The total number of producers under GLOBALG.A.P. Certification grew in 2011 by 9.5% from 102,300 to nearly 112,600. Europe still accounts for 74% of all certifications, with half of all producers from Southern Europe. Spain, Italy, and Greece are the countries with the most certified producers. The Americas and Africa are gaining a larger share of overall certifications. GLOBALG.AP. presented these and more figures in it’s Annual Report 2011 at this years Fruit Logistica.
During the news conference GLOBALG.A.P. outlined its two pronged strategy to meet the needs of producers, retailers and consumers in expanding global markets. Emerging producers, many who are small sized, are facing increasing challenges to meet food safety targets from regulators and buyers alike in their national (home) markets.
In response to this GLOBALG.A.P. has launched localg.a.p., an entry level Good Agricultural Practice program. Nigel Garbutt, Chairman GLOBALG.A.P. said: “This program is designed around our proven and harmonized G.A.P. measures, along with our state of the art IT platform, to help producers to get on a path towards GLOBALG.A.P. food safety and sustainability certification.”
A major benefit will be that producers who might not otherwise implement G.A.P. can get started and then seamlessly progress to GLOBALG.A.P. Certification when required to meet the requirements and opportunities of international trade or the national market begins to mature. The program will be fully supported by a growing network of farm assurers, approved consultants who can guide farmers and growers through the early stages of implementing G.A.P. on farm.
Examples of countries implementing this approach were outlined at the News Conference at Fruit Logistica, Berlin:
- Dr. David E. Gombas, SVP Food Safety and Technology, United Fresh Produce Association, USA: Outlined how growers are meeting food safety expectations of regulators and buyers
- Tomasz Nazar, Purchasing and contracting Manager in Uren Coldstores sp. z o.o., Poland: Described how Polish producers lay the foundation for food safety and sustainability in the frozen fruit industry.
- Stephen Mbithi, CEO, FPEAK, Kenya: Described how they are customizing GLOBALG.A.P. for the East African market
The second part of the strategy turns its attention on how to meet global challenges posed by the increasing scarcity of some resources such as water. With the pressure from a growing population and an increasingly unpredictable climate these factors, unless dealt with head on, will threaten future product availability. GLOBALG.A.P. lays the foundation for sustainable practices with the implementation of tried and tested Good Agricultural Practice.
Voluntary add-on sustainability modules (that is to say not affecting the GLOBALG.A.P. Certification) where based on industry best practice and agreement can go further and will provide a flexible solution in more developed markets where specific criteria can be certified without the burden of additional audits.
Nigel Garbutt added: “In establishing a new responsible water use stakeholder committee GLOBALG.A.P. is demonstrating its commitment to work on further harmonized criteria for this key resource area and tackling major issues for the future well-being of our industry”.
Panellists at the news conference outlined how this industry collaboration will work:
- Dr. Sabine von Wirén-Lehr, Program Coordinator, European Water Stewardship (EWS) – Responsible use of water
- Peter M. Funk, General Manager, SGF International – Sure Global Fair: Safe juice from the tree to the bottle. How a cooperation with GLOBALG.A.P. shall close the gap of food safety and sustainability in the fruit juice industry.
Source: GLOBALG.A.P.