Standard setting
Environmental sustainability solution
Learn more about the development process and public consultation schedule for the new environmental sustainability solution.
Background information and objective
Environmental sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the farming industry. While GLOBALG.A.P.’s holistic flagship standard IFA includes core requirements relating to environmental sustainability, some stakeholders want to go that extra mile to demonstrate their commitment to this crucial topic.
The decision was therefore made to develop a farm assurance solution in either an add-on or stand-alone standard format that will support this by 2025. The draft principles and criteria cover topics including:
Water
Biodiversity
Greenhouse gases
Regenerative agriculture
Food waste
Metrics
Footprinting
Participants in the development process
In addition to public consultation, an Environmental Sustainability Working Group was established to help drive the development. Its key tasks are to explore how the GLOBALG.A.P. certification system can further embrace environmental sustainability while observing the principle of avoiding duplication at farm level, exploring harmonization with existing sustainability programs, and encouraging the cost-efficient adoption of responsible farming practices.
Public consultation for the environmental sustainability solution is currently closed.
If you have general comments on a GLOBALG.A.P. standard or add-on, you can contact publiccomments@globalgap.org at any time.
For more information on the standard-setting procedure, please see our five-step development process.
Disclaimer
Please note that the dates shown are for guidance only and may be subject to change. This can occur if the public consultation process or field trials indicate that further review of the standard or add-on documents is necessary.
Indicative development timeline
Concept development and initial drafting
First round of public consultation (September–October)
Review and integration of feedback
Second round of public consultation
Review and integration of feedback
Third round of public consultation
Review and integration of feedback
Finalization of documents
Adoption by GLOBALG.A.P. Advisory Board
Pre-launch preparations (training development, IT)
Launch of the environmental sustainability solution

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