The Decarb Track project is a research initiative of the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, focused on emission reduction, decarbonization, and environmental responsibility in the agri-food industry.
The AgroBioTech Research Center at SUA in Nitra is implementing the Decarb Track project, which introduces an interactive tool – a calculator – designed to compute the carbon footprint of businesses in the agri-food sector. The aim is to link scientific knowledge with practical solutions and help companies identify emission sources, propose steps for their reduction, and simultaneously generate relevant data for ESG requirements. “Our goal is to create a methodology proposal that will be sufficiently precise in critical, carbon-intensive categories, yet simple enough for small and medium-sized enterprises to apply these standards and procedures without problems in the future,” stated project manager Associate Professor Lenka Lackóová.
By collaborating with public procurement specialists and embedding carbon criteria into public procurement processes, the project aims to create space for responsible decision‑making in procurement and to encourage environmentally responsible behavior by companies. It also enables agri-food businesses to prepare for the new economic reality and enhance their market competitiveness.
The project, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan, focuses primarily on small and medium-sized enterprises. Companies that understand and manage their carbon footprint gain several advantages. They become more trustworthy and are prepared for legislation, as European and national emission regulations will be tightened. Simultaneously, this opens up opportunities for new contracts, as large companies prefer suppliers with clearly defined sustainable practices. Calculating their carbon footprint will help them identify which processes generate the largest emissions, enabling them to purposefully reduce costs. The results will also serve as a basis for sustainability communication, ESG reports, and public procurement.
Participation in the project involves no direct financial burden – it is a research initiative supported by the European Union, representing low risk and simultaneously an investment in knowledge and reputation. If a company decides to determine its carbon footprint, it simply needs to fill out the form on the project website https://decarb.uniag.sk/odoslat-dopyt/, where it will then complete a questionnaire regarding energy consumption, fuels, material inputs, transport, waste, or production. If some data is unavailable, the system allows for the use of qualified estimates, which can be refined later. The entire process is online and designed to be time and administratively undemanding. “Each participating entity receives a detailed carbon footprint report, including a breakdown of main emission sources, a comparison of individual activity categories, and a calculation confirmation, usable for ESG reporting, communication with business partners, or in public procurement. Data from the system can be integrated into internal sustainability strategies and used as a basis for investment decisions or obtaining environmentally oriented financing,” added L. Lackóová.
The total budget for the project titled “Low-Emission Future: Carbon Footprint Tracking in Agri-Food Businesses to Support Local Producers” (09I04-03-V02-00054) is 996,706.20 euros.
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