GlobalGAP has announced that 2020 is the year of major revisions to its flagship Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) standard.
As a result, the certification body will carry out a worldwide series of outreach events called the World Consultation Tour, to gather input and feedback for the new version from farming communities in several countries.
Simplification for growers and an increased focus on sustainability are to be achieved by digitalising certification processes and including more elements of customised, science-based risk assessments, the body outlined.
Furthermore, a suite of modules will give farmers choices and make it easier for them to respond to their individual market and customer requirements.
“Beginning with our first standard draft more than 20 years ago, we have always followed our philosophy of reducing and ultimately avoiding any unnecessary duplication within our farm assurance programmes,” said Kristian Moeller, CEO of GlobalGAP. “But only now is the technology available to make major steps towards improving the user experience for farmers.”
“The newly enlarged board with truly global representation has called for placing the focus on simplification without compromising integrity,” said Guy Callebaut, chairman of the GlobalGAP board. “Only when farmers embrace the standard throughout their daily operations can they achieve the targeted level of trust which consumers demand.”
