Which topics does BioDiversity address?

BioDiversity was developed by a multistakeholder project team on the initiative of the German retailer Lidl in 2020. The collaboration brought together biodiversity expertise from across the supply chain, NGOs, and academia, including Sustainable Food Systems GmbH (SFS), the Global Nature Fund, Bioland, fresh produce suppliers, producers in Spain, Poland, Italy, and Germany, and the Nürtingen-Geislingen University in Germany.

Our approach to standard setting ensures that add-ons to core solutions remain robust, realistic, and cost-efficient while meeting the evolving demands of buyers.

Core topics in BioDiversity v1.1 include:

• Biodiversity action plan

• Farm areas dedicated to biodiversity

• Protection and restoration measures

• Soil and nutrient management plan

• Integrated pest management

• Wastewater management and protection of water sources

• Off-farm synergies and collaboration

• Training, knowledge sharing, and capacity building

• BioDiversity representative

• Farm self-assessment on biodiversity

Discover how BioDiversity helps you address challenges in the agricultural sector.

How does BioDiversity work?

• Compliance with the add-on requirements is audited annually by an accredited and independent third-party CB together with the annual IFA audit (or an audit against a benchmarked scheme/checklist).

• Producers can choose from any GLOBALG.A.P. approved CB active in the relevant country – although the same CB which conducts the IFA audit must also conduct the BioDiversity audit.

• A successful CB audit results in a letter of conformance valid for one year.

The add-on is composed of principles and criteria (P&Cs). P&Cs are graded in two levels: Major Must and Minor Must.

Principles

• Fundamentals that set the foundation of a GLOBALG.A.P. requirement

• Written in question form

• Describe the outcome to be achieved in the corresponding criteria.

Criteria

• Methods that producers can use to demonstrate a principle to be true

• Compliance can be demonstrated in different ways, e.g., data, record of procedure

• Evidence must demonstrate that the outcome is achieved

Read more about the audit process and add-on requirements.

How is conformance status verified?

Every producer registered in the GLOBALG.A.P. certification system is assigned a 13-digit GLOBALG.A.P. identification number (e.g., a GLOBALG.A.P. Number (GGN)). This number allows real-time verification of conformance status in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems, upholding our rigorous transparency requirements throughout the supply chain.

Producers can control data access and privacy rights for audit reports, and the reports are not shared publicly or with third parties. This process is handled via your chosen CB.

Which industry challenges does BioDiversity address?

• The impact of biodiversity on agricultural production is considered in numerous influential international frameworks such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the EU’s European Green Deal.

• As a result, sector transformation is increasingly expected by both civil society and major retail and food production chains – highlighting the need for coordinated action from all stakeholders.

• The EU’s 2030 Biodiversity Strategy and Farm to Fork Strategy aim to put Europe's biodiversity on a path to recovery – with producers playing a positive and growing role.

• Industry solutions are therefore needed to monitor and demonstrate how agricultural enterprises promote and enhance biodiversity at farm level.

• BioDiversity is a cost-efficient add-on for fruit and vegetable producers with production processes certified to the IFA standard that complements rather than competes with existing certification systems.

Follow our five steps to BioDiversity to get started today.

Which solutions can be combined with BioDiversity?

BioDiversity is designed to be paired with IFA certification for fruit and vegetables. Audits are conducted together with the IFA audit, allowing producers to extend their certification scope flexibly and efficiently through a single audit.

Learn more about GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions.

Implementation and CB audit process

How does the CB audit process work?

• Designed to complement existing Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) certification, compliance with the BioDiversity requirements is audited annually together with the IFA audit by accredited and independent third-party CBs.

• Producers can choose from any GLOBALG.A.P. approved CB active in the relevant country – although the same CB which conducts your IFA audit must also conduct the BioDiversity audit.

• A successful CB audit results in a letter of conformance valid for one year.

• The CB is responsible for uploading the audit reports and maintaining the accuracy of producer data in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems.

• Producers will be audited annually by a CB as part of the renewal process.

Which documents are required?

• GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations and GLOBALG.A.P. BioDiversity general rules specifications: Rules that define how the audit process works, from the scope of the add-on to the audit requirements.

• Principles and criteria (P&Cs): Principles are the fundamental requirements for each add-on. They describe the outcome to achieve and are accompanied by corresponding criteria that detail the various ways in which a producer can demonstrate compliance.

• Checklist: The full list of add-on criteria as used by CB auditors, enabling producers to conduct a self-assessment in preparation for the CB audit.

• Guidelines: A supporting document that clarifies terminology and outlines procedures to help producers comply with the add-on requirements.

Which version of BioDiversity is currently valid?

There is currently one version of BioDiversity available for audit.

• BioDiversity v1.1 was published in December 2023. It replaced v1 on 1 January 2024.

The FAQ contains more information on documents, the renewal process, and more.

How much does a BioDiversity audit cost?

Each farm is unique, and the total audit costs depend on a combination of factors such as farm size, number of sites, location, necessary preparation measures (such as establishing new procedures), and more.

BioDiversity contains three cost elements:

1. Implementation costs: Incurred by the producer to prepare for the CB audit

2. CB service fees: Determined and invoiced by the CB to cover audit time and travel costs

3. GLOBALG.A.P. assessment license fee: Calculated based on the audit option

The GLOBALG.A.P. fee table contains full information on the fee structure for each standard and add-on.