GLOBALG.A.P. started in 1997 as an initiative of retailers members of the EUREP group (Euro-Retailer Produce Working Group). Since then, it has evolved until today as an unbiased association where not only agricultural producers but also retailers participate as well. Its mission is to develop standards and procedures widely accepted to certify Good Agricultural Practices.

From a technical point of view, GLOBALG.A.P. is a number of standard documents to be accredited according to a certification criteria internationally recognized. Those documents where developed by representatives from all over the world and the whole food chain .

Some interested parties out of the food industry, like consumers and environmental organizations, governments, etc have also contributed with their point of view which helped to shape the protocols. The wide consulting process resulted into the different protocols: Fruit and Vegetables, Cattle and Sheep, Combinable Crops, Flowers and Ornamentals and Coffee. The standards are available and free to download from GLOBALG.A.P. website.

When you adhere to good agricultural practices, you reduce the risks of an agricultural production. GLOBALG.A.P. provides the way to verify the best practice in a systematic and consistent manner. This system is applied through the protocol and compliance criteria. 

GLOBALG.A.P. scope covers practices inside the farm, and once the product is shipped out, it is under Codes of Conduct and certification schemes referred to food packaging and processing practices. Therefore, all the supply chain, from field to customer, is under control.

Another purpose is to create a forum for continuous improvement. The technical committees for standardization, integrated by members who are producers and retailers, count with an agenda to discuss new issues and perform risk assessments. This implies a severe process, following HACCP principles, in which experts from each area guide the revision of the protocol versions.

Among GLOBALG.A.P. members, you can find retailers, producers, agriculturists and associated members from the areas of agricultural inputs and services.

GLOBALG.A.P. has Directive Committees for each area and an independent President. The standardization and certification systems are approved by Technical Committees that operate inside each product sector. These committees are integrated by a 50% of suppliers and 50% of producers, making up an effective and efficient association in the supply chain. 

The Committees work is supported by FoodPLUS, a non-profit organization placed in Cologne, Germany.

GLOBALG.A.P. was developed with the purpose of tranquilizing consumers. After a series of events involving food security, like BSE outbreak (“mad cow disease”), growing concern about pesticides residue and the rapid introduction of GMO food, consumers all over the world have been questioning how food is produced and they need to know that such process can be not only harmless but also sustainable.

Food health is a global issue that ignores frontiers. Many GLOBALG.A.P. members are international suppliers who get food products from all over the world. That was the reason why a reference standard was necessary, besides a common agreement on good agricultural practices, focused on consumers.

The factors behind GLOBALG.A.P. development are sometimes referred to as “triple objective strategy: people, planet and benefit”. They recognize the importance of big food corporations and multinational suppliers and contribute to ensure that the agricultural activities are managed in a responsible way regarding food security, environment preservation and the welfare of workers and animals.

The Good Agricultural Practices, understood by producers worldwide, clearly provide definite results in all the abovementioned areas.