GlobalGAP certified producers now number 100,000 in 100 countries
Nigel Garbutt: “Our objective is to continue growing in spite of the financial crisis”
Mr. Nigel Garbutt, GlobalGAP Chairman, presented an update of certification statistics during the GlobalGAP Trial conference at Fruit Logistica 2010, held in Berlin last February. “We are about to reach a total of 100,000 certified producers in 100 countries. Having increased our retail membership, we now have more than 37 retailers,” Garbutt announced. The objective of the private sector body is to continue growing in spite of the financial crisis.
According to Mr. Garbutt, the best strategy for dealing with the financial crisis is to continue to focus on the long term. He said that even if there are short-term pressures, food safety and sustainability won't go away. “Even if you are thinking that certification is a step too far for you right now, just begin to work in the right way and eventually you will get to the point where you will be able to achieve GlobalGAP certification,” he advised.
He also announced a continuing partnership with ChinaGAP, the first international standard system that seeks to work with 300 million small-scale producers. Furthermore, GlobalGAP announced a conference in October in London, where it will present the fourth version of the GlobalGAP Standard and offer advice on how to work with suppliers to implement it.
Working with small-scale farmers
The company also presented its new publication with guidelines for all small-scale producers, not only those in Africa and Latin America. It also contains information on how to adopt both GlobalGAP and national standards. “It follows the Think global and act local philosophy,” Garbutt explained to BrassicasToday after the conference.
The working groups in Kenya and Ghana will continue, as “there are lots of groups working on the implementation of GlobalGAP in these countries,” the chairman observed.
GRASP Social Risk Assessment Project
Another subject of discussion at the GlobalGAP conference was the conclusion of the GRASP Social Risk Assessment Project, which is now moving into implementation. The programme was developed 3 years ago in recognition of the need for a range of instruments to anchor social criteria within the agricultural production system. “We devoted considerable time to this, and it creates a lot of synergy. It is not part of GlobalGAP certification, it is a voluntary assessment,” Mr. Garbutt declared.
GlobalGAP is also running a project to provide information about water usage.
S&G Brassicas Today - March 2010
