Good Agricultural Practices
With the globalizing economy, the sector with the most competition in the international market is the basic food sector.
GAP is a private sector organization that sets voluntary standards for the certification of agricultural products worldwide. The aim is to establish a standard for Good Agricultural Practices (ITU) on different crops practices that can adapt to the whole of global agriculture.
CERTIFICATION OPTIONS
1. Individual Certification (Option I):
Applies to production on behalf of a single manufacturer. The individual producer may be a natural or legal person. When the individual producer is certified, it becomes the owner of the certificate.
Group 2 Certification (Option II):
Producer s, cooperatives, entrepreneurs and all the companies that form a group are subject to this certification. The group producer must have a legal entity that it defines. The group must have established and implemented a quality management system developed for Good Agricultural Practices. The producer group will be the holder of the certificate as a legal institution when certification is accomplished.
Benefits of Good Agricultural Practices
1. Benefits to Manufacturers
- It is the reason for being preferred in domestic and foreign markets.
- It provides leadership in equal competition conditions.
- Provides qualified agreement with retailers.
- It enables quality product cultivation.
- In the long term, it provides a decrease in production costs and thus an increase in profit.
- It ensures the safety and welfare of the people working in production.
2. Benefits to Consumers
- It reduces the risks related to food safety and human health.
- Provides sufficient information about the source of the product (traceability).
- It provides quality and reliability in the product.
- Consumers´ demands regarding food quality and safety are successfully met.
3. Benefits to Retailers
- Provides qualified agreement with the manufacturer.
- Eliminates concerns about public health and product reliability.
- With the trust of the consumer to the product, an increase in demand is achieved.
- It allows the elimination of obstacles due to compliance with legal regulations.
4. Benefits to the Environment
- Sustainable, environmentally responsible production, protection of natural life and biodiversity.
- To reduce the harmful effects of agriculture on the environment.
- Implement a protective management plan.
