More than 120 delegates have joined agricultural certificationstandards body GlobalGAP in Nairobi, Kenya, on the first stop of itsGlobalGAP Tour 2009, a series of five meetings across five continentsset to take place between now and November.
The events are part of an outreach and consultation programme aimed atinvolving key stakeholders in the run-up to the publication of a newversion of GlobalGAP's international standards, due in 2011.
Leaders from the horticultural sector in Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Senegal,Mozambique, Cote d'Ivoire, Tanzania, Egypt and South Africaparticipated in meetings on how to implement GlobalGAP in theircountries.
Kenyan Agriculture Minister Gideion Ndambuki delivered a keynote speechin which he welcomed GlobalGAP to Nairobi and congratulated them on itspartnership with the country's Fresh Produce Exporters Association(FPEAK), not only in organising the event but also for assisting thecountry's horticultural industry in meeting the food safety andsustainability requirements of its major export markets.
The Minister was highly appreciative of the tools being developed byGlobalGAP to aid smallholders in commplying with the standards, theorganisation reported.
Nigel Garbutt, chairman of GlobalGAP, said: 'The topics underdiscussion were of vital importance to the horticultural industry inmeeting the future requirements of retailers, producers and consumersalike.'
Integrated pest management, the sustainable use of resources andmicrobiological safety of fresh produce were also discussed inround-table sessions, in which participants could directly comment onthe new standard proposals.
Results of the round-table discussions will be uploaded for further comments to the GlobalGAP online forum.
The next stop on the GlobalGAP Tour 2009 is Montevideo on 25-26 September 2009.
