SOP approach
Why SOP exist
In agriculture and livestock farming, observable results do not arise from isolated actions, but from the continuous interaction between environment, management, nutrition, and the physiology of living organisms that make up the production system. Milk quality, animal welfare, production stability, environmental sustainability, and the value of supply chains are not separate goals: they are emergent properties of the system. SOP was created to operate at this deeper level: the level of conditions, where the system takes shape, becomes understandable, and can be improved over time.
A systemic vision, not a sectoral one
The SOP approach is based on systemic principles applicable to all major agri-livestock supply chains, because it is grounded in the functioning of living systems rather than sector-specific solutions.
We work with:
dairy and beef cattle farms
pig farming
poultry farming
forage crops (corn and fodder)
viticulture
In every context, SOP does not act on a single parameter but designs system coherence, so that results emerge in a stable and measurable way.
Thinking in systems means managing relationships
In the SOP model, a farm or agricultural business is viewed as a network of dynamic relationships, in which each element influences the others. In particular, we observe the interaction between:
Environment
air, surfaces, soil, environmental microbiology
Physiology
functional response of animals and plants to system conditions
Management
operational routines, sensitive phases, continuity of practices
Nutrition
consistency between diet, metabolism, and biological efficiency
“The environment as the biological infrastructure of the system
The barn, farm, and field environment represents the first functional level of the system.
It is here that:
Animals and plants interact with the microbiome
Operational practices become biological conditions
The system expresses balance or disorder
A more balanced environment promotes:
Consistency with the physiology of organisms
Greater production consistency
Improved welfare and management conditions
Indicators as signals, not as isolated targets
In the SOP model, indicators such as:
somatic cell count (SCC) in milk,
milk quality (fat, protein, casein),
animal welfare parameters,
environmental conditions,
soil fertility
are not treated as individual targets to be pursued in isolation, but as functional signals of the system’s state.
Integration of professional expertise
The SOP approach does not replace specialized expertise, but connects it within a unified vision.
The veterinarian interprets a system that is more stable and preventable.The nutritionist operates in a context that enhances metabolic efficiency.
The agronomist works on soils and manure as parts of a coherent biological cycle.
The farm technician manages practices that ensure continuity over time.
Alignment with modern assessment models
The SOP vision is consistent with institutional models that view farming as a combination of conditions, practices, and outcomes, including ClassyFarm and SQNBA.
Agriculture, livestock farming, and systemic responsibility
In the debate on climate, biodiversity, and resources, agriculture and livestock farming are often viewed through isolated variables.
The SOP vision takes a different perspective: that of living networks, biological cycles, and the interdependencies between soil, plants, animals, and human activities.
From this viewpoint, the question is not whether a production system exists, but how it is designed, managed, and evolves over time.
This approach is consistent with the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals, which recognize the transformation of production systems as a central lever for addressing environmental and social challenges.
Regenerative agriculture and corporate responsibility
The SOP vision fits within the paradigm of regenerative agriculture, understood as the evolution of production systems toward models capable of regenerating biological resources, ecological relationships, and value over time.
To regenerate means:
improving the biological functionality of soils and livestock environments,
strengthening natural carbon and nitrogen cycles,
increasing farm resilience,
reducing environmental pressures through better system design.
This approach is consistent with the principles of the B Corp movement, which promotes a business model capable of integrating economic performance, environmental responsibility, and positive social impact.
The SOP Method: Designing Stability
SOP supports farms and livestock operations in a process focused on:
analyzing system conditions,
coherently designing practices,
monitoring functional indicators,
continuous adaptation based on system signals.
It is not about seeking quick fixes, but about designing stability.
Not about chasing immediate results, but about building resilient systems.