It’s every farmer’s desire to gain access to new local and international customers, but for that to happen a Global Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certificate is paramount.
If you need help understanding the Global GAP certificate process, this week’s Farmer’s Inside Track podcast is just for you. The podcast team is joined by Tamsin Davids, owner of Krystal Consulting, who unpacks the 101 on obtaining a Global GAP certificate.
According to Davids there is quite a few components needed for global this. The Global GAP network has a dedicated section for farmers to do a self-assessment on their farms.
“You can then identify some of the gaps that may exist in the farm and on the farm. Once you feel like you have addressed most of these gaps, it is then suggested that you contact a consultant like Krystal Consulting, and we would assist you with a readiness audit or an internal audit to identify further gaps that you might not have seen,” Davids says.
Once all of the findings are finalised, the certification body would come out and do the certification audit. This would ultimately give the farmer a Global GAP certificate with a GN number.
Make sure you tick all the boxes
Davids highlights that there are three key considerations for farmers when it comes to certification. These include site history, record keeping, and farmworker safety and welfare.
Site history and management are important because the farmers are required to have access control to their premises, Davids adds. This also contributes to the biosecurity of the farm.
“A lot of farmers do not allow visitors because of biosecurity. With the foot-and-mouth disease currently being a big contributor farmers do not allow visitors to their farm.”
In the podcast Davids also unpacks:
- Waste pollution management;
- Global GAP certification requirements; and
- A five-step checklist for new farmers
Want to know more? Listen to the full episode of Farmer’s Inside Track.
Option 1: Click here to listen on Spotify (all mobile and other devices).
Option 2: Click here to listen on any Apple device.
Option 3: Click here to listen on Google Podcasts.
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