About GLOBALG.A.P.

About us

About us

GLOBALG.A.P. is a brand of smart farm assurance solutions for the certification of agriculture, aquaculture, and floriculture production processes –fostering safer and more responsible farming practices in over 130 countries worldwide.

Our mission

Our approach

Our impact areas

World-leading farm assurance solutions

What is GLOBALG.A.P.?

GLOBALG.A.P. is a brand of smart farm assurance solutions, built on a portfolio of standards that aim to support safe and responsible production processes in agriculture, aquaculture, and floriculture. Based on a robust third-party certification system, our holistic approach has been developed over 20 years in close collaboration with sector experts. GLOBALG.A.P. activities are supported by a rigorous integrity program and a network of more than 440 GLOBALG.A.P. Community Member organizations from across global value chains. In addition, our dedicated capacity-building program equips producers around the world with practical knowledge about responsible farming practices, enabling them to achieve certification, meet evolving market requirements, and contribute to international sustainability goals. Today, GLOBALG.A.P. solutions provide some of the most respected and internationally recognized standards that support the global trade of farmed products, counting almost 200,000 producers around the world under certification.

What drives us?

Our vision – What do we want to achieve?

We envision a world in which farms are recognized for their efforts to continuously produce enough safe food while safeguarding our environment and the welfare of farming communities.

Our mission – How will we achieve our vision?

We collaborate with supply chain stakeholders to foster the global adoption of safer and more responsible farming practices by providing industry-leading, cost-effective, and value-adding assurance and benchmarking solutions.

Our purpose – What do we believe?

Every generation has a right to safe food. To protect this right now and for future generations, the world’s farms must produce safe food in ways that are socially and environmentally responsible and resilient.

GLOBALG.A.P. in numbers

20+ years of experience

in the agriculture, floriculture, and aquaculture sectors

10+ standards

for primary production processes and the supply chain

8+ add-ons

for flexible and cost-efficient customization

195,000+ producers

under GLOBALG.A.P. certification

130+ countries

with GLOBALG.A.P. certificate holders

190+ certification bodies

approved to audit and assess GLOBALG.A.P. standards

4.5 million+ hectares

of certified plant production annually

2.8 million+ metric tons

of aquaculture products from certified production processes annually

21 million+ metric tons

of compound feed from certified production processes annually

20+ years of experience

in the agriculture, floriculture, and aquaculture sectors

10+ standards

for primary production processes and the supply chain

8+ add-ons

for flexible and cost-efficient customization

195,000+ producers

under GLOBALG.A.P. certification

130+ countries

with GLOBALG.A.P. certificate holders

190+ certification bodies

approved to audit and assess GLOBALG.A.P. standards

4.5 million+ hectares

of certified plant production annually

2.8 million+ metric tons

of aquaculture products from certified production processes annually

21 million+ metric tons

of compound feed from certified production processes annually

The GLOBALG.A.P. story

As a result of consumers’ growing interest in product safety, environmental impact, and the well-being of workers, a group of European retailers joined together in 1997 to set up the EUREPGAP initiative. The foundations of this would later grow into the GLOBALG.A.P. brand. More than 20 years later, GLOBALG.A.P. farm assurance solutions are trusted tools for the global trade of fruit and vegetables, flowers, farmed seafood, and more.

Learn more about our history

Farm assurance fit for the future

How does GLOBALG.A.P. certification work?

GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons can be applied to the production processes of more than 700 different plant and aquatic species. Each species belongs to a product category with its own checklist that details the certification requirements. Every audit is conducted against the relevant checklist and in accordance with the GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations – a set of certification rules for checklist implementation. Audits are performed by independent and accredited third-party certification bodies (CBs), and the certification status of each registered producer is displayed in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT platform for transparency. This marks the GLOBALG.A.P. certification system as one of the most robust on the market.

What are GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions?

GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons are supported by a framework of interlinked systems in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT platform which connect audit data and validation services to deliver transparent, trustworthy information on certification status.

As farm assurance evolves to more closely integrate farm-level data, the GLOBALG.A.P. system is evolving with it. The latest version of our Integrated Farm Assurance standard and our new IT platform mark the introduction of a smarter portfolio of streamlined, intuitive, and digitalized farm assurance solutions.

What is the “one auditor through the farm gate” principle?

We operate a range of harmonization activities that aim to cut duplication for producers and enable simpler sourcing processes for buyers. This is achieved through add-ons to core solutions that can widen the scope of a single audit, as well as a benchmarking program that recognizes other global certification schemes as equivalent to GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions.

What is the smart path to sustainability?

Sustainability is a journey, not a destination. We are committed to continuously improving our portfolio and supporting strategies that bring more responsible farming practices to the mainstream. The next step for GLOBALG.A.P. on this path is the development of a dedicated environmental sustainability solution that builds on the rigorous criteria already contained in our flagship Integrated Farm Assurance standard.

Five steps to certification

Explore our full portfolio to discover information on standards and add-ons that are applicable to your specific production practices. Download the necessary normative documents for the relevant standards and add-ons.

Explore portfolio

Implement the requirements of the standard and/or add-on and perform a self-assessment using the relevant checklist. Our worldwide network of Registered Trainers can assist with audit preparations and training.

Registered Trainers

Find and contact a GLOBALG.A.P. approved CB of your choice to request an audit. All audits against our solutions are conducted by qualified, experienced auditors from accredited and independent third-party CBs.

GLOBALG.A.P. approved CBs

Complete the CB audit according to the relevant checklist. CB auditors enter producer and audit information into the GLOBALG.A.P. IT platform, which facilitates the validation of GLOBALG.A.P. certificates and audit results in the market.

Receive your certificate following a successful audit. Certificates are issued by the CB – valid for one year – and are available through the GLOBALG.A.P. IT platform. Producers and supply chain stakeholders must be audited annually to retain their certified status. Certificate holders are encouraged to promote their certification status in their relevant network in accordance with the GLOBALG.A.P. trademarks use: policy and guidelines. 

Why choose GLOBALG.A.P.?

Fully consulted standard-setting procedures

The creation of robust, measurable, and fit-for-purpose solutions that promote safer and more responsible farming is only possible if all value chain participants are engaged in the development process. GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons are driven by our stakeholders around the world, and therefore reflect both market needs and the daily realities of producers on the ground. All of our major standards undergo transparent and comprehensive public consultation to build on the scientific baseline provided by our technical experts.

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Proven integrity and accountability

The GLOBALG.A.P. Integrity Program was founded in 2008 as the first of its kind in food certification. Designed to ensure the consistent delivery and implementation of GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons worldwide, the program monitors and assesses the key aspects of the third-party certification process. The elements of the integrity program maintain stakeholder trust in the GLOBALG.A.P. certification system and simultaneously act as a feedback mechanism that serves the continuous improvement of our operations.

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Global reach with experts in your region

With certification active in over 130 countries, GLOBALG.A.P. brings together an extensive farming network. Our technical experts and key account managers provide widespread representation on the ground, and we help to further bridge the gap from global to local through our Registered Trainers and national technical working groups. This provides valuable perspective on the application of our solutions while considering the context of local supply chains.

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One-stop-shop for your farm assurance needs

GLOBALG.A.P. certification is widely trusted as a sourcing requirement for many major supply chains worldwide. Our range of standards and add-ons can be flexibly combined and enable stakeholders to get all the coverage they need through one certification system. We also work to reduce the audit burden through our harmonization activities, reducing duplication and the costs of certification through benchmarking and sector collaborations.

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Who develops GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions?

A global network of industry experts and value chain stakeholders participate in the GLOBALG.A.P. stakeholder collaboration framework to ensure that our solutions are robust, realistic, and cost-effective. They are responsible for a wide range of activities, from developing the technical content of our standards and add-ons to facilitating their implementation at a local level.

  • Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) The TAC provides scientific, technical, and market related advice and recommendations for content development. It also oversees that the output of the technical working groups and focus groups is in line with the vision and mission. 

  • Technical working groups (TWGs) TWGs are designed to increase cross-sector participation and knowledge-sharing, and support the development of technical content in key areas. There are five TWGs covering plants, aquaculture, workers’ well-being, and the supply chain.  

  • Focus groups Focus groups are formed on an ad-hoc basis to provide topic-specific expertise and support the development of technical content. 

  • National technical working groups (NTWGs) NTWGs provide support in bridging the gap from global to local by identifying adaptation and application challenges of GLOBALG.A.P. solutions at a national level. 

 

GLOBALG.A.P. Community Members

The GLOBALG.A.P. certification system would not have achieved the widespread impact it has today without the support and contribution of value chain stakeholders.

GLOBALG.A.P. Community Member organizations are vital in helping us to continuously improve our standards and add-ons, promote safer and more responsible farming practices around the world, and collaborate on innovative solutions for the benefit of the entire supply chain.

Community members are organized into three categories: producer/supplier, retail/food service, and associate. Learn more about the benefits of becoming a GLOBALG.A.P. Community Member.

Meet our GLOBALG.A.P. Community Members

Over 440 organizations worldwide help us to continuously improve our standards and add-ons, promote safer and more responsible farming practices, and collaborate on innovative solutions for the benefit of the entire supply chain.

View all community members

Making responsible farming visible to consumers

Applicable to fruit and vegetables, farmed seafood, and flowers and plants which have been produced in line with GLOBALG.A.P. solutions, the GGN label links conscious consumers to responsible farmers. The cross-category label stands for certified, responsible farming and transparency – enabling consumers to discover the roots of their products.
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Targeted solutions to complex problems

How does GLOBALG.A.P. certification make a difference?

With a projected world population of 9.8 billion by 2050, the FAO estimates that we will require an increase in food production of up to 70% to feed the world. Given that 50% of the world’s habitable land is already used for agriculture – a key driver of biodiversity loss and soil degradation (FAO) – we need to increase the accessibility of certification that enables producers applying responsible farming practices to be easily identified in the market. GLOBALG.A.P. responds to this challenge by setting reference standards for the implementation of safe and responsible practices at farm level. Already applied by almost 200,000 producers in more than 130 countries, we make a difference through six key impact areas: food safety, environment, workers’ health, safety, and welfare, animal health and welfare, supply chain traceability, and capacity building.

Supporting safer and more responsible farming worldwide

From the shrimp farms of Vietnam and the banana plantations of Ecuador to the tulip greenhouses of the Netherlands and the mango orchards of Mali, the world of farming is incredibly varied. Farm types and sizes are as diverse as the ecosystems and communities in which they operate. We believe that protecting these environments is vital – both now and for future generations.

Safer

According to the World Health Organization, 600 million people fall ill worldwide as a result of contaminated food each year. As global supply chains become increasingly complex and interconnected, safer farming means scaling up food safety and worker welfare practices. This helps to protect both the health and well-being of consumers as well as the producers who are engaged in production.

More responsible

More responsible means implementing practices that address the range of challenges that face the global farming industry and threaten its future viability, from water scarcity and deforestation to food waste and animal welfare. GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions offer a variety of ways to address the different aspects of responsible farming, and our science-based criteria provide practical steps to improve farm management.

Worldwide

We combine targeted, cost-efficient solutions with a capacity-building approach that provides a pathway to recognition for producers – regardless of size. Through our GLOBALG.A.P. Community Members, partner organizations, and national technical working groups, we aim to advance global sustainability action.

View our solutions

How do GLOBALG.A.P. activities contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals?

GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions, partnerships, and capacity-building activities contribute directly to 10 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We continue to harness our global reach to foster the mainstreaming of responsible farming practices.

Discover more about how GLOBALG.A.P. activities align with the SDGs.

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