About us
CoCo Sapiens is a non-profit association that develops tools to understand and transform food systems.
We are a community of conscious consumers. We build reference standards, the CoCo Score and short supply chain networks so that choosing well no longer depends on marketing, but on documented information.
Mission and tools
Our mission is to help people understand how food is produced and what impact different production models generate from a holistic, systemic perspective. We develop reference standards and analysis tools for agriculture, livestock and fisheries, to empower conscious consumers and support those who produce with integrity.
Five tools form one ecosystem: the CoCo Sapiens standards, which identify member producers; the CoCo Score and CoCo Sapiens Certified; the Food Map; the network of accredited consultants; and the Food Reports, the Food Journal and the newsletter.
Directors
The directors of CoCo Sapiens: gastronomy, technology, law and communication in service of the conscious consumer.
Xavier Sala
Founder & President of CoCo Sapiens · Director of JRE Spain · Chef and owner of Café 1907 · Founder of The Green Wine Philosophy · Independent writer on food systems
Lucas León
Founder & Secretary of CoCo Sapiens · CEO of INLOC Robotics · Founder & CFO of akvola Technologies · MSc Telecommunications Engineering · ALMA Scuola di Cucina (2021-22)
Stefan Winter
Head of HoReCa Channel, CoCo Sapiens
Jordi Berruezo
Legal · Owner of Bufete Berruezo · Head of CoCo Sapiens legal affairs
Maite Felices
Creative direction & Communication · Founder of FELICES AGENCY
Transparency
As a non-profit association, we are clear about how we work, how we assess and how we are funded.
Methodology and impact study of practices
Our criteria are built from a 360° view: health, environment, ethics, biodiversity, animal welfare, circularity and social impact. We analyse production models and concrete practices — not just commercial claims — to understand documented impact on territory and people.
Certification and distinctions
CoCo Sapiens Certified® is our certification: the product shows its CoCo Score, checked by an independent certification body in its country.
Everything else we review ourselves, with visits and each year’s data:
- Member producer has committed to our standards and is working to certify its products.
- Member processor makes products from what other producers grow, names them on its profile, and meets our standards along the whole chain.
- Member producer organisation sells only products from member producers.
- Food Origin a product with the identity of its land, made right there.
- CoCo Sapiens Circular Farm a farm that closes the loop with what it produces itself.
- CoCo Sapiens 360 a restaurant or shop that sells mostly through short supply chains and works with our producers.
The member producer has 12 months to certify at least one product.
Funding
We are funded by the fees of members and member producers, contributions from aligned projects and occasional collaborations that do not affect the independence of our criteria. We are a non-profit association and everything we take in is reinvested in transparency for the conscious consumer.
The producer's fee comes from a price table based on farm size, turnover and the result of the internal audit, with discounts that add up. Paying it does not entitle anyone to certification, which is earned product by product.
Conflicts of interest
We declare and manage potential conflicts when a team member, consultant or collaborator has a commercial link with a member producer. In those cases, evaluation is referred to independent third parties and the procedure is documented.
Alliances
We collaborate with organisations that share the commitment to a fairer, healthier and more coherent food system.
Red Cross
Collaboration on social-impact initiatives and access to quality food.
EIT
Alliance focused on innovation and knowledge in the European food space.
Euro-Toques
European network of chefs committed to quality produce and territory.