Here’s an update of our TOUR 2013 activities in the last quarter:

NORTH AMERICA

Nashville, Tennessee - World Aquaculture Society

Hundreds of producers, processors, food service and retail members from around the globe eagerly walked the show floor, attending various industry and academia learning sessions ranging on a wide variety of aquaculture-related topics. GLOBALG.A.P. was also present on the show floor with a booth.

A major concern voiced at the trade fair was the issue of reputational risk management in an ever more transparent marketplace.

Positive feedback showed that we have met or are well on our way to meeting our goal of becoming the most trusted and preferred on-farm standard globally for good aquacultural practice. We were encouraged to continue focusing on our uncompromising, yet flexible and integrative approach to on-farm risk management by focusing on food safety, environment, worker and animal welfare along the entire value chain and requiring a chain of custody as proof to the public, providing the best tool for aquaculture operations to work towards sustainability.

Boston Seafood Show

Decision makers in North America are now aware how GLOBALG.A.P. certified aquaculture products can support their policy in sustainable supply. Ethical practices hand-in-hand with food safety were highly welcomed!
Discussions on sustainability followed a common line: a basic understanding of on-farm best practices. The industry agrees that the first stepping-stone to gaining increased sustainability is responsible good aquacultural practice at farm level!

ASIA

Aquatic Asia Bangkok, Thailand

South East Asia provided a very positive feedback on the GLOBALG.A.P. Certification for livestock and aquaculture supply. Retailers and traders recognize GLOBALG.A.P. as the core solution for providing a secure source of safe and sustainable farmed products certified at the highest level of auditing available on the market. GLOBALG.A.P. is highly respected for its expertise, competence and a clear understanding of public concerns.

EUROPE

North Atlantic Seafood Forum, Bergen - Norway

GLOBALG.A.P. certified companies were asked if there were any additional benefits to certification apart from market access. Reponses from the industry confirmed that GLOBALG.A.P. is not only a certification system targeting a certified status through a document, but that it functions as a guide on farming best practices, including an understanding of worker safety and welfare, and provides valuable support on upgrading management practices.

We also participated in two FAO events on:
Strategies and practical options for green house gas - GHG reductions in fisheries and aquaculture food production systems and Value-chain dynamics, the small-scale sector & food security: policy recommendations for international fish trade.

Read more about the GLOBALG.A.P. Aquaculture Standard!