Feb 3, 2020
BERLIN, DE: The FarmTech Society and GLOBALG.A.P. are proud to recognize each other in their membership programs, initiating today a new open partnership to develop and implement a certification specifically for new “indoor” high tech systems with natural and artificial lights. The partnership is open to all industry stakeholders small and large to help advance a comprehensive new certificate for innovative production systems.
The partners have identified the need for all stakeholders active in the production of produce in CEA systems to form a working group at a pre-competitive level to address critical challenges, such as climate change, consumer trust and food security facing the industry. The partnership will develop best- practice standards for the certification process, recognizing the need for a multidisciplinary/multi-stakeholder approach in developing a certificate - by and for industry stakeholders in CEA.
The partnership will strengthen the existing well-established foundation of the GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) process by adding criteria for new technologies and cultivation methods, inserting dynamic data collection applications and adapting to the potential of the digital era, keeping future options valid. The main goal of the GLOBALG.A.P. revision process is to deliver a standard that will take into account producers’ practices and the risks presented. The unique challenges presented by vertical farming or more generally, produce grown in controlled environments will be addressed to ensure appropriate user experience. Additionally, the group will focus on implementing real-time monitoring and data-driven solutions to facilitate the certification process, enabling transparency and traceability. Taking into consideration the limits in technology by engaging with growers, retail, innovators and proven experts in the supply chain, the certification target will enhance the advantages of the end products and differentiate them in the marketplace.
The development roadmap will have three milestones: The first phase “open call for design and information gathering” will be kicked-off with a press conference at Fruit Logistica 2020, on February 6th, 2020. The second phase commences in June 2020 with the conclusion of the public consultations with multiple partners, and extensive international stakeholder meetings. The third phase is scheduled for the fall of 2020 with pilot testing in key supply chains followed by a market-wide peer review and introduction in 2021.
For more information and participation:
G.A.P. stands for Good Agricultural Practice - and GLOBALG.A.P. is the worldwide standard that assures it. We are a global organization with a crucial objective: safe, sustainable agriculture worldwide. We set voluntary standards for the certification of agricultural products around the globe - and more and more producers, suppliers and buyers are harmonizing their certification standards to match. sievers@globalgap.org www.globalgap.org
FarmTech Society (FTS) is an international nonprofit association that unites and supports the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) industry. FTS strengthens the CEA sector as it develops and implements resilient, circular methods and technologies for indoor growing. We envision a world in which every single person has affordable access to good, nutritious food, provided without damaging our biosphere. contact@farmtechsociety.org www.farmtechsociety.org
The UK Urban Agritech Collective (UKUAT) brings together the UK’s key players in modern agricultural technologies. They are a cross-industry group devoted to promoting urban agtech as a solution for food and environmental crises. Their focus lies on collaboration by uniting experts and end-users, educating and communicating practitioner needs to advance policy and industry.info@ukuat.org www.ukuat.org
Cultinova is an IT and engineering consultancy specializing in digital solutions for agriculture and urban green infrastructure. They design, build and implement customized monitoring, control and data solutions, which improve the efficiency and sustainability of open field and controlled environment agriculture. nicole.thorpe@cultinova.com www.cultinova.com
The Fraunhofer-Society is the leading organization for applied research in Europe with 72 institutes and research units at locations throughout Germany. Fraunhofer IKTS conducts applied research and converts developments from the lab into technical standards. Being a partner in the Fraunhofer lighthouse project “Cognitive Agriculture”, IKTS contributes to the overall goal of agricultural products that are as environmentally friendly and resource-efficient. nico.domurath@ikts.fraunhofer.de
INTEGAR is a consultancy and knowledge provider specialized in the field of protected cultivation and indoor plant production, efforts for investments and techniques, cultures and cultivation systems as well as standardization and technologies. info@integar.de www.integar.de