NSF Certification UK Ltd awards the first IFA v6 Smart certificate

NSF Certification UK Ltd awards the first IFA v6 Smart certificate

In January 2024, NSF Certification UK Ltd became the first GLOBALG.A.P. approved certification body to establish an API connection to the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems and complete an audit to the latest version of the GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) standard. The first IFA v6 Smart certificate was awarded to Roberto Faillace in Italy, recognizing his farm’s production of oranges, strawberries, and lemons. This marks another milestone in our transformation efforts to provide smarter farm assurance solutions.

Associate GLOBALG.A.P. Community Member NSF Certification UK Ltd paves the way

NSF Certification UK Ltd, an associate GLOBALG.A.P. Community Member of over 20 years, awarded the world’s first IFA v6 Smart certificate on 26 January 2024. The successful audit to the new version comes after version 6 of the IFA standard replaced version 5.2 as of 1 January 2024. It follows a long journey of public consultation on the updated standard content and a transition period after the final v6 documents were published in 2022.

The journey to awarding the first IFA v6 certificate

The process of achieving this milestone involved the implementation of an application programming interface (API), a connection between NSF Certification UK Ltd and GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems, which had previously been used for other IFA editions.

Wouter Conradie, Director EMEA Supply Chain, emphasized the significance of this achievement, stating, "We are extremely proud to report that NSF certified the first producer to IFA v6 Smart using our API from the improved iAg system."

The first farm worldwide to achieve IFA v6 Smart certification

Situated in Scanzano Jonico, in the province of Matera, southern Italy, Roberto Faillace’s farm is a frontrunner in achieving v6 Smart certification. Spanning approximately 30 hectares, the farm, inherited by Roberto from his father Franco, specializes in citrus fruits and strawberries and is known throughout Italy for a focus on quality products while prioritizing responsible farm management practices that respect the environment and safeguard biodiversity.

Roberto expressed his satisfaction, stating, “We take pride in being the first Italian company to achieve GLOBALG.A.P. certification with the new version, namely version 6, thanks in part to the assistance and collaboration of our consultant, Dr. agronomist Cosimo Coretti. Our success is the result of our commitment to the environment and the well-being of our employees throughout the cultivation of our land.”

Embracing the future of smarter, more digital farm assurance solutions

Expressing her congratulations to the certification body and farmer for their pioneering roles, GLOBALG.A.P. c/o FoodPLUS GmbH Managing Director Elmé Coetzer-Boersma stated, "NSF Certification UK Ltd has proven to be a frontrunner, embracing digital solutions and adapting swiftly to industry advancements.”

“There is still much ground to cover on the journey towards smarter farm assurance solutions,” she continues, “but with the dedication and collaboration of innovative farmers like Roberto Faillace, we are poised to embrace the future. Congratulations to all involved and let’s continue striving for a safer, more sustainable agricultural sector worldwide.”

Congratulations to Roberto Faillace and NSF Certification UK Ltd for their pioneering spirit and commitment to excellence:

Roberto Faillace Farm

GLOBALG.A.P. Number: GGN 4063651471274

About NSF Certification Ltd: NSF Certification UK Ltd, an independently operated subsidiary of NSF, is a major certification provider in the food and farming sector. NSF Certification UK certifies over 40,000 clients annually across all the major schemes and standards. To learn more, visit the NSF website: https://www.nsf.org/gb/en/about-nsf/nsf-international-companies/nsf-certification-uk

Relevant links:

Explore Integrated Farm Assurance for fruit and vegetables

Learn about GLOBALG.A.P. Community Membership

Find GLOBALG.A.P. approved certification bodies