Fourth Welfair certification for Núcleo Borja: the international seal that backs how pork is produced at Agroindustrias González
Auditor Mikel Peña highlights the commitment of management and workers at Núcleo Borja, the Welfair pioneers in Latin America. What the seal evaluates and why it benefits people who eat pork.
Agroindustrias González renewed the international Welfair certification for its Núcleo Borja for the fourth time, a recognition that validates the company’s ongoing commitment to animal welfare, continuous improvement, and good practices within pig production.
Behind this certification lies something more important than a seal: a committed team, processes that constantly evolve, and a work philosophy that understands that producing responsibly also means caring for every detail within the farm.
Mikel Peña, the Welfair standard certification auditor, highlighted the performance of the Borja farm over these years:
“They were the pioneers in Latin America to obtain this certification, and they have maintained excellent scores.”
One of the most relevant aspects during the audit was staff involvement and the commitment of the entire organization to animal welfare standards. “I have seen the commitment from management and from the workers, because when I visit the site I talk with them; their interest and commitment stand out,” says Peña.
The Welfair certification is one of the most recognized international standards in animal welfare and guarantees that animals have been raised under responsible, supervised conditions. Its evaluation is based on scientific protocols developed in Europe and reviews the actual condition of the animals on the farm.
The main parameters it analyzes include feeding, access to water, housing conditions, health, behavior, daily handling, and stress levels. The certification also evaluates aspects such as biosecurity, comfort, and the practices implemented to ensure more ethical, sustainable rearing aligned with today’s quality and consumer trust requirements.
Why does this also benefit the consumer?
Talking about animal welfare also means talking about quality, safety, and trust for those who consume pork.
Farms that work under international standards like Welfair maintain stricter controls in handling, feeding, health, and facilities, which contributes to animals being less exposed to stress and to better rearing conditions throughout the entire production process. “There is a direct impact and commitment to human health, because animals raised with a high level of animal welfare require fewer medical treatments, which leads companies to work with a commitment to the responsible use of antimicrobials,” says Peña. This translates into more responsible production, with supervised processes focused on offering quality food for Ecuadorian families.
For Agroindustrias González, this renewal represents much more than an international certification. It confirms that the technical, operational, and human work carried out daily continues to advance under increasingly higher standards, aligned with responsible, modern, and sustainable production.