26 September 2024
Celebrating the Changemaker Award winners
As announced at the GLOBALG.A.P. SUMMIT 2024, we’d like to congratulate once again the three winners of the Changemaker Award. The Changemakers Award is a new program to celebrate global stakeholders who foster positive change in the world of farming through their innovative practices and forward-thinking concepts.
Celebrating the Changemaker Award winners
As announced at the GLOBALG.A.P. SUMMIT 2024, we’d like to congratulate once again the three winners of the Changemaker Award. The Changemakers Award is a new program to celebrate global stakeholders who foster positive change in the world of farming through their innovative practices and forward-thinking concepts.
We received nominees in three categories: Producers, retailers, and certification bodies. A shortlist was compiled before the event, with SUMMIT attendees voting on the final winners.
Congratulations to the winners:
Producer Category – One Acre Fund
Location: Kenya
Sector/specialization: Agriculture – Avocados
Transforming farming communities through seamless value chain integration
Founded in 2006, One Acre Fund aims to transform Kenyan farming communities by improving food security and creating pathways to prosperity. Through timely input distribution, market access programs, and comprehensive training, the organization supports farmers in key value chains like macadamia and avocado. By directly overseeing certification, sourcing, processing, and export, One Acre Fund increases value chain efficiency, allowing producers to earn 30–50% more than they would with brokers. Over 5,600 producers have been trained and certified, representing 70% of all GLOBALG.A.P. certified farmers in Kenya.
Certification Body Category – Kiwa BCS Ecuador Cía. Ltda.
Location: Ecuador
Sector/specialization: Certification, auditing, training, testing, data services
Advancing community well-being through environmental conservation projects
Kiwa Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility Route 2025 aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on sustainability and community well-being. Kiwa Ecuador’s initiatives include health and nutrition training, recycling, waste management, and eco-friendly certifications. In Guamote canton, an area with the highest child malnutrition rates in Ecuador, Kiwa Ecuador has supported around 500 families by conserving local springs and planting 550 native plants with community involvement. These efforts contribute to improving both environmental and social conditions in the region.
Retailer Category – The SPAR Group Ltd
Location: South Africa
Sector/specialization: Retail
Empowering rural producers for a more equitable supply system
In 2017, SPAR launched the Rural Hub in Limpopo, South Africa, to help small-scale farmers overcome barriers like food safety compliance, finance, and infrastructure. The initiative provides technical training, access to funding, and a guaranteed market, enabling farmers to supply commercial markets. Currently supporting 15 farmers and employing over 140 people, the program aims to grow to 60 producers with over 1,000 hectares within five years. Through a customized GLOBALG.A.P. capacity building program, farmers have achieved full certification, fostering a more diverse and equitable supply chain. For more information on the Changemaker Awards and the other nominees, please visit the SUMMIT website.
