After several years of successful experience at the Haut-Mauco site, SOAL is preparing to extend ISO 50001 certification to all of its granulation plants. This initiative is fully aligned with our CSR strategy, in particular by contributing to the Maïsadour Group’s Ambition 2030, and also responds to increasingly stringent regulatory requirements.
A Certification That Has Become Mandatory
Since 2018, the Maïsadour Group, at its Haut-Mauco complex, has voluntarily committed to the ISO 50001 approach. This standard defines an energy management system aimed at the continuous improvement of energy consumption.
Today, changes in regulations have turned this voluntary commitment into an obligation: any company whose total energy consumption (electricity and gas) exceeds the threshold of 23.6 GWh (gigawatt-hours) must now engage in the ISO 50001 certification process.
Until now, the requirement was limited to carrying out a mandatory energy audit every four years, covering a set of sites representing at least 80% of the company’s total energy consumption.
SOAL, through its SIREN number, is now subject to the obligation to obtain ISO 50001 certification. The regulatory deadline is set for October 2027.
However, we have chosen to anticipate this requirement by one year, aiming to achieve certification by summer 2026. This early move, made possible by the experience gained at the Haut-Mauco site, will also allow entities that are new to the process, such as Graines d’Alliance and Querial, to benefit from substantial support.
A Technical and Collective Approach
The certification is based on the principle of continuous improvement (Deming cycle / PDCA). It does not rely solely on audits, but on the daily involvement and commitment of everyone.
Each site monitors its energy consumption through a measurement protocol and a sub-metering system installed on the main energy-consuming equipment (grinders, presses, compressors for electricity, and boilers for gas).
1. Measurement and monitoring: sub-meter readings are recorded weekly (every Monday) by the maintenance teams. These readings, combined with the level of activity, make it possible to calculate Energy Performance Indicators (EnPIs).
2. Diagnosis and analysis: activity data (production volume, operating hours, type of production: pellets, crumbles, meal) and EnPIs are compared with a reference baseline (N-1) and with the targets set. The teams analyze variances, provide comments, and define action plans.
3. Management tools: at the Auch site, the ProVOptim solution provides real-time monitoring of indicators, with a level of detail down to the manufacturing formula (see the intranet article on the ProVOptim solution). Deployment at St Sylvestre and Pomarez is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026.
In addition to the ISO 50001 scope, water consumption monitoring is also integrated into this dashboard, in line with the CSR approach.
People at the Heart of Success
The dissemination of information and the involvement of plant teams (production and maintenance) are absolutely critical to ensuring optimal performance.
The role of on-site teams is essential in this approach:
“They are the ones who operate the machines and can take concrete action on energy performance on a daily basis. Their work is essential.” Sandrine Dupuy, Industrial Performance Manager – Agricultural Division
To ensure and sustain this momentum:
– Regular on-site discussion sessions on performance levels are organized for plant staff to share the approach and its challenges. They are provided with materials explaining how their Energy Performance Indicators are built. Operators are encouraged to make proposals, and their qualitative feedback feeds into the analysis and continuous improvement of performance.
– Awareness campaigns at the sites are led by the Group’s Energy Department (Arnaud Rizzo and Robin Duffaut).
Key Steps of the Approach
Preparation for certification is based on a precise timeline:
– December 2025: training of internal auditors over three days (December 10–12). Around ten Group employees were trained by AFNOR on the requirements of the standard.
– January 2026: ISO 50001 awareness campaign across all Animal Nutrition sites.
– Q2 2026: conduct of internal audits. These audits serve as a “trial run” to assess progress and address any deviations from the standard’s requirements.
– Q3 2026: externals audits and achievement of ISO 50001 certification.
This initiative strengthens our contribution to Pillar 1 of the Group’s Ambition 2030: an agro-ecological ambition aimed at reducing our energy and carbon footprint.