Carbon Footprint Calculator for Agri-Food Companies
The research project Decarb Track of the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra introduces an online carbon footprint calculator that helps Slovak agri-food businesses reduce emissions and increase competitiveness.
Our vision and goals
Decarb Track is a research initiative of the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, focused on supporting environmental transformation in the agri-food sector.
The project enables agri-food enterprises to prepare for the new economic reality in line with GPP requirements, while enhancing their market competitiveness.
Project objective
Our objective is to develop scientifically grounded tools for tracking and reducing the carbon footprint in small and medium-sized enterprises, while taking Green Public Procurement standards into account
Bridging science and practice
We collaborate with companies, municipalities, and the expert community. We openly share our results and methodologies.
Project output
Methodology in the form of a calculator, aimed at creating a comprehensive framework for calculating the carbon footprint in the agri-food sector.
Project Updates
The project was made possible by
Experts from several faculties of SPU, particularly from the fields of agrobiology, biotechnology, food science, horticulture, and economics, are involved in the solution, in cooperation with the AgroBioTech Research Center, which provides state-of-the-art scientific and research facilities and technological support for the project. The project is implemented within the Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Slovak Republic and is funded by the European Union.
Why should you know your company’s carbon footprint?
Earn your partners’ trust
Banks, investors, and customers increasingly require carbon footprint data. Show that you have it under control.
Become a preferred supplier
Large companies are looking for ESG-responsible partners. Without data, you could lose business.
Be prepared for new legislation
ESG regulations will also affect smaller companies. The first step is to know your carbon footprint.
Identify weak points in your company
The calculation reveals the largest sources of emissions and shows where you can realistically cut costs.
"Knowing your carbon footprint means knowing where you're going."
What makes the Decarb Track carbon calculator unique?
Developed directly from research
The Decarb Track calculator is not commercial software or a generic "online form". It is the output of a research project carried out at the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, which means its methodology is subject to expert verification, testing, and further development.
It takes into account the reality of data that companies actually have available
The calculator's design is based on the data that agri-food businesses realistically have available (energy, fuels, transport, selected inputs), not on an ideal state. The goal is a functional calculation even in situations where complete or historically detailed data is not available.
Gradual and scalable approach to calculation
The calculator is designed modularly – allowing users to start with a basic overview of emissions and gradually refine and expand the calculation, for example, with repeated use in subsequent years. This is especially important for SMEs that are working with carbon footprints for the first time.
Link to Slovak and European context
The calculation is methodologically aligned with international frameworks (GHG Protocol, ISO 14064), while also reflecting Slovak agri-food conditions and current EU policy developments in decarbonization, ESG, and green public procurement.
Backed by a specialized research center
The calculator is developed in cooperation with experts from several scientific fields related to agriculture, food science, and environmental assessment.
Who is our carbon footprint calculator suitable for?
The Decarb Track carbon footprint calculator is intended for agricultural and food processing businesses, operating in various types of production and processing within the agri-food sector. It takes into account the diversity of production systems and is suitable for both specialized and combined farms.
Agricultural businesses operating in the following areas:
Crop production
- field crops (cereals, oilseeds, protein crops, root crops, field vegetables),
- horticulture (greenhouse and open-field cultivation, flowers and ornamental plants),
- permanent crops (vineyards – quality and table wine, fruit, nuts, and mixed permanent crops),
- nurseries and other specialized horticultural activities.
Livestock production
- rearing of grazing animals (dairy cows, beef cattle, sheep, goats, and other grazing animals),
- rearing of grain-fed animals (pigs – breeding and fattening, poultry – laying hens and meat),
- combined livestock farming (dairy animals, grazing animals, and grain-fed animals).
Mixed farms
- combined cultivation of field crops, horticulture, and permanent crops,
- mixed crop and livestock production,
- various forms of mixed farming, including beekeeping.
Food industry (processing)
The calculator is also suitable for businesses operating in food processing, especially:
- meat and poultry processing and production of meat products,
- fruit and vegetable processing (including juice production),
- dairy product and cheese production,
- egg and egg product production,
- production of non-alcoholic beverages and bottled water,
- other food processing activities within the agri-food sector.
Key Terms Explained
Carbon Footprint
Most commonly, this refers to the total emissions associated with an activity (e.g., a company, product, or service), expressed in a comparable way. In a narrower sense, the IPCC uses the term carbon footprint as a measure of total (direct and indirect) CO₂ emissions caused by an activity or during a product’s life cycle.
Greenhouse Gases (GHG)
Gases in the atmosphere (both natural and human-caused) which absorb and emit radiation, thereby causing the greenhouse effect. Key examples include water vapor (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and ozone (O₃).
CO₂ (carbon dioxide)
One of the main greenhouse gases, primarily produced by the combustion of fossil fuels and certain industrial and biological processes.
CO₂e / CO₂-equivalent (carbon dioxide equivalent)
A unit that allows comparison of different greenhouse gases by converting them to a CO₂ “equivalent” based on their Global Warming Potential (GWP).
GWP (Global Warming Potential)
A coefficient that expresses how strongly a given greenhouse gas warms the climate compared to CO₂ (used in calculations to convert to CO₂e).
GHG Protocol (Greenhouse Gas Protocol)
The most widely used framework for accounting and reporting greenhouse gas emissions at the organizational and value chain levels.
Scope 1 / Scope 2 / Scope 3
Emission categories according to GHG Protocol: Scope 1 = direct emissions from owned or controlled sources, Scope 2 = indirect emissions from purchased energy generation, Scope 3 = other indirect emissions in the value chain (outside Scope 2).
ISO 14064-1
An international standard that sets out principles and requirements for quantifying and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and removals at the organizational level (including requirements for GHG inventory development and management).
GHG inventory (greenhouse gas emissions inventory)
A systematic inventory of an organization’s greenhouse gas emissions (and removals, where applicable) within defined boundaries and for a defined period, prepared according to a chosen standard (e.g., ISO 14064-1 or GHG Protocol).
Activity data
Quantitative data on an activity that causes emissions – e.g., liters of fuel consumed, kWh of electricity, kilograms of purchased material.
Emission factor
A coefficient that converts activity data into emissions (e.g., kg CO₂ per 1 liter of fuel or per 1 kWh).
ESG
Abbreviation for Environmental, Social, Governance – a framework used to assess the environmental, social, and governance aspects of an organization (often in the context of reporting and investor/partner requirements).
GPP (Green Public Procurement)
A process in which public authorities procure goods, services, and works with a lower environmental impact throughout their life cycle compared to alternatives with the same function.
TRL (Technology Readiness Level)
A scale of technology maturity from 1 to 9; TRL 1–3 refers to phases from basic principles through concept formulation to experimental verification of “proof of concept”.
What is a carbon footprint? Find out more on our blog
