The new streamlined certification will mean less complexity for farmers, says Rainforest Alliance, allowing them to focus on practices that matter most for people and planet
The Rainforest Alliance has unveiled an updated version of its Sustainable Agriculture Standard, version 1.4. The updated certification programme, designed to be more user-friendly and data-driven, aims to support the agricultural sector’s net-positive transformation.
With almost four decades of experience restoring the balance between people and nature, the NGO said it was more committed than ever to accelerating positive environmental and social change in agriculture.
The new version of the Rainforest Alliance’s standard, launching in October 2025, promises a more streamlined process for farmers, companies and certification bodies. By focusing on efficiency, the revised programme intends to reduce complexity while ensuring its continued positive impact on farming practices.
Simplification at its core
The Rainforest Alliance said that by removing unnecessary burdens and complexities, a response to feedback from both farmers and companies, the updated standard would make certification more accessible without compromising on its core environmental and social goals.
The new version introduces a more targeted approach to inspections and audits, reducing the time and resources required for internal inspections and external audits.
The Rainforest Alliance has also streamlined its data collection to focus on essential data points that support both market needs and compliance with legislative requirements.
“Increased data verification and validation by certification bodies, along with better training, guidance and digital tools, will further support more accurate reporting for all stakeholders,” it said.
Key elements unchanged
Despite these changes, the Rainforest Alliance has ensured that it retains the most impactful elements from the previous version of its standard, such as its Assess-and-Address systems.
“The standard will maintain the same aims and principles as well as its innovative approaches and tools – from our Assess-and-Address systems to tackle human rights abuses head on to our child labour and forced labour risk maps – that have shown to deliver significant farm-level impacts,” the NGO revealed.
The Rainforest Alliance said that it remained fully committed to the ISEAL Code and would ensure its certification supports compliance with various regulations, including the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the German Supply Chain Act.
“The evolution of the Rainforest Alliance certification programme ensures that despite these growing expectations, farmers and companies retain their market access,” it stated.
Specialised certification
In addition to the updated Sustainable Agriculture Standard, the Rainforest Alliance announced it was developing new specialised certification solutions for three critical impact areas: regenerative agriculture, climate and livelihoods.
“Available as optional add-ons for current certificate holders or as standalone solutions, they will provide farmers with increased market access and the opportunity to validate their specialist sustainability practices,” the organisation revealed. “For companies, it will be an opportunity to stand out, strengthen their sustainability commitments and transparently report on ambitious ESG goals. As the first of the new specialised solutions, the Regenerative Agriculture Standard will be launched later in 2025.”
