nugasur, Rotecna, and SecAnim—have actively contributed to the event’s success.
In its ninth edition, the Iberian Porc d’Or Awards once again recognized the dedication, professionalism, and commitment of farmers who work daily to achieve more efficient, responsible, and sustainable Iberian pork production. The awards were granted by an independent jury composed of renowned professionals in the fields of livestock production, scientific research, and public administration.
