What is it?
NEIKER is a Basque research center focused on sustainable agriculture, plant health, and innovation. From advanced greenhouses to genetic improvement, NEIKER helps develop high-quality, resilient crops to support local farmers and the environment. Their work includes preserving traditional varieties like the Leioa pepper, ensuring these local treasures continue to grow and thrive. NEIKER also supports quality certifications such as the PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) for peppers with the Gernika label, promoting food traceability and regional identity. Through science, technology, and collaboration with local producers, NEIKER is building a better future for the agri-food sector in the Basque Country and beyond.
Neiker, Greenhouses, Goal
Mikel Ojinaga (technician of horticulture at Neiker) Video: Aritz Laguardia. Sound: Leire Mojas.
Discover NEIKER’s work in greenhouse technology, genetics, and crop protection, using advanced methods to grow healthier, sustainable crops year-round.
From Seed to Pepper
Mikel Ojinaga (technician of horticulture at Neiker) Video: Aritz Laguardia. Sound: Leire Mojas.
See the full process of how NEIKER transforms seeds from last year’s harvest into healthy pepper plants, using careful disinfection and controlled growing methods.
Selecting Top Pepper Varieties
Santiago Larregla (researcher of plant production and protection at Neiker) Video: Aritz Laguardia. Sound: Leire Mojas.
NEIKER takes you inside their seed-to-plant process, showing how traditional pepper seeds are collected, disinfected, and germinated to grow healthy plants and preserve local flavors.
Supporting Local Growth
Santiago Larregla (researcher of plant production and protection at Neiker) Video: Aritz Laguardia. Sound: Leire Mojas.
Find out how NEIKER evaluates different pepper varieties by size, color, and productivity to select the best seeds for farmers and local markets.
Protection by PGI
Santiago Larregla (researcher of plant production and protection at Neiker) Video: Aritz Laguardia. Sound: Leire Mojas.
Learn how NEIKER helped secure PGI certification for the Gernika pepper, guaranteeing its quality, origin, and local production.
Neiker in the Collaboration Project
Watch how NEIKER is helping recover the traditional Leioa pepper by growing and comparing it with top-performing varieties in a special research trial.
Santiago Larregla (researcher of plant production and protection at Neiker) Video: Aritz Laguardia. Sound: Leire Mojas.
From Seed to Pepper
See the full process of how NEIKER transforms seeds from last year’s harvest into healthy pepper plants, using careful disinfection and controlled growing methods.
Mikel Ojinaga (technician of horticulture at Neiker) explains how the pepper seeds grow in different phases. Video: Aritz Laguardia. Sound: Leire Mojas.
Step 1
Sow the seeds
Step 2
Transplant and grow the seeds
Step 3
Care and harvest
To sum up...
Video production, video edition and voice-over by Brianna Roberts
