Saipol was recognized at the CFIA 2026 Innovation Trophies, held in Rennes on March 10, winning an award in the Ingredients & PAI category for its Empreinte by Saipol programme, which notably offers a new generation of sustainable, low-carbon vegetable oils produced through regenerative agriculture.
Organized as part of the Carrefour des Fournisseurs de l’Industrie Agroalimentaire (CFIA), these awards recognize each year the most innovative solutions supporting the performance and transition of the agri-food industry. This year’s edition received a record 124 entries. Of these, twelve projects were selected as finalists, and four winners were chosen by the jury.
An innovation supporting the decarbonization of agri-food supply chains
Led by Saipol and Lesieur, the Empreinte programme offers food industry manufacturers refined rapeseed and sunflower oils made from French-grown seeds cultivated using regenerative agriculture practices.
This offering aims to provide companies with practical support in achieving their CSR objectives and reducing the carbon footprint of their sourcing, while ensuring product quality, traceability and regulatory compliance.
The seeds are collected in France from farmers committed to sustainable practices and then processed locally at six industrial sites, most of which are powered by low-carbon energy, notably through biomass boilers.
Through this programme, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by 10% to 50% compared with standard oil, with certified and auditable carbon data available for companies’ CSR reporting.
An insetting model that creates value across the entire value chain
Empreinte is based on an insetting model, in which emissions reductions are achieved directly within the agricultural and industrial value chain.
The programme relies on:
- more than 1,000 French farmers committed to regenerative and low-carbon farming practices,
- partner grain storage organizations that provide farmers with day-to-day support,
- independent third parties for certification (in accordance with GHG Protocol and SBTi standards).
The flows are integrated into existing supply chains through a mass balance system, ensuring simple implementation for food industry manufacturers while guaranteeing volume traceability.
Beyond its environmental performance, Empreinte also helps recognize and reward sustainable farming practices: in 2025, more than €7 million was paid to farmers participating in the programme, in addition to the standard price of the seeds.
A solution already deployed on a large scale
Empreinte by Saipol is already an operational solution, with 200,000 tonnes of seeds sourced in its first year.
By 2030, Saipol aims to allocate 30% of its volumes to the programme, representing more than 1 million tonnes of seeds, equivalent to more than 15% of French rapeseed and sunflower production.
This CFIA award recognizes an innovation that combines decarbonization of agri-food value chains, agroecological transition, and value creation across the entire chain, from farmers to food industry manufacturers.
