Localg.a.p. fruits and vegetables: Encouraging small producers on the road to certification

For many producers, immediately achieving GLOBALG.A.P. Certification can be a challenge. localg.a.p. stands out for the sector by providing a flexible and adaptable framework that sets gradual and achievable goals. This approach allows producers to progress towards agricultural excellence in a sustainable way, while meeting growing market demands for quality agricultural products.

Expanding small producers' frontiers with the localg.a.p. program

Since 2021, the program has been successfully implemented in several countries, including South Africa, Argentina, Guatemala, Nigeria, Portugal, the USA and Mozambique. Now, made available exclusively by QIMA/WQS, the verification comes to serve producers in Brazil. In addition to empowering and strengthening local farming communities, localg.a.p. is a tool that helps producers adopt good agricultural practices that can improve farm management efficiency, reduce exposure to food safety risks and comply with national legislation, where applicable.

Helen Prosdocini, Technical Director for Sustainability and Agriculture at QIMA/WQS, explains: “It is important to note that localg.a.p. is not a certification in itself. It functions as an essential preparatory process that precedes obtaining certification".

Although not compulsory, the program is a step towards certification. Helen says that local.a.p. not only lays the foundations for certification, but also serves as a tool for capacity building, preparing producers to enter good agricultural practice programs in emerging markets. “The entry level of the program, for example, aims to familiarize producers with the rules and requirements of certification, addressing aspects such as non-compliance control and compliance with standards. The following levels are the base level and the intermediate level, until reaching GLOBALG.A.P. certification, if that is the goal,” he explains.

Global base, local application

Understanding that localg.a.p is not a certification in itself, it is important to point out that its structure is based on the standards established by GLOBALG.A.P. For a clearer understanding, we outline the differences between them:

Paving the way for certification

As an entry-level program, the compliance process of localg.a.p, compared to the rigor of GLOBALG.A.P, is significant. While GLOBALG.A.P stipulates 222 control points covering traceability, management system, environment, workers' health and safety, and food safety, localg.a.p significantly reduces this burden.

At entry level, the number of requirements drops to 74 in total, with 86 at base level and 128 at intermediate level. This offers a gradual and accessible transition for producers, allowing them to familiarize themselves with the certification standards and procedures.

To pave this way and earn the program's letter of conformity, producers need to follow a few essential steps:

1. Familiarize yourself with the regulatory documents.
2. Choose the local G.A.P. verification option, whether it will be individual or in the form of a group of producers, and which level you want.
3. Complete the registration process with QIMA/WQS.
4. Carry out the assessment according to the established guidelines.
5. Complete the process of obtaining the letter of conformity.
6. Maintain the letter of conformity, guaranteeing continued compliance with the standards established by the program, which is valid annually.

Benefits of the program and positive results of verification in Brazil

Despite its recent implementation among Brazilian producers, agricultural verification is already generating notable results. Consevitis-RS (Institute for Management, Planning and Development of Vitiviniculture in the State of Rio Grande do Sul) highlights the active engagement of grape processors in a pioneering project. “During the audits, the quality management systems of six groups of producers were meticulously assessed, involving a total of 180 farmers,” explains Janine Basso Lisboa, Project Manager at AgroDtech. “The results were extremely positive, with the producers audited demonstrating a high level of compliance and few needs for adjustments,” she adds.

Among the benefits of this verification, Janine points out the structuring of the Quality Management System (QMS), the option of a group conformity assessment carried out by sampling, the cost/benefit ratio and the credibility that an audit by an independent certification body provides. “In addition, the external perspective provided by the certifier also contributes significantly to growth,” he adds.

In Brazil, QIMA stands out as the pioneer and only one to offer this program, offering producers the opportunity to obtain the localg.a.p. letter of conformity for fruit and vegetables through QIMA/WQS. This initiative not only strengthens the credibility and competitiveness of local producers, but also boosts the quality and safety of Brazilian agricultural products, bringing them into line with international standards of excellence.