Image of two farmers harvesting crops in a field

About us

GLOBALG.A.P. is a brand of smart farm assurance solutions for the certification of agriculture, aquaculture, and floriculture – advancing safer and more sustainable farming practices in over 130 countries worldwide.

World-leading farm assurance solutions

What is GLOBALG.A.P.?

GLOBALG.A.P. is a brand of smart farm assurance solutions built on a portfolio of standards for safe and responsible production processes in agriculture, aquaculture, and floriculture. Our holistic approach to certification is developed through extensive collaboration with sector experts. GLOBALG.A.P. activities are supported by a rigorous integrity program and a network of more than 430 GLOBALG.A.P. Community Member organizations from across global value chains. In addition, our dedicated capacity-building program equips producers around the world with practical knowledge about responsible farming practices, enabling them to achieve certification, meet evolving market requirements, and contribute to international sustainability goals. Today, GLOBALG.A.P. solutions provide some of the most respected and internationally recognized standards that support the global trade of farmed products, counting almost 200,000 producers around the world under certification. 

What drives us?

Our vision – What do we want to achieve?

We envision a world in which farms are recognized for their efforts to continuously produce enough safe food while safeguarding our environment and the welfare of farming communities.

Our mission – How will we achieve our vision?

We collaborate with supply chain stakeholders to foster the global adoption of safer and more sustainable farming practices by providing industry-leading, cost-effective, and value-adding assurance and benchmarking solutions.

Our purpose – What do we believe?

Every generation has a right to safe food. To protect this right now and for future generations, the world’s farms must produce safe food in ways that are socially and environmentally responsible and resilient.

GLOBALG.A.P. in numbers

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

Document 6, Document, checklist, harmonization, combined, audit
10+ standards

for primary production processes and the supply chain

Standard setting 1, Standard setting, solutions, strategy, collaboration, technical experts
8+ add-ons

for flexible and cost-efficient customization

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

Certification Body 1, Certification body, CB, auditor, audit, assessment
180+ certification bodies

approved to audit and assess GLOBALG.A.P. standards

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 farm visit during the first years of the EUREPGAP initiative

Our company story

As a result of consumers’ growing interest in product safety, environmental impact, and the well-being of workers, a group of European retailers joined together in 1997 to set up the EUREPGAP initiative. The foundations of this initiative would later grow into the GLOBALG.A.P. brand. More than 20 years later, GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions are trusted tools for the global trade of fruit and vegetables, flowers, and farmed seafood.

Farm assurance fit for the future

How does GLOBALG.A.P. certification work?

GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons can be applied to the production processes of more than 700 different plant and aquatic species. Each species belongs to a product category with its own checklist that details the certification requirements. Every audit is conducted against the relevant checklist and in accordance with the GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations – a set of certification rules for checklist implementation. Audits are performed by independent and accredited third-party certification bodies (CBs), and the certification status of each registered producer is displayed in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems for transparency. This marks the GLOBALG.A.P. certification system as one of the most robust on the market.

What are GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions?

GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-on are supported by a framework of interlinked IT systems which connect audit data and validation services to deliver transparent, trustworthy, and real-time information on certification status. As farm assurance evolves to more closely integrate farm-level data, the GLOBALG.A.P. system is evolving with it. The newest version of our Integrated Farm Assurance standard and our connected IT systems mark the introduction of a smarter portfolio of streamlined, intuitive, and digitalized farm assurance solutions.

What is the “one auditor through the farm gate” principle?

We operate a range of harmonization activities that aim to cut duplication for producers and enable simpler sourcing processes for buyers. This is achieved through add-ons to core solutions that can widen the scope of a single audit, as well as a benchmarking program that recognizes other global certification schemes as equivalent to GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions.

What is the smart path to sustainability?

Sustainability is a journey, not a destination. We are committed to continuously improving our portfolio and supporting strategies that bring more sustainable farming practices to the mainstream. The next step for the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat on this path is the development of a dedicated environmental sustainability solution that builds on the rigorous criteria already contained in our flagship Integrated Farm Assurance standard.

After extensive dialogue with stakeholders from all parts of the value chain, the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat has established a working group to drive the development process before the launch of the solution in 2025. If you would like to join us on this journey, learn more about participating in the Environmental Sustainability Working Group.

Five steps to certification

young woman pressing high tech virtual G button

Use the Smart Checklist Builder to find information on standards and add-ons that are applicable to your specific production practices or explore our full portfolio. Download the necessary normative documents for the relevant standards and add-ons.

Smart Checklist Builder
Young farmer conducting a self-assessment with the help of a Registered Trainer

Implement the requirements of the standard and/or add-on and perform a self-assessment using the relevant checklist. Our worldwide network of Registered Trainers can assist with audit preparations and training.

Registered Trainers
Farmer planning their audit request over the phone with their chosen CB

Find and contact a GLOBALG.A.P. approved CB of your choice to request an audit. All audits against our solutions are conducted by qualified, experienced auditors from accredited and independent third-party CBs.

GLOBALG.A.P. approved CBs
Flower producer being audited

Complete the CB audit according to the relevant checklist. CB auditors enter producer and audit information into Audit Online Hub, which transmits the necessary data to our secure IT systems and facilitates the real-time validation of GLOBALG.A.P. certificates and audit results in the market.

Product farmer after receiving their certificate

Receive your certificate following a successful audit. Certificates are issued by the CB – valid for one year – and are available through the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems. Producers and supply chain stakeholders must be audited annually to retain their certified status. Certificate holders are encouraged to promote their certification status in their relevant network in accordance with the GLOBALG.A.P. trademarks use: policy and guidelines

Why choose GLOBALG.A.P.?

Image of workers from a farm with GLOBALG.A.P.-certified production processes

Fully consulted standard-setting procedures

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 and add-ons 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.

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Proven integrity and accountability

The GLOBALG.A.P. Integrity Program was founded in 2008 as the first of its kind in food certification. Designed to ensure the consistent delivery and implementation of GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons worldwide, the program monitors and assesses the key aspects of the third-party certification process. The elements of the integrity program maintain stakeholder trust in the GLOBALG.A.P. certification system and simultaneously act as a feedback mechanism that serves the continuous improvement of our operations.

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Global reach with experts in your region

With certification active in over 130 countries, the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat brings together an extensive farming network. Our technical experts and key account managers provide widespread representation on the ground, and we help to further bridge the gap from global to local through our Registered Trainers and national technical working groups. This provides valuable perspective on the application of our solutions while considering the context of local supply chains.

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Image of two company representatives holding their GLOBALG.A.P. certificate

One-stop-shop for your farm assurance needs

GLOBALG.A.P. certification is widely trusted as a sourcing requirement for many major supply chains worldwide. Our range of standards and add-ons can be flexibly combined and enable stakeholders to get all the coverage they need through one certification system. We also work to reduce the audit burden through our harmonization activities, reducing duplication and the costs of certification through benchmarking and sector collaborations.

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Who develops GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions?

A global network of industry experts and value chain stakeholders participate in the GLOBALG.A.P. governance structure to ensure that our solutions are robust, realistic, and cost-effective. They are responsible for a wide range of activities, from the technical development and approval of our standards and add-ons to facilitating their implementation at a local level.

Infographic showing groups that contribute to the GLOBALG.A.P. governance structure

GLOBALG.A.P. governance structure

Image of a boardroom

GLOBALG.A.P. Advisory Board

Composed of an equal number of elected representatives from the producer/supplier and retail/food service categories, the Advisory Board provides strategic input to inform the direction of the activities carried out by the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat.

View GLOBALG.A.P. Advisory Board members

Image of GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat team members at the Fruit Logistica trade fair

GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat

The GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat encompasses the team of people around the world who are responsible for managing the GLOBALG.A.P. portfolio of smart farm assurance solutions and the related day-to-day operations. The GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat works in close cooperation with the Advisory Board and includes both technical and nontechnical teams.

Join the team

Image of a technical expert inspecting a vegetable farm

Technical committees

Formed by producer/supplier and retail/food service representatives, the technical committees participate in the maintenance, review, and revision of our standards and add-ons.

Meet the experts

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Focus groups

Focus groups support the innovation of GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions by providing sector-specific insights and problem-solving expertise on key topics.

Get involved

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Other committees

The Certification Body Committee, Integrity Surveillance Committee, and benchmarking committees play a key role in GLOBALG.A.P. oversight and improvement.

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National technical working groups

National technical working groups (NTWGs) help bridge the gap from global to local by identifying challenges that affect the implementation of GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons in specific countries.

Join an NTWG

GLOBALG.A.P. Community Members

The GLOBALG.A.P. certification system would not have achieved the widespread impact it has today without the support and contribution of value chain stakeholders.

GLOBALG.A.P. Community Member organizations are vital in helping us to continuously improve our standards and add-ons, promote safer and more sustainable farming practices around the world, and collaborate on innovative solutions for the benefit of the entire supply chain.

Community members are organized into three categories: producer/supplier, retail/food service, and associate. Learn more about the benefits of becoming a GLOBALG.A.P. Community Member.

Image of three farm workers transplanting young plants

Meet our GLOBALG.A.P. Community Members

Over 430 organizations worldwide help us to continuously improve our standards and add-ons, promote safer and more sustainable farming practices, and collaborate on innovative solutions for the benefit of the entire supply chain.

Image of fruit with the GGN label on a display stand in the retailer Globus in Germany

Making responsible farming visible to consumers

Applicable to fruit and vegetables, farmed seafood, and flowers and plants which have been produced in line with GLOBALG.A.P. solutions, the GGN label links conscious consumers to responsible farmers. The cross-category label stands for certified, responsible farming and transparency – enabling consumers to discover the roots of their products.

Targeted solutions to complex problems

How does GLOBALG.A.P. certification make a difference?

With a projected world population of 9.8 billion by 2050, the FAO estimates that we will require an increase in food production of up to 70% to feed the world. Given that 50% of the world’s habitable land is already used for agriculture – a key driver of biodiversity loss and soil degradation (FAO) – we need to increase the accessibility of certification that enables producers applying responsible farming practices to be easily identified in the market. The GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat responds to this challenge by setting reference standards for the implementation of safe and responsible practices at farm level. Already applied by almost 200,000 producers in more than 135 countries, we make a difference through six key focus areas: food safety, environmental sustainability, workers’ well-being, animal welfare, supply chain traceability, and capacity building.

Advancing safer and more sustainable farming worldwide

From the shrimp farms of Vietnam and the banana plantations of Ecuador to the tulip greenhouses of the Netherlands and the mango orchards of Mali, the world of farming is incredibly varied. Farm types and sizes are as diverse as the ecosystems and communities in which they operate. We believe that protecting these environments is vital – both now and for future generations.

Safer

According to the World Health Organization, 600 million people fall ill worldwide as a result of contaminated food each year. As global supply chains become increasingly complex and interconnected, safer farming means scaling up food safety and worker welfare practices. This helps to protect both the health and well-being of consumers as well as the producers who are engaged in production.

More sustainable

More sustainable means implementing practices that address the range of challenges that face the global farming industry and threaten its future viability, from water scarcity and deforestation to food waste and animal welfare. GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions offer a variety of ways to address the different aspects of responsible farming, and our science-based criteria provide practical steps to improve farm management.

Worldwide

We combine targeted, cost-effective, and measurable solutions with a capacity-building approach that provides a pathway to recognition for producers regardless of size. Through our GLOBALG.A.P. Community Members, partner organizations, and national technical working groups, we aim to advance and accelerate global sustainability action.

See our solutions

Our impact areas

Image of two producers discussing plant growth in a field of crops

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.

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Image of two producers transplanting a fruit tree

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
Image of a worker preparing floriculture products for transport

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
Image of a Norwegian aquaculture farm from above

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.

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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.

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Capacity building

Providing producers around the world with the training and support they need to adopt safer and more sustainable farming practices can accelerate progress towards our vision.

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Commitment to continuous improvement

Sustainable development is a central pillar of GLOBALG.A.P. activities. We are committed to driving collaboration and change, fostering the adoption of responsible farming practices, and protecting both the environment and the welfare of farming communities. The strategies we use to achieve our goals are set out in our “Theory of Change”. The forthcoming GLOBALG.A.P. Monitoring and Evaluation System will track our progress and impact.

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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.

Latest news

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
A promotional banner advertising a new series of GLOBALG.A.P. videos tackling the topic of risk assessments.

27 February 2024

Launch of new educational video series on risk assessments

The free e-learning tool, launched in February 2024, aims to support producers and trainers in understanding on-farm risk assessments.

Capacity building
Fruit and vegetables
Plants
Core solutions
Aquaculture
Flowers and ornamentals

Upcoming events

11 Mar - 15 Mar

2024

Academy training: IFA v6 for fruit and vegetables in English

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

Capacity building
Fruit and vegetables
Plants
Core solutions
Food safety

20 Mar

2024

Flowers and Ornamentals Focus Group meeting

Location: Online
Event type: Meeting
Event format: Virtual

Flowers and ornamentals

Safer and more sustainable farming is a collective effort

Don’t miss out on key announcements for public consultations! Subscribe to our monthly Spotlights newsletter to get the latest solution updates, industry collaborations, and event highlights direct to your inbox!

Next steps

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For producers

Find out which GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solution is right for you and explore the path to certification.

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For certification bodies

Become a GLOBALG.A.P. approved certification body (CB), expand your auditing scope, or manage your status.

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For buyers

Learn how GLOBALG.A.P. certification and GLOBALG.A.P. Community Membership can benefit your supply chains.

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For media/press

Learn more about the GLOBALG.A.P. certification system, read our latest news and updates, or contact the press office.

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Contact us

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