GLOBALG.A.P. Certifications Position Companies to Evolve Their Sustainability Visions; Roberta Anderson Shares
COLOGNE, GERMANY - Harnessing open lines of communication while generating valuable and relevant messaging are both essential advantages for a company maneuvering in today’s economy, which, at times, seems to change and move at lightspeed. And when that strategy and vision are driven by sustainability, you want an elite partner to help guide the way from milestone to milestone.
Enter GLOBALG.A.P.
“Sustainability is increasingly important to both consumers and retailers when choosing to work with or buy into a brand. Credible and authentic communication is key to building trust on the subject of sustainability,” Roberta Anderson, Executive Vice President of GLOBALG.A.P. North America shares with me. “The GLOBALG.A.P. system supports such communication. Adoption of our standards and certification programs allow partners to successfully mitigate risk around sustainability and social responsibility, meet corporate sustainability goals, and provide increased transparency about where their food comes from and how it was produced.”
This line of sight demanded by today’s consumers and buy-side members is influencing the way that many companies are going to market and setting goals for the near future and the distant horizon. As GLOBALG.A.P. shares, the team is continuing to see a shift in purchase decisions that are coming from the next generation, Gen Z, and these decisions demand a pivot.
“Studies and market research are showing us that Gen Z is more concerned than ever about where their food is coming from,” Roberta says. “Brands and retailers are increasingly being held accountable for the choices they make within their supply chains, not just within the facilities they own and operate. Reputable organizations like GLOBALG.A.P. are here to help navigate the challenges of managing sustainability within agricultural supply chains.”
Coming off such a statement, I was curious about how the GLOBALG.A.P. program executes such a vision. With so much nuance, information, and shifting policies out there, the company is distilling its advantages and benefits to address companies where they are.
“Certification programs are valuable tools for companies wishing to demonstrate their sustainability efforts with the backing of a third party designed for that purpose. GLOBALG.A.P.’s flagship standard, Integrated Farm Assurance, is built on a comprehensive definition of good Agricultural Practices that goes beyond food safety to also include environmental sustainability, worker health and safety, and traceability—all in one standard!” Roberta expresses.
Connecting the dots, GLOBALG.A.P. has a goal to make it easy for businesses to gain additional recognition for other key sustainability topics by using its add-on modules like SPRING for water stewardship or GRASP for worker well-being.
“We offer custom modules for companies wishing to go deeper or broader on a sustainability topic than our off-the-shelf offerings,” Roberta concludes. “All our standards are developed in consultation with farmer and retailer members to ensure optimal compliance flexibility for farmers of all sizes while securing the highest level of food safety, sustainability, and social responsibility assurance retailers can trust.”
With excellence and stewardship as guiding principles, GLOBALG.A.P. is primed to help lift the standard around sustainability for companies far and wide.
