Impact-Driven Approach to Sustainability in the Flowers and Ornamentals Industry

Targeting sustainability through impact-driven farming


What is the Impact-Driven Approach to Sustainability?

The Impact-Driven Approach to Sustainability (IDA) is a system to help flower and ornamentals farms to collect, process, and store their environmental sustainability data. It is in line with Floriculture Sustainability Initiative requirements regarding digital registration for environmental metrics.

How does it work?

GLOBALG.A.P. offers two pathways of the IDA. They are both to be used in combination with a farm management system (FMS) chosen by the producer.

1. The IDA module is used without further farm assurance (pathway 1). It may be used as a stepping-stone to progress to pathway 2.  
2.The IDA add-on (pathway 2) is used with the GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance standard for Flowers and Ornamentals (IFA FO) v5.2 (or benchmarked equivalent).

The process is simple. Firstly, upload your input consumption data on a monthly basis to a GLOBALG.A.P. compatible FMS. After six months of uploading data (or three months for the add-on), you can undergo an IDA assessment with a GLOBALG.A.P. approved certification body of your choice.

The data is then sent to GLOBALG.A.P. for processing and returned to you in the form of historical trend graphs and comparison reports. You can use this information for improving your farming efficiency and therefore your environmental credentials.

Which data is collected?

Input consumption data, which you may already be collecting in an FMS or otherwise, is shared with GLOBALG.A.P. This data consists of plant protection products, fertilizers (nitrogen and phosphorus), and water and energy usage.

All data that the FMS shares with GLOBALG.A.P. for processing is treated confidentially and shared only back to individual producers in agglomerated and anonymized form – in historical trend graphs and progress reports. Personally identifiable data is not shared with other parties.

What are the benefits of the IDA?

Due to consumer demand, retailers are increasingly focusing on sustainability. The IDA module or add-on give you a transparent way of showing compliance with market requirements and demonstrating your sustainability efforts – without sharing your data or being ranked against other growers publicly.

Using GLOBALG.A.P.’s IDA means you are fulfilling the Environmental Criteria for the Floriculture Sustainability Initiative and Royal FloraHolland requirements for environmental registration. As a result, you are ready for the future of farming.


IDA advantages: At a glance

  • Gain useful insights which can help you to optimize your production over time
  • Receive personalized trend graphs and progress reports which show how you compare with similar (anonymous) producers in terms of input consumption
  • Increase awareness and improve control of your long-term environmental performance
  • Build the foundations for the future of impact-driven/outcome-based certification schemes
  • Strengthen your market position and participate in a growing global network for good agricultural practices (G.A.P.)
  • Choose your own FMS software provider and certification body in the open market
 

How do I get started? 

First, you must decide which IDA pathway is most suitable. Further instructions for the IDA module and add-on are detailed below.

 

Pathway 1:

Producer without any certificate and not yet ready for other farm assurance (wants IDA module only)

  • Find a GLOBALG.A.P. approved certification body which offers IDA module assessments in your area. You can find one using our “Find a certification body” search tool. Contact the certification body of your choice and ensure you are registered in the GLOBALG.A.P. database with your Global Location Number (GLN). If you do not have a GLN, you will be assigned an LGN (localg.a.p. Number).
  • Begin entering the applicable data into your GLOBALG.A.P. compatible FMS. You must do this for at least six consecutive months before you are ready for your assessment.
  • Download the relevant IDA standalone module documents and checklists. Carry out a self-assessment using the checklist and correct all the points you do not comply with.
  • After a minimum of six months of data have been uploaded to your FMS, and if you are sure you comply with all the obligatory control points for the IDA module assessment, you are now ready for the assessment with your chosen certification body.
  • If you pass the assessment, your certification body will issue you with a letter of conformance for the IDA module. Congratulations on taking the first steps towards sustainable farming and joining the GLOBALG.A.P. system! You will need to continue registering data each month in order to maintain conformance.
 

Pathway 2:

Producer with IFA FO certificate or benchmarked equivalent (wants IDA add-on)

  • Contact your certification body and let them know you wish to apply for the IDA add-on.
  • Begin entering the applicable data into your GLOBALG.A.P. compatible FMS. You must do this for at least three consecutive months before you are ready for your assessment.
  • Download the relevant GLOBALG.A.P. IDA documents. Carry out a self-assessment using the checklist and correct all the points you do not comply with.
  • After a minimum of three months of data have been uploaded to your FMS, and if you are sure you comply with all the obligatory control points for the IDA assessment, you are now ready for your assessment with your chosen certification body.
  • If you pass the assessment, your certification body will issue you with a letter of conformance for the IDA add-on. Congratulations on continuing your journey towards sustainable farming! You will need to continue registering data each month in order to maintain conformance.
What is a farm management system (FMS) and why do I need one?

An FMS is a type of software for managing farm operations and production activities. Their usage will become increasingly prevalent as smart farming becomes more widespread in the future. The earlier you start using such a system, the earlier you can reap the benefits.

All producers wishing to implement the IDA – whether as the module or add-on – must use a GLOBALG.A.P. compatible FMS. All data is fed to GLOBALG.A.P. via the FMS software (you will establish a confidentiality agreement with the FMS).
Current FMS software providers are listed here.

GLOBALG.A.P. approved certification bodies for IDA can be found here. Select “ Impact-Driven Approach (IDA) to Sustainability” in the Scope filter.

How much does it cost?

The costs of the IDA module and add-on are as follows: 

 

FMS fee

 

Paid to FMS software provider

 

Cost depends on software provider.

 

+

IDA registration fee

 

Fee received by GLOBALG.A.P., but invoiced by the certification body which carries out the assessment

 

Annual fee according to production area

(covered/non-covered hectares)

 

< 0.5

€50

> 0.5 – < 2

€75

> 2 – < 5

€100

> 5 – < 15

€150

> 15 – < 100

€175

> 100

€200
 

+

Certification body fees

 

Assessment and admin fees paid to the certification body of your choice

 

Cost depends on chosen certification body.

 

If you choose to do the IDA assessment as an add-on, the assessment can be carried out at the same time as your IFA inspection to save costs.

 

In this case, the FMS fee and IDA registration fee are the same as for the standalone module, but the IDA CB fees will be combined with the CB and registration fees for your IFA certification.