Benefits of Certification For Producer Organizations

Part 2

Presented by: Amos Thiongó

3. For ConsumersI. Food safety – proper use of pesticides to

ensure food is safe for human consumption. Involves ensuring that farmers comply with chemical use recommendations, pre-harvest intervals, hygiene in produce handling etc

II. Traceability – a consumer can trace a produce right to an individual farmer. It makes a consumer feel confident when he knows where the food on his plate is coming from

III. Promote trade justice through execution of purchasing power – some certifications promote trade justice by allowing ordinary consumers to contribute to development of producing communities. The Fairtrade premium is a good example of a trade justice tool available to ordinary consumers through their purchasing power.

Benefits of Certification

4. For The Environment and Animals

I. Animals welfare groups are particularly strong in developed countries – farms are certified for keeping livestock in humane conditions, responsible slaughterhouse and handling

II. Protection of fauna and through through Good Agricultural practises,

Benefits of Certification

Some of the certifications also promote specific benefits for farmers including;1. Safety net prices (Fairtrade) – to ensure products do not

tumble beyond a particular minimum threshold. The Fairtrade minimum price is participatorily computed using Cost of Sustainable Production (COSP)

2. Community Development premiums (Fairtrade, Rainforest alliance, UTZ) – a percentage price mark up is reserved for producing community development projects

3. Online Track and Trace system (UTZ) – an online system for traceability of products

4. Technical support to comply with standards (organic, Fairtrade, UTZ, RA) – support farmers to comply with various standards

Benefits of Certification

Cost of certification is prohibitive – cost of on site inspection is quite high (over $ 2000 for a small co-operative) for most of the certifications. The cost of certification is mainly borne by the farmers

Competition amongst the certification institutions which has led to market segregation and fragmentation

Rapidly changing standards due to climatic and social and economic factors both in producing and consuming countries

Different markets favor different certifications. This makes it very expensive and tedious to access different markets since you have to be audited for each certification

5. Challenges to Certifications

Who drives the certifications? Is it the producer or is it the consumer???? In most cases it is the consumer and standards set may not take recognition of producer context

Challenges to Certifications

Due to increased social and environmental awareness by consumers, certification schemes will continue to grow

Organic and Fairtrade products are gradually getting available in middle to High income retail chains in developing coutries

Climate change debate is driving need to reduce carbon footprint and water footprint… and the need for compliance.

Which Way Forward

Asanteni Sana