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GLOBALG.A.P. for buyers

GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions are developed by the industry, for the industry. With more than 20 years of collaboration and innovation in the agriculture, aquaculture, and floriculture sectors, we have worked with all areas of the global value chain to develop a robust, one-stop-shop certification system.

Learn about bookmarking

Promote safer and more sustainable farming worldwide

Why source from GLOBALG.A.P. certified production?

Global trade safe and responsibly farmed products has never been simpler! GLOBALG.A.P. certification enables you to easily identify producers who practice responsible farming and have undergone a third-party audit of their production processes. Already applied in more than 130 countries and developed collaboratively in response to sector demands and challenges, the GLOBALG.A.P. certification system targets six key impact areas: food safety, environmental sustainability, workers’ well-being, animal welfare, supply chain traceability, and capacity building. 

GLOBALG.A.P. in numbers (as of 31/12/2022)

Technical experts 1, Technical experts, committees, focus groups, GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat, governance, industry, strategy, Benchmarking Committees
20+ years of experience

in the agriculture, floriculture, and aquaculture sectors

Producer 1, Producer, farmer, stakeholder, supply chain, farm-level, smallholder
195,000+ producers

under GLOBALG.A.P. certification

Events 1, Events, TOUR stops, global, worldwide, international, network, capacity building
130+ countries

with GLOBALG.A.P. certificate holders

Farm 1, Farm, producer, agriculture, plants, crops
4.3 million+ hectares

of certified plant production annually

Aquaculture 2, Aquaculture, aquatic species, product category, fish, mollusc, crustacean
2.5 million+ metric tons

of certified aquaculture production annually

Compound Feed 2, Compound feed, aquaculture, product, market
21 million+ metric tons

of certified compound feed production annually

Image of a producer harvesting cabbages on a vegetable farm

Five reasons to choose GLOBALG.A.P.

1. We offer a one-stop-shop for all your farm assurance needs

The GLOBALG.A.P. portfolio offers a comprehensive package of standards and delivery services to cover all certification requirements for primary production and the supply chain.

With holistic core solutions tackling a range of topics such as food safety, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare, and our selection of add-on solutions that handle topics such water use, biodiversity, or workers’ well-being in a more in-depth way, producers can flexibly tailor their certification coverage without requiring multiple audits to different schemes.

Additional postharvest or segregation and traceability standards for the supply chain, as well as the linked consumer label initiative (GGN label), enable you to access all the solutions you need from just one certification system.

International recognition by industry initiatives such as GFSI, GSSI, or FSI for our key standards further enhance sourcing confidence.

Streamline your sourcing policy and support a simpler certification journey for producers.

Image of a certification body auditor inspecting a plant nursery

2. We operate a trusted certification system backed by a pioneering integrity program

GLOBALG.A.P. certificates are a source of pride for producers and a valuable source of information for buyers. To safeguard this reputation, the GLOBALG.A.P. certification system relies on a comprehensive Integrity Program.

Conceived in 2008 as the first of its kind in food certification, the GLOBALG.A.P. Integrity Program is responsible for investigating complaints, mitigating stakeholder risk by monitoring certification claims, and acting as a feedback mechanism that serves the continuous improvement of the whole system.

Going beyond comparable integrity mechanisms in the sector which rely mainly on desk assessments, the GLOBALG.A.P. Integrity Program also sees more than 200 days of integrity assessments – including on-site visits – conducted every year by a dedicated team of integrity assessors.

Thanks to the robust nature of the program, the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems are recognized as a trusted source for verified farm-level data that aids global supply chain management.

Access a trusted certification system that global supply chains rely on.

Validate a certificate via the GLOBALG.A.P. database

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3. We embrace synergies for maximum harmonization and alignment in the certification sector

With legal regulations varying by market and the existence of national schemes in many countries, understanding certification requirements can be complex.

To promote clarity and achieve harmonization within the sector, we strive to offer standards that are recognized by industry initiatives and align with supply chain legislation or national schemes wherever possible. We also work to reduce duplication in the sector through benchmarking against our standards and add-ons, lowering the number of audits and promoting cost-efficiency for producers while simplifying sourcing requirements for buyers.

To further reduce friction within the sector, our standards are audited by independent, third-party certification bodies, offering a more local choice to producers wherever possible.

We also offer the opportunity to integrate our solutions with the existing tools of our stakeholders – for example, providing compatibility with audit or farm management software and connecting supplier management platforms for on-demand data insights.

Join us in promoting collaboration and simplification within the sector.

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4. We set standards that are inclusive, stakeholder-driven, and fit-for-purpose at farm level

We engage all participants in global value chains to understand both the demands of the market and the daily realities at farm level.

Through extensive collaboration with our technical committees and focus groups, we are able to strike a practical balance that meets the expectations of stakeholders while ensuring that our solutions remain fit-for-purpose and in line with our vision of safer and more sustainable farming.

With wide-scale public consultation phases and one of the largest community membership networks in the industry, the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat involves a broad range of stakeholders in the standard-setting process. We strive for robust requirements that also foster continuous improvement, supporting producers in improving farm management and processes beyond the certification audit.

The GLOBALG.A.P. Advisory Board, with a 50:50 split of producer/supplier and retailer/food service representatives, is responsible for the final adoption of our standards.

Apply solutions designed by the sector, for the sector.

Image of two producers inspecting potted plants on a covered floriculture farm

5. We ensure our solutions are global, adaptable, and accessible

GLOBALG.A.P. is one of the most widely recognized certification systems in the global trade of farmed products.

With certification spanning over 130 countries and covering a variety of farm sizes and types – from smallholders to large multisite producer groups – we support an extensive farming network while acknowledging the diverse challenges of implementation around the world.

To bridge the gap from global to local, our Registered Trainers are responsible for providing authorized training within a local context, and our national technical working groups are involved in standard setting to develop national interpretation guidelines for applying the standards in specific environments. Our regional experts provide widespread support where you are and gather valuable perspective on the application of our global solutions within local supply chains.

Dedicated capacity-building activities strive to raise awareness of responsible farming practices and facilitate their implementation on the ground, improving livelihoods and growing the global pool of certified producers to source from.

Help make safe and responsible farming practices mainstream by facilitating their implementation around the world.

A brief guide to GLOBALG.A.P.

Contact a GLOBALG.A.P. representative in your area

With technical experts and/or key account managers for each region of the world, the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat is able to offer specialized support to supply chain members in your local context.

Sustainable Development Goals

How do GLOBALG.A.P. activities contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals?

GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions, partnerships, and capacity-building activities contribute directly to 10 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We continue to harness our global reach to foster the mainstreaming of more sustainable farming practices.

Discover more about how GLOBALG.A.P. activities align with the SDGs.

Is GLOBALG.A.P. recognized by other industry stakeholders?

In support of the “one auditor through the farm gate” principle, the following initiatives formally recognize one or more GLOBALG.A.P. solutions:

  • Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) recognition (for the food safety elements of the Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) standard for fruit and vegetables and aquaculture, as well as for the Harmonized Produce Safety Standard, and Produce Handling Assurance standard)

  • Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) recognition (for IFA for aquaculture)

  • Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI) recognition (for IFA for flowers and ornamentals and the Impact-Driven Approach to Sustainability add-on)

  • Sustainability Initiative Fruit and Vegetables (SIFAV) recognition via the Water and Social Basket of Standards (for the Sustainable Program for Irrigation and Groundwater Use (SPRING))

  • Aligned with the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) Ethical Charter (for GRASP)

  • WWF Spain (World Wildlife Fund) recognition (for SPRING)

  • FDA recognition (for and the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule add-on)

Simplify your sourcing policies

How do GLOBALG.A.P. solutions facilitate supply chain management?

GLOBALG.A.P. certification is widely trusted as a sourcing requirement for many major supply chains worldwide. Our standards and add-ons are complimented by a framework of delivery services that make trading safe and responsibly farmed products simpler than ever before. From production standards for plants, aquaculture, and compound feed, to tailored add-ons on topics such as water or social responsibility, the GLOBALG.A.P. portfolio has a solution for you.

GLOBALG.A.P. Primary solutions icon over full square white background

Smart farm assurance solutions

Primary solutions

Primary solutions provide a basic level of assurance. As standalone standards, they are not combined with any other GLOBALG.A.P. solutions and are not a full form of certification valid for global trade but they may fulfil local requirements for producers in emerging markets and/or facilitate the first steps towards accredited certification, if desired.

Learn more about upgrading your suppliers through GLOBALG.A.P. primary solutions.

GLOBALG.A.P. Core solutions icon over full square white background

Core solutions

Core solutions are internationally recognized standards for primary production and the supply chain. Core solutions take the form of a third-party audit which usually results in a certificate recognized in global trade markets.

Learn more about enhancing your supply chains with GLOBALG.A.P. core solutions.

GLOBALG.A.P. Add-ons to core solutions icon over full square white background

Add-ons to core solutions

Add-on solutions are designed to expand the scope of existing core certification, offering tailored or more comprehensive assurance on a specific topic. Add-ons must be audited in combination with a GLOBALG.A.P. core solution.

Learn more about targeted assurance with GLOBALG.A.P. add-ons to core solutions.

Our most popular core solutions

Icon for Integrated Farm Assurance for fruit and vegetables
Integrated Farm Assurance for fruit and vegetables

IFA is a global standard for safe and responsible farming practices in fruit and vegetable production.

Icon for Integrated Farm Assurance for flowers and ornamentals
Integrated Farm Assurance for flowers and ornamentals

IFA is a global standard for safe and responsible farming practices in flower and ornamental production.

Icon for Integrated Farm Assurance for aquaculture
Integrated Farm Assurance for aquaculture

IFA is a global standard for safe and responsible farming practices in aquaculture production.

Discover more

Our most popular add-ons to core solutions

Icon for the GLOBALG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice
GLOBALG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice

GRASP is an add-on for the evaluation of workers' well-being at farm level.

Icon for the GLOBALG.A.P. Sustainable Program for Irrigation and Groundwater Use
Sustainable Program for Irrigation and Groundwater Use

SPRING is an add-on for responsible water management in plant production processes.

Icon for the GLOBALG.A.P. Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule add-on
Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule add-on

The FSMA PSR add-on addresses FDA requirements for the import of fruit and vegetable products to the US market.

Discover more
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Find your solution

Use our Smart Checklist Builder to easily understand which GLOBALG.A.P. solutions are recommended for your supplier’s production practices.

Explore relevant solutions for a specific topic

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Food safety

Food safety begins on the farm, and protecting the right of current and future generations to safe food has been a guiding principle of our work for over 20 years.

Learn more
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Environmental sustainability

Supporting environmentally responsible and resilient production practices is essential to the protection of global ecosystems and the long-term viability of farms.

Learn more
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Workers’ well-being

Responsible farming is about people as well as products, and socially sustainable supply chains are built on the health, safety, and welfare of farm workers and their communities.

Learn more
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Animal welfare

Addressing the world’s fastest growing food sector, our aquaculture solutions safeguard the health and welfare of aquatic species at every stage of the production chain.

Learn more
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Supply chain traceability

Effective segregation, handling, and traceability requirements are key to protecting the integrity of our producers’ responsible farming practices throughout the supply chain.

Learn more
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Supporting services for supply chain stakeholders

If you already source from GLOBALG.A.P. certified production processes, discover our range of supporting services for supply chain stakeholders.

Learn more

Contact a GLOBALG.A.P. representative in your area

With technical experts and/or key account managers for each region of the world, the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat is able to offer specialized support to supply chain members in your local context.

Infographic showing the stepwise approach of GLOBALG.A.P. Primary Farm Assurance

Upgrade your suppliers with GLOBALG.A.P. capacity-building measures

For small-scale producers or those in emerging markets, meeting the criteria for international standards may be difficult at first – whether due to the scale or complexity of the requirements and implementation costs.

GLOBALG.A.P. capacity building activities help producers to adopt good agricultural practices at their own pace, gradually improving the efficiency of farm management, cutting exposure to food safety risks, and complying with legislation on food safety.

In turn, you can source from a growing pool of local and regional products that meet the minimum requirements for food safety and hygiene and develop a network of reliable producers committed to adopting safer, more sustainable farming processes.

Explore capacity building

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The GLOBALG.A.P. Chain of Custody standard

The GLOBALG.A.P. Chain of Custody (CoC) standard supports For more transparency and confidence in global supply chains. 

Achieving recognition for safe and responsible farming practices through certification takes significant time, effort, and investment from producers at farm level.

Maintain traceability of products originating from GLOBALG.A.P. certified processes, protect their integrity, and reduce reputational risk with supply chain certification – applicable to retailers, packers, processors and more.

Learn more about the GLOBALG.A.P. Chain of Custody standard

Services for buyers

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Validate a certificate

Connecting the certification data of almost 200,000 producers in over 130 countries, the GLOBALG.A.P. database enables the transparent and real-time validation of certification status.

To the database
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Bookmark your suppliers

For supply chain stakeholders trading products from GLOBALG.A.P. certified production, bookmarking is the simple way to monitor the certification status of all suppliers in one place. The Bookmarking API also offers supplier management platforms the opportunity to display publicly visible data from the GLOBALG.A.P. database in their own system.

More on bookmarking
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Monitor maximum residue limits

The RMS Platform streamlines digital data sharing with the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat – both simplifying reporting and enabling the conversion of MRL data to anonymous benchmarking reports that can be used in risk assessments. RMS Platform participants are also visible and searchable in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems for transparency in the market.

Explore the RMS Platform
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Attend a training course

The GLOBALG.A.P. Academy offers a selection of training courses to improve your knowledge of responsible farming practices, the GLOBALG.A.P. portfolio of standards, and the GLOBALG.A.P. certification system as a whole. Upskill your expertise today and learn about what is required of your suppliers during farm-level certification.

View Academy catalog
Infographic showing benchmarked schemes and benchmarked checklists

GLOBALG.A.P. benchmarking

GLOBALG.A.P. benchmarking is the process of recognizing alignment between different farm assurance schemes or checklists and their GLOBALG.A.P. equivalents.

Benefits

  • Quickly and easily identify equivalent schemes to simplify your sourcing policy

  • Producers can meet buyer requirements without undergoing multiple audits for the same criteria

  • Cutting audit duplication minimizes certification costs for producers, with the entire value chain profiting from lower production costs.

View the benchmarked schemes and checklists

Learn about the benchmarking process

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Join the GGN label initiative

The GGN label stands for certified, responsible farming and transparency. Based on GLOBALG.A.P. standards for farms and the supply-chain, the cross-category label can be applied to fruit and vegetables, farmed seafood, flowers, and plants to link conscious consumers to the roots of their products.

Build trust in your brand, demonstrate your farm-level sustainability efforts, and enhance your competitive edge by joining the initiative today!

Latest news

GLOBALG.A.P. Press release

25 March 2024

Changemaker Awards 2024 launches

In September 2024, FoodPLUS GmbH (GLOBALG.A.P. and the GGN label) will launch the first annual Changemaker Awards at the GLOBALG.A.P. SUMMIT 2024 to celebrate those fostering positive change in the world of farming.

Capacity building
Environmental sustainability
A promotional banner for Summit 2024 - Shaping the future of farming together, 10-12 September 2024, Warsaw, Poland

27 February 2024

Join us at SUMMIT 2024: Early Bird tickets now on sale!

For the first time since 2018 in Peru, the SUMMIT event will return in September 2024 in Warsaw, Poland, to explore the latest developments in food safety and sustainability, as well as the future of the industry.

Capacity building
Animal welfare
Aquaculture
Plants
Environmental sustainability
Food safety
Traceability
Workers’ well-being

Contribute to the GLOBALG.A.P. certification system

How you can get involved

Want to go further with GLOBALG.A.P.? Find out how you can help shape our standards, join the membership community, find us at an event, or contact us with a partnership idea. Together, we thrive!

GLOBALG.A.P. SUMMIT 2024 tickets now available!

Join us to discuss the latest developments in food safety and sustainability, as well as the future of the industry. Take advantage of our Early Bird discount now – saving you €250 per person until 31 May 2024!

Upcoming events

16 Apr - 17 Apr

2024

GLOBALG.A.P. TOUR stop South Africa 2024

Location: Paarl
Event type: GLOBALG.A.P. TOUR stop
Event format: On-site

Aquaculture
Plants
Fruit and vegetables

17 Apr - 18 Apr

2024

Academy training: Chain of Custody v6.1 in English

Location: Online
Event type: Academy course
Event format: Virtual

Capacity building
Core solutions
Traceability
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Become a GLOBALG.A.P. Community Member

  • Get exclusive benefits

  • Fuel innovation through collaboration

  • Help shape the future of GLOBALG.A.P. solutions

  • Drive industry change, for more sustainable farming worldwide

Join the 400+ organizations across six continents who already support GLOBALG.A.P. with their membership.

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Have your say on our standards

The creation of robust, measurable, and fit-for-purpose solutions that promote safer and more sustainable farming is only possible if all value chain participants are engaged in the development process.

GLOBALG.A.P. standards are driven by our stakeholders around the world, and therefore reflect both market needs and the daily realities of producers on the ground.

All of our major standards undergo transparent and comprehensive public consultation to build on the scientific baseline provided by our technical experts before final adoption by the GLOBALG.A.P. Advisory Board.

Find out which solutions we are currently working on.

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Level up your expertise

Understanding certification options and the necessary criteria is the first step to improving supply chains. Access specialized training from the GLOBALG.A.P. Academy to gain insight on our global standards and trusted certification system.

View Academy courses
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Develop customized solutions

Operated in partnership with industry stakeholders, customized add-ons to GLOBALG.A.P. core solutions utilize our certification system to reduce audit duplication and fulfil specific buyer requirements. Managed by FoodPLUS GmbH, they are not publicly available or part of the GLOBALG.A.P. brand.

Contact us to discuss a collaboration

Share your experience!

Are you already part of our mission to foster the global adoption of safer and more sustainable farming practices? We would love to hear from you!

Submit a testimonial about working with GLOBALG.A.P. for a chance to be featured on our website and social media channels – with more than 80,000 followers across five platforms.

FAQ – The GLOBALG.A.P. portfolio

Technical FAQ

Dedicated GLOBALG.A.P. representatives in your area

With technical experts and/or key account managers for each region of the world, the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat is able to offer specialized support to supply chain members in your local context.

If you have questions about GLOBALG.A.P. certification, reach out to one of our experts:

Angelo Lazo

Technical Key Account Manager

For Latin America

EnglishSpanish

Peru

Latin America and the Caribbean

+51 9 55082946

lazo@globalgap.org

Alejandra Pistagnesi

Technical Key Account Manager

For Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay

EnglishSpanish

Argentina

Latin America and the Caribbean

+54 929 845 549 29

pistagnesi@globalgap.org

Marco Villegas

Key Account Manager

For Mexico

EnglishSpanish

Mexico

Latin America and the Caribbean

+52 553 7075399

villegas@globalgap.org

Leonardo Ferrer

Technical Key Account Manager

For Colombia and Panama

EnglishSpanish

Colombia

Latin America and the Caribbean

+57 3115050821

ferrer@globalgap.org

Juan Gabriel

Key Account Manager

For Central America

EnglishSpanishPortuguese

Guatemala

Latin America and the Caribbean

+502 30235075

gabriel@globalgap.org

Stefano Miele

Stakeholder Engagement Manager

For Europe

EnglishSpanishGermanItalian

Germany

Europe

+49 221 577 76 856

miele@globalgap.org

Jane Bi

Technical Manager

For North America

EnglishSpanish

United States of America

North America

jane@globalgap.org

Antonio Restrepo

Producer Relations Manager

For North America

EnglishSpanish

United States of America

North America

+1 919-880-7558

restrepo@globalgap.org

Mahinda Wahome

Technical Key Account Manager

For Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda

EnglishSwahili

Kenya

Africa

+254 722 671133

wahome@globalgap.org

Jennifer Mbuvi

Key Account Manager

For Kenya

EnglishSwahiliKikamba

Kenya

Africa

+254 720211251

mbuvi@globalgap.org

Edite Strazdina

Technical Key Account Manager

For Central Asia and Latvia

EnglishRussianLatvian

Latvia

Asia

+371 29155836

strazdina@globalgap.org

Napaporn Rattanametta

Technical Key Account Manager

For Asia

EnglishThai

Thailand

Asia

+66 86 0341245

rattanametta@globalgap.org

Xin Zhou

China Representative

For China

EnglishChinese

China

Asia

+86 (0) 1332 1138 571

zhou@globalgap.org

Pham Viet Anh

Technical Key Account Manager

For Vietnam

EnglishVietnamese

Viet Nam

Asia

+84 904 190779

pham@globalgap.org

Takesue Katsuhisa

Technical Key Account Manager

For Japan

EnglishJapanese

Japan

Asia

+81 8032 579 810

takesue@globalgap.org

Pu Wei

Technical Key Account Manager

For China

EnglishChinese

China

Asia

+86-136 833 620 15

wei@globalgap.org

Caglayan Ozgur

Technical Key Account Manager

For Turkey

EnglishTurkish

Türkiye

Asia

+90 533 695 96 65

ozgur@globalgap.org

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Contact us

For general questions about GLOBALG.A.P., please contact us at customer_support@globalgap.org.