rainforest alliance sustainable agriculture standard · 1.6 gender equality ... our 2020...
TRANSCRIPT
© Rainforest Alliance
Rainforest Alliance
Sustainable Agriculture
Standard APPLICABLE FOR SMALLHOLDER FARMS
Draft Standard V2.0
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 2
Table of Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................4
Scope of the standard .................................................................................................................4
Differentiation between smallholders and medium-large producers ................................5
Key features of the 2020 Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard ...............5
Member profile...............................................................................................................................8
Thematic innovations ....................................................................................................................8
Climate Smart Agriculture ............................................................................................................8
Sustainable farming practices and agrochemicals approach ...........................................9
Due diligence approach for social issues ..................................................................................9
Livelihoods ........................................................................................................................................9
Implementation process for the Rainforest Alliance standard .......................................... 10
Assurance ..................................................................................................................................... 11
Compliance rules ........................................................................................................................ 12
The Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard ............................................................... 15
Table of icons .............................................................................................................................. 15
Chapter 1: Management ....................................................................................................................... 16
Objectives and Outcomes: .................................................................................................................. 16
1.1 Group Management Capacities ................................................................................. 18
1.2 Group Member Administration ..................................................................................... 18
1.3 Internal Inspections and Risk Assessments ....................................................................... 20
1.4 Management Plan and Service Delivery ........................................................................ 21
1.5 Grievance Mechanism ....................................................................................................... 22
1.6 Gender equality ................................................................................................................... 23
1.7 young farmers ....................................................................................................................... 23
1.8 Traceability ............................................................................................................................ 24
1.9 Premium ................................................................................................................................. 25
Chapter 2: Farming .................................................................................................................................. 26
Objectives and Outcomes: .................................................................................................................. 26
2.1 Planting and rotation ........................................................................................................... 28
2.2 Pruning and renovation of Crop Trees ............................................................................. 28
2.3 Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) ....................................................................... 28
2.4 Soil Fertility and Conservation ............................................................................................ 29
2.5 Integrated Pest Management (IPM) ................................................................................ 30
2.6 Agrochemicals Management ........................................................................................... 31
2.7 Harvest and Post-Harvest Practices .................................................................................. 33
Chapter 3: Social ...................................................................................................................................... 34
Objectives and Outcomes: .............................................................................................................. 2634
3.1 Assess and Address of Discrimination, Forced Labor, Child Labor, Workplace
Harassment and Violence ........................................................................................................ 36
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3.2 Freedom of AssociatIon and Collective Bargaining ..................................................... 37
3.3 Wages and Contracts ......................................................................................................... 38
3.4 Living Wage: N/A ................................................................................................................. 39
3.5 Working conditions ............................................................................................................... 39
3.6 Health & Safety ..................................................................................................................... 40
3.7 Housing AND Living Conditions.......................................................................................... 42
3.8 Communities ......................................................................................................................... 43
Chapter 4: Environment .......................................................................................................................... 44
Objectives and Outcomes ................................................................................................................... 44
4.1 Forests, other natural ecosystems and protected area ............................................... 46
4.2 Conservation and enhancement of natural ecosystems and native vegetation . 46
4.3 Riparian Buffer and Chemical Non-Application Zones ................................................ 47
4.4 Protection of Wildlife and biodiversity .............................................................................. 47
4.5 Water Conservation ............................................................................................................. 48
4.6 Wastewater and Water Quality......................................................................................... 49
4.7 Waste Management ........................................................................................................... 50
4.8 Energy Efficiency .................................................................................................................. 51
4.9 Greenhouse Gases Reduction .......................................................................................... 51
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INTRODUCTION
In January 2018, the Rainforest Alliance merged with UTZ. We joined forces because we know
that together we can have a greater impact and be a better partner to the many
stakeholders we work with. In the 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard, we intend to
harmonize the existing standards of the Rainforest Alliance and UTZ, learn from past
experiences, but most importantly bring innovation and new insight into certification and
agricultural sustainability. Our 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard is designed to maximize
positive social, environmental, and economic impact, while offering farmers an enhanced
framework to improve their livelihoods and protecting the landscapes where they live and
work.
This second draft of the standard is formulated after a full public consultation that was held
from December 2018 to February 2019 to gather feedback and improve this document. The
feedback from the stakeholder consultation and this next version has then been discussed
and approved by Rainforest Alliance’s multi-stakeholder Standards Committee.
This Sustainable Agriculture Standard forms the heart of the Rainforest Alliance’s new
certification strategy. In addition to the standard, a larger system of assurance, chain of
custody, and monitoring and evaluation will support its implementation. Finally, at the widest
level, advocacy and landscape-level interventions support the transformation of sustainable
supply chains.
SCOPE OF THE STANDARD
The scope of the standard is to address sustainability issues in agricultural production.
Focus crops The standard focuses on the main categories of crops that are currently within
the existing certification programs, which are tree crops (such as coffee,
cocoa and tea), fruits (such as bananas, coconuts and pineapples), nuts
(such as hazelnuts) and cut flowers. Not necessarily all crops or products
grown on certified farms can be sold as certified.
For herbs and spices Rainforest Alliance intends to work with the Union for
Ethical Biotrade (UEBT) as is already done in the UTZ program. It is explored to
certify these crops against the UEBT standard.
For palm oil, Rainforest Alliance’s organizational resources will be focusing on
the three core areas of intervention that are felt to be are most critical
now which are smallholders, jurisdictional/landscape approaches and the
development of a certification+ approach, as well as maintaining the
standard in its current form.
Global The geographical scope of the standard is in principle global1 with a focus on
the main geographical areas where the focus crops are grown.
Whole farm In principle the scope of the standard is the whole farm. With regard to crop
type specific agronomic practices the focus of the audit will be on the
certified crop.
The audit scope of the standard reaches up to the point where legal
ownership changes. This means certain on-farm processing activities that
involve physical handling, and that are considered important to be included
in view of social or environmental risks (e.g. the production of green coffee;
the drying, sorting, or bagging of cocoa beans; the production of made tea)
are included in the farm standard audit.
Following the merger between the Rainforest Alliance and UTZ and the introduction of our
new vision and strategy, we have defined priority sectors where we have the greatest
opportunity for impact through our certification program. During this process, the decision
was made not to include cattle in the scope of this new Rainforest Alliance standard.
Recognizing the added value our current standard has, we are exploring ways for the cattle
1 The Rainforest Alliance reserves the right to make exceptions, e.g. due to legal or political circumstances.
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certification program to continue through a different approach. We are exploring options
and will provide updates over the coming months. For the current certificates with a cattle
scope, the Rainforest Alliance will establish the timeline and details of any transition with
ample warning and will support the transition to a new program if that is the result of our
current exploration.
Differentiation between smallholders and medium-large producers The 2020 Rainforest Alliance standard differentiates between smallholders and medium/large
producers.
Smallholders are small-scale agricultural producers that primarily rely on family or household
labor or workforce exchange with other members of the community. They might hire
temporary workers for seasonal tasks or even hire (few) permanent workers when the farmer
or his/her family cannot do the work by themselves. Smallholders can’t afford to be certified
individually and usually need to rely on the Group Management for record development
and record keeping.
Medium/large producers are defined as producers that use hired labor, and therefore do not
rely primarily on family labor.
The standard treats smallholders and medium/large producers differently so that each
producer type can focus on topics that are most relevant for their situation. For example, for
medium/large producers, there is a stronger focus on core criteria for social issues related to
workers and families that live on-site, as well as on certain environmental topics. For
smallholders the standard gives special attention to strengthening the group management
capacity over time.
Individual and group certif ication
Smallholders commonly use group certification. Therefore, group management requirements
are placed in the smallholder standard. Medium and large producers can under certain
conditions also apply for joint certification (several farms to be certified in one certificate).
The standard for medium and large producers therefore also includes requirements for the
management of the joint certificate. The rules and conditions for these groups of
medium/large producers are to be determined.
KEY FEATURES OF THE 2020 RAINFOREST ALLIANCE SUSTAINABLE
AGRICULTURE STANDARD
The new Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard brings innovative approaches,
outlined as follows:
Performance driven approach
The Rainforest Alliance believes that certification should be accessible for a wide group of
producers and that continuous improvements are a fundamental tenet of sustainability. The
new certification system will drive continuous improvement for producers. In addition to
prescribing practices, the focus is on enabling and measuring improvements towards
sustainability outcomes.
The core criteria include all requirements for the first certification. Most core criteria prescribe
good practices with respect to key sustainability risk topics and are formulated as
compliance criteria (yes/no). In some cases, the core criterion will contain a set threshold
(e.g. payment of minimum wage) that must be measured and reported.
Improvement pathways are designed to further promote and measure progress. For the
improvement pathways, the Rainforest Alliance introduces mandatory and self-selected
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improvements topics. The mandatory improvement topics need to be included in the
standard compliance as the producer or producer group advances on its journey to
sustainability. Rainforest Alliance works out risk maps for the relevant topics. To increase the
relevance of the standard, the Rainforest Alliance can exclude mandatory improvement
topics for certain contexts or crops in case there is a low risk. For all topics the producers still
need to comply with the core criteria. Hence the mandatory improvement criteria can differ
per certificate holder, since they depend on the type of producer, country or region and the
certified crop. Self-selected topics are chosen by certificate holders based on their own risk
assessment or aspirations. The selection may depend on external support received for a
certain improvement, such as renovation of crop trees.
The improvements pathways come primarily in two forms. They are either defined as levels of
improvement, with prescribed practices or targets, or as a ‘Smart-Meter’. The levels
stipulated for the mandatory improvements indicate the timeframe in which these
improvement criteria are to be met. Level 1 needs to be complied with after three years of
the first certification audit, level 2 after six years, and level 3 after nine years. Certificate
holders that already comply with a higher level of improvement in an earlier stage can be
audited against this higher level, and publish this on their member profile as explained below.
The ‘Smart-Meter’ is based on indicators to measure improvements, without predefined
targets. These data will provide the farm or group better insights into their current
performance and can be used to diagnose the existing sustainability gaps, give insights into
improvements made and create incentives for further development.
Figure 1: Basic structure of the new standard
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Data and indicators
Through the new certification system, Rainforest Alliance will facilitate data gathering on
sustainability practices and outcomes to be used by producers and other supply chain
actors. These data are referenced in the standard as “indicators”.
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The indicator data can help the producers to identify the sustainability gaps and to monitor
the improvements for self-learning. Next to this, the indicators will be used to assess
compliance and potentially report to other supply chain actors in a secure certificate holder
“member profile”. Rainforest Alliance will provide guidance for the methodology to collect
data and indicators. Depending on the topic, data can be collected through internal
sources such as the farm or group’s internal management system or a trader or buyer
monitoring and evaluation system, or through external sources such as the certification
assurance process, external data sources such as satellite imagery, or by other credible and
mutually agreed upon third parties. Data used for compliance and external reporting are
verified and analyzed through the assurance process.
The indicators that are specified in the standard are either related to the core criteria or are
used to measure the improvements. The indicators related to the core criteria are to be used
for self-learning, monitoring and/or reporting. The indicators related to the improvement
criteria will inform the certificate holder on the progress towards the desired improvement.
For some improvement topics targets are predefined in the standard, for instance the
percentage of group members with digitized data collection (1.4). Other improvements do
not come with predefined targets, these are the so-called smart meter indicators. The
certificate holders themselves should set the targets for these indicators and define the
adequate actions to take to realize these improvements. For the mandatory smart-meter
indicators, the quality of the data and the actions undertaken will be verified through the
assurance process. The measured level of the indicator data will not influence the
certification decision. However, if no data have been collected, or if the quality of the data
is very low, this may have consequences for certification. The Rainforest Alliance will use the
indicator data for learning purposes, and to establish the context and crop specific optimum
levels for these indicators, to be used by the certificate holders as a reference for their
improvements.
Concerning the data for the self-selected smart meter improvements, Rainforest Alliance will
only allow these to be published, if the certification body has verified the quality of the
collected data.
Member profile
A member profile for farms and groups is another innovation that will be used to
communicate sustainability performance and improvements. Such a member profile will be
informed by the data and indicators from the standard, and will allow producers to
demonstrate their results, challenges, and improvements. The profile can become a valuable
tool to drive continuous improvement, empower producers, build demand for certified
product, and channel supply chain investments.
THEMATIC INNOVATIONS
Many key topics that were already present in existing Rainforest Alliance and UTZ standards
have been maintained. Farm and group management, good agronomic practices and
natural resource conservation, safe use of agrochemicals, biodiversity conservation and
nature protection, and an integrated approach on climate smart agriculture.
Climate Smart Agriculture
We recognize the challenges already being posed by climate change and seek to address
these challenges by actively promoting Climate Smart Agriculture2 to improve the resilience
of farms and farming communities. This is accomplished by protecting native ecosystems
and on-farm biodiversity, avoiding deforestation, maintaining healthy soils, sustaining water
2 An approach to developing the technical, policy and investment conditions to achieve sustainable agricultural development for
food security under climate change. It is composed of three main pillars: 1) sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and
incomes; 2) adapting and building resilience to climate change; 3) reducing and/or removing greenhouse gases emissions, where
possible (Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations).
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resources, and guiding farmers to select and adopt climate-smart planting materials and
farming practices.
Additionally, the Standard seeks to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of agriculture
associated with the use of energy, fertilizers, pesticides, and methane emissions – while
maintaining or enhancing carbon stocks in soils, forests, and other on-farm vegetation. As
such, the Standard promotes all three pillars of Climate Smart Agriculture:
1) sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and incomes;
2) adapting and building resilience to climate change;
3) reducing greenhouse gas emissions, where possible.
Sustainable farming practices and agrochemicals approach
Rainforest Alliance is also working on a revised agrochemical approach that is moving further
in implementing more sustainable farming practices enabling farmers to further reduce the
use of hazardous chemicals to have better impact on environment, climate resilience and
worker safety.
Due diligence approach for social issues
One key innovation is in our proposed approach for child labor, forced labor and (sexual)
harassment. Various experiences and research show that due diligence approaches and
remediation are best practice to have impact on these issues. This approach is now
proposed for the relevant topics in Chapter 3 (Social) of the new standard.
The new standard also puts more emphasis on gender equality, recognizing the positions and
rights of women and girls and their importance for sustainable development.
Livelihoods
The Rainforest Alliance intends to focus more extensively on economic advancement of
farmers and workers, helping to create more sustainable livelihoods. In the current standards,
a start was made with the introduction of criteria related to living wage and the practices to
trigger improvements in farm profitability and farmers’ income. The new standard introduces
a living wage tool for medium/large farms to help assess wages and wage gaps.
With regard to farmer incomes, our criteria on farm management and services aim to
improve profitability and income. Furthermore, Rainforest Alliance will begin monitoring the
progress towards living income. A Living Income Tool is being developed that will estimate
net income from certified product and the gap with living income benchmarks. The first pilots
with this tool are being planned in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. Such a tool will go a long way in
helping partners understand the reality of the living income gap in their supply chains and
thereby facilitate the development of strategies to help address it.
Rainforest Alliance explores how to better share the responsibility for investments required to
build sustainable agriculture production systems between producers and buyers. The
mentioned developments in the farm standard are supported by further developments in our
chain of custody standard exploring requirements for buyers.
Rainforest Alliance strongly believes that producers should be incentivized and rewarded in
order to develop and maintain their investments in sustainable production practices. Our
new standard system strives for continuous improvement in sustainability - this is not possible
without adequate incentives flowing back to producers.
Farm gate price, price premiums, access to global markets, price relative to the cost of
production, and the broader farming context all have a clear impact on the income of
farmers. The Rainforest Alliance will use both the farm standard and the chain of custody
standard to drive more economic transparency of certification and value to farmers. Within
the standard, the payment of a premium will be mandatory for buyers of Rainforest Alliance
certified tea, coffee, cocoa and bananas. Sector-specific requirements on premiums will be
developed over the coming months. Additional interventions to drive further economic
incentives will be developed through chain of custody and outside of the realm of the
agriculture standard.
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IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS FOR THE RAINFOREST ALLIANCE STANDARD
After the producer registers with Rainforest Alliance, we send back the list of mandatory
improvement criteria that are applicable for the farm or farm group. The Rainforest Alliance
provides a customized package with the training guidance, the risk assessment guidance
and the management capacity assessment tool (for groups) to implement the core criteria,
and to prepare for the certification audit. This preparation period is referred to as Year 0.
The preparation period starts with the producer conducting a preparatory assessment, which
includes an initial assessment of risks, gaps and baseline, see diagram “Implementation
process” below. The risk assessment provides insight in the risks that threaten reaching the
sustainability outcomes, and in the gaps that need to be bridged to reach compliance with
the standard. The management capacity assessment tool will be used by groups to identify
the areas where the management capacities should be strengthened to ensure compliance
with the standard and to realize improvements in their sustainability performance.
These preparatory assessments and other sources of information, such as maps of farm units,
are used as input to draft an initial management plan, describing the actions to be taken to
reach compliance with the core criteria of the standard. Subsequently, the producer will
conduct internal audits to assess compliance of group members with the standard (in the
case of a group), and to conduct the baseline for the applicable improvement indicators.
Individual farms will carry out an assessment to check compliance with the standard. The
results of the internal inspections, and the first feedback received from the certification body,
will be used as input to further detail and adapt the management plan.
After this preparation phase, the producer has the first certification audit carried out by an
independent audit organisation. If the audit is passed, the first year of certification starts. A
more in-depth risk assessment will be the first action, focused on the mandatory
improvement topics. For instance, in case of a high risk of child labor this in-depth risk
assessment should provide insight in the most vulnerable children and the underlying causes
of child labor, which will guide the actions to be included in the management plan. The
internal inspections will be conducted yearly, with a focus on the topics identified in the risk
assessment and the results of earlier inspections. The information gathered through the
internal inspections will be used both to check compliance as well as to guide further
improvement actions. The management plan will be regularly adapted based on the
information gathered through the internal inspections, audits, risk assessments and
measurement of the indicators.
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ASSURANCE
The new standard is part of Rainforest Alliance’s broader strategy to reimagine certification.
An important element of this is the collection and verification of credible and useful data
and compliance evidence. In order to keep the cost of certification reasonable for
certificate holders, assurance is geared towards risks as well as topics that matter the most.
The intent is not to lower the involvement of certification bodies, but to target their efforts
more effectively. That means for example that auditors could spend more time at farms to
verify compliance with social criteria, whereas for some of the environmental criteria,
technology and satellite images will get a more prominent role.
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In addition, the Rainforest Alliance is exploring assurance methods that verify farmer’s levels
of readiness to implement the standard during the preparation period. This is to assure that
farmers reach certification in the first year successfully and are set for the improvement
journey of the following years; enabling more targeted and smoother assurance
interventions. Rainforest Alliance will also explore methods that objectively lower or increase
the intensity and frequency of audits based on risks, farmer’s readiness to implement, crop-
type and country context, and achieved levels in the improvement criteria.
Rainforest Alliance started exploring innovative ideas for the new assurance model during
2019. During the coming months, these ideas will be further developed and tested.
Compliance rules The certification audits take place once every three years, and check compliance with the
core criteria as well as with the relevant mandatory improvement levels. Yearly surveillance
audits will be required to ensure continuous compliance with the standard, and check
progress on improvements.
For the first certification audit all certificate holders must comply with all core criteria
applicable to their category (smallholder or medium/large, individual or group), not yet with
any of the other requirements. This first audit does include an assessment of the level of the
applicable mandatory improvements, and a check on the baseline measurement for the
mandatory smart meter improvements.
The mandatory improvements with a Smart Meter approach will be checked on quality of
data during the audit instead of a pass/fail approach. If the indicators do not show any
progress, or even decline, the certificate holder can provide causes of this situation and
evidence of activities undertaken to work on this improvement. If the evidence is insufficient
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this will lead to a non-conformity or to decertification. The self-selected improvements will
only be included in the audit process, in case the certificate holder wants to publish these
data.
For information
The following content is taken up in the member registration.
Responsible conduct
The Member commits to being a good and reliable partner to other Members in the supply
chain, and to adhere to agreements made with other Members.
The Member commits to adhere to internationally accepted principles of responsible
business conduct, such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the
OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. The scale and complexity of the means
through which a Member meets this commitment may vary according to the size, sector,
operational context, ownership and structure, and with the severity of the enterprise’s
adverse human rights impacts.
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OUTCOMES AND IMPACT
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THE RAINFOREST ALLIANCE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
STANDARD
TABLE OF ICONS
ICON MEANING
Core (No icon) Core criterion, mandatory for certification Individual
smallholder
The criteria in the column Smallholder are applicable to the
individual smallholder producers, also referred to as members
GM S/Mix
The criteria in the column GM S/Mix are applicable to the group
management of smallholder groups and to group management of
medium/large farms that are certified together with groups of
smallholders.
CROP The criteria in the column Crop are crop specific. At this moment
only few criteria are crop specific, more criteria are expected to
be crop-specific in the final standard.
L1, L2, L3 Level: topic to be complied with after a certain number of years.
Level 1 has to be complied 3 years after first certification, level 2
after 6 years, level 3 after 9 years
The M-icon indicates that improvement is Mandatory.
The S-icon indicates that the certificate holder can opt to select
this improvement (Self-Selected).
Smart meter: Improvements measuring performance without
compulsory targets. Smart meters can be used to improve
management decisions. It is audited by verifying the data.
The M means that it is a Mandatory improvement.
Smart meter: Improvements measuring performance without
compulsory targets. Smart meters can be used to improve
management decisions. It is audited by verifying the data.
The S means that it is a Self-Selected improvement, indicating that
the certificate holder can opt for this improvement.
The two standards for smallholders and medium/large farms are numbered together.
Therefore, the numbering in each of the standards shows some gaps.
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CHAPTER 1: MANAGEMENT
Objectives and Outcomes:
Farming is not just a way of life but is also a business, and successful business needs
management. The Rainforest Alliance wants to see certified farms managed in an efficient,
transparent, inclusive and economically viable manner. Here, it is essential that farms and
groups implement an integrated planning and management system, with processes and
systems for continuous improvement. Planning and management support increased farm
productivity and efficiency, reduced environmental impact, and increased capacity to
adapt to climate change. Increased efficiency in the use of land, water, fertilizers, and
pesticides further supports climate change adaptation and mitigation (Climate Smart
Agriculture).
To help achieve this outcome, the chapter begins with topics related to management
capacity, farm and group administration and data management, and sustainability
assessment and management planning. Criteria on these topics follow a planning process of
assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation and adjustment. Based on the risk
assessment, specific mitigation and adaptation practices are defined. Farm and group
administrators play a key role in facilitating this planning process. Traceability and premium
transparency are also topics that support this outcome of transparent
farm management and overall integrity of the Rainforest Alliance certification system.
Finally, this chapter includes the cross-cutting themes of gender, youth participation, and
farm profitability. The selection of these topics in the management chapter recognizes the
universal nature of these themes, and that they apply to multiple dimensions of farm and
group activity. Criteria and improvement levels in these topics focus on
contextual improvements. That is, rather than requiring a certain level of gender or youth
participation, or a certain level of farm income, the standard encourages farm-specific and
context-specific targets and activities to reach member’s appropriate goals.
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1.1 GROUP MANAGEMENT CAPACITIES
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM
S/Mix
Crop
Core requirements
(1.1.1) Group management demonstrates a commitment to sustainable
agriculture by dedicating adequate resources and staff to the
implementation of the Rainforest Alliance standard.
Group management assesses yearly its management capacity to ensure
compliance with the standard and the ability to make sustainability
performance changes, by using the Rainforest Alliance Capacity
Assessment Tool that includes the following topics:
- Human resources management
- Business management
- Financial management
- Member services and business activities
- Governance practice
- Community and stakeholder engagement
x
Improvements
(1.1.2) Group management improves its management
capacities.
x
Indicators
• Smart Meter (1.1.2) Scores on the Rainforest Alliance Capacity Assessment tool
1.2 GROUP MEMBER ADMINISTRATION
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM
S/Mix
Crop
Core requirements
(1.2.1) A registry of group members is kept and updated, containing
for each group member (and for each operator of the farm, if
different from the group member, e.g. sharecropper)
- Full name
- Gender
- Year of birth
- Location
- Phone number
- National identification number (ID / passport), if issued
- Household size
- GPS point for each farm unit
- Number of farm units
- Total farm area
- Certified crop area
- Previous year’s total harvest
- Previous year 's harvest delivered to the group
- Present year’s total harvest estimation
- Number of permanent workers (farms > 3 ha.)
- Estimated number of seasonal workers (farms > 3 ha.)
x
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- Participation in other certification programs
- First year of certification
(1.2.2) A registry of permanent and seasonal workers is kept and
updated, containing for each worker:
- Full name
- Gender
- Year of birth
- Start and end date(s) of employment
- Wages
For workers living on-site, the registry additionally contains:
- Address - Number of family members
- Year of birth of family members
For young workers (15 - 17 years), the registry additionally contains:
- Address
- Name and address of parent(s) or legal guardian(s)
- School registration;
- Type of work or tasks
- Number of daily and weekly working hours.
x
(1.2.3) For farms > 3 ha., a registry of permanent and seasonal
workers is kept and updated, containing for each worker:
- Full name
- Gender
- Year of birth
- Wages
For young workers, the registry additionally contains:
- Type of work or tasks
- Number of daily and weekly working hours.
Illiterate group members can give the above information orally.
x
(1.2.4) An up-to-date map of the area including all the farms part of
the certificate is available, including production zones, processing
facilities, human settlements in the proximity of farm limits, schools
and medical centers/first aid sites, forests, natural ecosystems and
other existing native vegetation cover, agroforestry shade cover,
protected areas, water bodies and buffer zones. The map also
includes risk areas identified in the risk assessment (see 1.3.5). The
map displays the date of issue.
x
(1.2.5) An up-to-date map of the farm is available, including
production zones, buildings, agroforestry areas, natural ecosystems
(e.g. forests), protected areas, water bodies and buffer zones. The
map displays the date of issue.
x
(1.2.6) GPS point(s) are available for 90% of the farms (1 central GPS
point per farm. In case of a farm with multiple farm units: 1 central
GPS point of the largest farm unit with the certified crop).
x
Improvements
L1
(1.2.7) GPS point(s) are available for 90% of the farms,
including all farm units (1 central GPS point per farm unit) x
L2
(1.2.8) Polygons are available for 40% of the farms (1
polygon per farm unit larger than 3ha).
x
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L3
(1.2.9) Polygons are available for 80 % of the farms (1
polygon per farm unit larger than 3 ha)
x
Indicators
• (1.2.7) % of farms with GPS points
• (1.2.8, 1.2.9) % of farms with polygons
1.3 INTERNAL INSPECTIONS AND RISK ASSESSMENTS
Indiv.
smallhold
er
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(1.3.1) An internal inspection system is in place to assess compliance
of group members with the Rainforest Alliance standard. The system
includes:
- yearly inspection of all farms of all group members
- first year of certification of a group member: inspection of all farm
units, on all requirements of the Rainforest Alliance standard
- consecutive years:
- scope of inspection is based on risk assessment and on previous
inspections
- rotation system for inspection of farm units, so that each unit is
inspected at least every 3 years
x
(1.3.2) The ratio between number of internal inspectors and group
members has to be a least 1:250. Each internal inspector cannot
inspect more than 6 farms per day. Internal inspectors have passed
a training course on good internal inspection practices organized by
group management.
x
(1.3.3) An approval and sanction system is in place in relation to
compliance of group members with the Rainforest Alliance standard. The system includes:
- a written approval and sanction procedure
- an approval and sanction manager or committee,
- a mechanism to follow up on group members' improvement and
corrective measures,
- a decision on each group member’s certification status that is
documented, signed, and included in the final internal inspection
report.
x
(1.3.4) Record keeping for certification purposes has to be kept for
at least 4 years.
x x
(1.3.5) Management conducts a risk assessment in relation to the
criteria in this standard for their group/farm at least every three years,
including at least the risks associated with:
- Social risks including child labor, forced labor and workplace harassment and violence- Agrochemicals management - Deforestation and biodiversity loss - Economic fluctuations or shocks - Climate change, extreme weather, environmental hazards
x
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 21
Improvements
L1
(1.3.6) Internal inspection data is collected through a
device (e.g. phone, tablet, etc.), used in a digitized format
for at least 30% of the group members.
x
L2
(1.3.7) Internal inspection data is collected through a
device (e.g. phone, tablet, etc.), used ina digitized format
For at least 50% of the group members.
x
L3
(1.3.8) Internal inspection data is collected through a
device (e.g. phone, tablet, etc.), used in a digitized format
for at least 80-100% of the group members.
x
Indicators
• (1.3.6, 1.3.7, 1.3.8) % of group members whose internal inspection data collected and used by the
group management in a digitized format
1.4 MANAGEMENT PLAN AND SERVICE DELIVERY
Indiv.
smallhold
er
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(1.4.1) Management makes a management plan, describing
improvement areas, actions to be taken, services to be delivered
and usage of Premium. The management plan is based on at least,
but not limited to, the internal inspection (1.3.1) and risk assessment
(1.3.5). Actions are implemented, monitored, and documented. The
management plan is updated at least every three years.
x
(1.4.2) Management provides group members with services based
on the gaps identified in the risk assessment to achieve sustainability
outcomes. Services include training, access to inputs (e.g. seedlings,
irrigation systems). The group management documents the trainings and services provided.
x
(1.4.3) Group management collects information on volumes of
certified crop sold to the group, cash Premium (1.9.1/2) and farm
gate prices paid to the producers and calculates the gross income from the certified crop (i.e. sold volumes x farm gate prices + cash
Premium for producers) for a representative sample of group
members. The group management shares the anonymized analysis
of this data with group members.
x
(1.4.4) Service providers, including labor providers, comply with
applicable criteria of the standard for work conducted within the
certification scope.
x x
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 22
Improvements
(1.4.5) Group management supports group members with
- Training on financial literacy and business management
- Facilitating access to financial services (e.g. bank
account, mobile payment, loans for farm investments)
x
(1.4.6) Group management supports group members:
- To make informed decisions on adequate diversification
strategies
- Facilitating access to needed knowledge, inputs, services
to implement the diversification strategies
- Extending support to the household and/or community-
based interventions.
x
(1.4.7) Group management supports group members with
individual Farm Development Plans (FDP) that enable
farmers to plan their agronomic and financial
interventions.
x x
(1.4.8) Group management collects data on the key
determinants of the production costs (e.g. costs of
fertilizer, agrochemicals, paid labor, equipment) and
calculates the net income from the certified crop for
a sample of group members (i.e. gross income 1.4.3,
– production costs = net income). The group
management shares the analyzed data with the
group members.
X
Indicators
• (1.4.2) # of trainings/awareness raising activities provided to members;
• (1.4.2) Topics of the trainings and awareness raising activities
• (1.4.2) # and % of members attending training activities (M/F)
• (1.4.2) # and type of services (other than training) provided to members
• Smart Meter (1.4.5): # of group members that have access to financial services (M/F)
• Smart Meter (1.4.6): # of farmers that diversify their income (M/F) through:
- another job
- growing more than one additional cash crop
- growing more than one additional crop for self-consumption
- upgrading of their product (e.g. wet processing)
• Smart Meter (1.4.7): # and % of group members (M/F) with a Farm Development Plan (FDP) as
developed by Rainforest Alliance or an equivalent of FDP approved by Rainforest Alliance
1.5 GRIEVANCE MECHANISM
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(1.5.1) A formal mechanism is in place and used for submitting and
addressing grievances. The mechanism can be used by all internal
and external stakeholders including workers, members and staff,
buyers, suppliers and communities, for all subjects of grievance
including internal inspections, workplace harassment and violence,
discrimination, forced labor and child labor.
x
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 23
The mechanism includes means for confidential grievances and
allows for submitting anonymous grievances.
Management informs group members / workers and relevant
stakeholders about the mechanism.
Workers are protected against employment termination, retribution
or threats as a consequence of utilizing the grievance mechanism.
Grievances are addressed in a clear and timely manner. Grievances and the corrective actions are adequately documented.
Improvements N/A
Indicators
1.6 GENDER EQUALITY
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(1.6.1) Management commits to promote gender equality through a
written statement and communicates that to group members
and/or workers.
Management appoints a responsible person or committee for the
implementation, monitoring and evaluation of measures that
promote gender equality and women empowerment.
The responsible person/committee carries out a gender assessment
and develops a gender plan, including targets and timelines, to
address identified gender constraints.
x
Improvements
(1.6.2) Gender equality is improved. x
Indicators
• Smart Meter (1.6.2):
• # and % women in management positions or elected leadership positions
• Training attendance by women (# and %)
• # and % of women in group management that are trainers or internal inspectors
• # and % of female group members
1.7 YOUNG FARMERS
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
N/A
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 24
Improvements
(1.7.1) Management improves participation of young
farmers (age 15 -35):
- It motivates young people’s involvement in farming
activities,
- It encourages the participation of young farmers in
training, service provision and employment.
- It promotes young farmers to become group member
and to participate in decision making.
x
Indicators
• Smart Meter (1.7.1):
o % of young group members (age 15 - 35) (M/F)
o # of participants of young group members in trainings (age 15 - 35)
1.8 TRACEABILITY
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(1.8.1) The total certified production (in kg) is estimated annually. It is
based on a credible methodology for yield estimation (in kg/ha) of a
representative sample of farms or farm units. The methodology and
calculations are documented.
x x
(1.8.2) The total harvested certified production (in kg) and the
harvested yield (in kg/ha) are recorded annually.
x x
(1.8.3) Certified products are visually segregated from non-certified
products.
x x
(1.8.4) There is documented proof that products that the group sells
as certified can be traced back to the certified farm(s) where these
were produced:
- Group management has documented the product flow of the
certified product from the group member up to the group,
including all intermediaries (collection points, warehouses etc.)
and activities carried out on the product.
- Group management keeps purchase and sales documents
linked to physical deliveries from certified, multi-certified and
non-certified product. The documents include the group
member, date, product type and volume.
- Group members keep sales receipts including date, product
type and volume.
x x
(1.8.5) Sale transactions of certified products are recorded in the
Rainforest Alliance traceability system, including Premiums received,
at latest at the end of the quarter within which the sales were
performed. Total sales of certified products do not exceed the total
certified production plus remaining stock balance from the previous
year.
x
(1.8.6) Equipment used to define the weight or volume of certified
product are calibrated annually.
x
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 25
Improvements
N/A
Indicators
• (1.8.1) Estimated certified production volume (kg)
• (1.8.2) Total harvested certified production (Kg)
• (1.8.2) Harvested yield of certified crop (Kg/ha)
1.9 PREMIUM
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(1.9.1) Group management documents and communicates to
group members at least annually:
1) Prices and the Rainforest Alliance Premiums received per kg
(separate from other Premiums, such as quality Premiums)
2) Distribution of Premiums received, specifying between
- Reasonable overhead
- In-kind benefits to group members (collectively and individually)
- Cash payments to group members
x
(1.9.2) Group members receive at least part of the Premium as a
cash payment. Cash payment for group members is:
- Pro rata, based on volumes delivered
- Paid in a timely and convenient manner, at least before the new
crop season
x
Improvements
L1
(1.9.3) Group members are consulted in the decision
making on Premium expenditure
x
L2
(1.9.4) Group members co-decide on Premium
expenditure
x
(1.9.5) % of the total Premium transferred in cash to group
members increases x
Indicators
• (1.9.1) Amount of Premium received by group and distribution of Premium for overhead, in-kind
benefits, cash payments
• (1.9.5) % of the total Premium transferred in cash to group members
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 26
CHAPTER 2: FARMING
Objectives and Outcomes:
This chapter focuses on the outcomes of sustainable agriculture, crop productivity and
profitability, and natural resources and ecosystem services. Included amongst these
outcomes are the goals of climate smart agriculture and food security: farms and groups
mitigate and adapt to climate change and increase their resiliency by implementing
sustainable practices and diversifying when possible.
The topics in the farming practices chapter of the Rainforest Alliance standard work together
to achieve these outcomes. Agronomic activities related to sustainable production
practices, soil fertility and conservation, integrated pest management, and safe
agrochemicals management support the outcome of sustainable productivity and
profitability, as well as natural resource conservation and ecosystem services. Here the
standard encourages locally relevant and context-specific practices to ensure that inputs
and natural resources are used efficiently, natural cycles are optimized to increase climate
change resilience, soil fertility and health is improved, pollinators are attracted, water
retention and management is improved, agrochemicals are minimized, and negative effects
on the environment are minimized. Finally, crop profitability is supported by post-harvest
practices, where farms and groups realize improved quality of crops to meet market
demand.
Implementation of criteria in this chapter form part of the foundation of a broader set of
sustainable agriculture activities, so when combined with other field, market, and advocacy
interventions, can support impacts at the sectoral and regional level.
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 27
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 28
2.1 PLANTING AND ROTATION
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(2.1.1) Certified planting materials are used for planting, rejuvenation
(including grafting) and renovation if possible. Varieties are chosen
that are resistant to pests and diseases and suitable for the climate
during the lifetime of the plants
x x
(2.1.2) New plantings ensure a well-established cropping system
which takes into account e.g.:
- varietal requirements
- geographical, ecological and agronomic conditions
- diversification and intercropping
- planting density
x
(2.1.3) Non-perennial crops (including pineapple) are taken up in an
appropriate rotating cycle using diverse crops with different rooting
depths and soil use, in order to break pest and disease cycles, and
to improve soil cover and health.
x
2.2 PRUNING AND RENOVATION OF CROP TREES
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(2.2.1) In perennial crops, an adequate yearly or multi-year pruning
cycle is introduced in which all trees are pruned according to crop
needs, agro-ecological conditions and applicable pruning
guidelines.
x x
Improvements
(2.2.2) Certified crop is rejuvenated or renovated when
needed, according to age, disease or other causes, to
maintain productivity.
x x
Indicators • (2.2.1) % of group members that adequately prune according to crop needs, agro-ecological
conditions and applicable pruning guidelines
• Smart Meter (2.2.2): % of group members that apply renovation and rejuvenation practices for
certified crop
2.3 GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (GMOS)
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(2.3.1) The certified crop is not genetically modified (GMO).
x x
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 29
Improvements
(2.3.2) There are no genetically modified (GMO) crops
grown on the farm.
x x
Indicators
N/A
2.4 SOIL FERTILITY AND CONSERVATION
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(2.4.1) Management conducts a soil assessment on a representative
sample of farms and update it at least every 3 years. The soil
assessment includes:
- Erosion prone areas and slope
- Identification of areas with visual symptoms of nutrient deficiency
- Flooding and drainage conditions
x
(2.4.2) Based on the soil assessment, soil management measures are
identified and included in the farm management plan to build up
soil organic matter, prevent erosion, increase on-farm nutrient
recycling and optimize soil moisture. The soil matrix (n.b to be provided by Rainforest Alliance at a later date) is used as guidance
for these measures.
x
(2.4.3) Fire is not used to clear vegetation when preparing fields, unless it is needed as a sanitation measure that is part of the IPM
plan (see 2.5)
x
(2.4.4) Regular soil tests and (visual) leaf tests are done, including macronutrients and organic matter, for perennial crops at least
every 3 years, and for annual crops at least every year.
x
Improvements
L1
(2.4.5) The soil of the production area is not left exposed
but protected with cover crops, crop residues or mulch.
x
L1
(2.4.6) Fertilizers are applied in such a way that nutrients
become available when and where crops need them,
and contamination of the environment is minimized.
x x
(2.4.7) Producers optimize the use of synthetic fertilizer.
x
Indicators
• Smart Meter (2.4.7): % of group members that apply an optimum amount of fertilizers (to be
defined per crop per context)
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 30
2.5 INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM)
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(2.5.1) The IPM strategy is developed and implemented. The strategy
includes the scope of the whole farm and processing facilities (if
applicable). The strategy is annually updated based on pest
monitoring, implemented IPM actions and agrochemicals
application records (date, location and incidence) and takes
changing climate conditions into account.
x x
(2.5.2) Pests, diseases and natural enemies are monitored and
recorded. This includes:
- Regular checks in the field to verify levels of pests and diseases and
to identify upcoming pests and diseases in an early stage.
- Documentation of occurring pests and diseases and known natural
enemies and their levels, based on observations on the field as well
as information gathered from external sources.
- Documentation of treatment chosen.
x x
(2.5.3) Agrochemicals are only used when biological, physical and
other non-synthetic methods are proven not to be effective. When
agrochemicals are used, preference is given to low-toxicity and
selective ones.
- Treatment with chemicals is only done after reaching threshold
levels as advised by national research institutes.
- Applications are done only at the impacted plants and areas (spot
application)
- Calendar spraying is only done based on research or substantiated
technical recommendations.
x x
Improvements
L1
(2.5.4) Pesticides are rotated to reduce resistance x x
L2
(2.5.5) Non-related crops and beneficial animals/fauna are
planted/conserved in close proximity as a barrier to and
diseases, and to attract predators and parasites on pests.
x x
(2.5.6) Producers reduce the use of pesticides and
abandon the use of pesticides from the risk mitigation list.
x x
Indicators
• Smart Meter (2.5.6) % of group members using optimum amount of pesticides (to be defined per
crop per context)
(2.5.6) Active ingredients of agrochemicals used that are listed in the Risk mitigation list
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 31
2.6 AGROCHEMICALS MANAGEMENT
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(2.6.1) Agrochemicals included in the Rainforest Alliance Prohibited
List or prohibited by applicable law are not used. Only products that
are legally registered in the production country can be used.
x x
(2.6.2) Agrochemicals included in the Risk mitigation list are only
used when all practices related to mitigating the particular risks (as
identified in the mitigation measures list) have been implemented.
x x
(2.6.3) Persons handling agrochemicals or hazardous materials are
skilled and trained in the preparation and application of
agrochemicals and hazardous materials. The training is provided annually and by an individual with demonstrated professional
expertise, skills, experience or credentials.
The persons handling agrochemicals are 18 years or older, and are
not nursing nor pregnant.
Safety information including the MSDS sheets is available in a
language understood by the persons working with the chemicals.
x x
(2.6.4) Persons handling agrochemicals or hazardous materials
use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), as prescribed
in the product's Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), safety tag,
applicable law or Rainforest Alliance basic PPE, whichever is more
stringent.
The PPE is in good condition. Directly after use, PPE is cleaned, dried
and stored in a safe way. The IMS or farm management provides to
the agrochemicals handlers at least the following elements: a site
that provides privacy, water and soap; and when feasible bathing
facilities.
Persons handling agrochemicals or hazardous materials shower and
change clothes after application.
x x
(2.6.5) Agrochemicals are prepared and applied:
- according to the dosage as indicated by research institutes in the
relevant country
- according to the label, MSDS or security tag
- in appropriate weather conditions
- with appropriate equipment and techniques.
- considering the prescribed dosage and the application area
- respecting re-entry intervals, including warning signs
- informing potentially affected persons or communities in advance
Volume and dosage calculation methods are reviewed and refined
in order to reduce the surplus mix and agrochemicals overuse.
x x
(2.6.6) Spray drift reduction mechanisms between agrochemicals
applied zones and non-applied zones (including ecosystems and
infrastructure) are established and maintained; mechanisms include
non-crop vegetative barriers, non-application zones or other
effective mechanisms.
x x
(2.6.7) Aerial application is only allowed under strict conditions.
(Forthcoming guidance to be developed by the Rainforest Alliance)
x x
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 32
(2.6.8) Agrochemical purchases and applications are recorded.
Records include:
On date of addition to storage:
- product brand name,
- volume
- cost
- date of manufacturing/lot number of manufacturer
- date of expiration
On date of application:
-product brand name
-active ingredients
-date(s) of application
-location and size of field applied to
-quantity (dosage and volume)
-crop
-name of applicator
-objective.
The MSDS sheets are kept in the storage room.
Management facilitates record keeping for group members when
needed.
x
(2.6.9) Agrochemicals, empty containers and other hazardous
materials are stored, handled and cleaned in a way that negative
impact on the environment and human health are avoided.
Empty agrochemical containers and application equipment are
triple washed, and rinsing water is used in the last batch of the mix to
apply to the crop. If there is no collection system in place, containers
are cut or perforated to prevent other uses.
Prohibited, obsolete and expired agrochemicals are returned to the
supplier or local authority.
The surplus mix is disposed of in way that minimizes the negative
impact on the environment and human health.
x x
(2.6.10) Storage space for agrochemicals and application
equipment is dry and clean, well ventilated, safely locked, not
accessible to children and not stored with the harvested crop, food
products, nor packaging material.
x
(2.6.11) Facilities for storing agrochemicals and application
equipment are:
-dry, clean, well ventilated and with a sound roof and impermeable
floors;
-safely locked and accessible only by trained handlers;
-not stored with crop, food products or packaging material;
-with visible safety warning and pictograms;
- with a visible emergency procedure, and an eye-washing area
x
Improvements
L1
(2.6.12) Empty agrochemical containers are disposed of
through a collection and recycling program or through
another safe way.
x x
L1
(2.6.13) Spraying is carried out by centralized, specialized
spraying teams.
x
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 33
Indicators
N/A
2.7 HARVEST AND POST-HARVEST PRACTICES
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(2.7.1) Pre-harvest intervals after application of chemicals are
respected.
(2.7.2) Quality and quantity of product are conserved and optimized
during harvest and post-harvest practices and storage, including:
- Harvesting at the right time and interval to optimize quality
- Harvesting minimizing damages to the plant for future production
(N/A for banana)
- Preventing contamination by foreign matter, microbes and pests
and damage due to humidity
- Using packaging materials suitable and approved for food
products.
x x
Improvements
L1
(2.7.3) Measures are taken to respect the maximum
residue levels (MRLs) set by known destination countries of
the product. The measures include:
- Obtaining information on the MRLs in the product.
- Actions in case MRLs are exceeded.
- Communication to the buyer if MRLs are exceeded.
x
Indicators
N/A
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 34
CHAPTER 3: SOCIAL
Objectives and Outcomes:
The standard’s social chapter seeks to empower farmers and workers to realize better
working and living conditions for themselves and their families, to guarantee equality and
respect for all and especially for the most vulnerable groups such as migrants,
children, youth and women; and in general to strengthen human rights protection in
agricultural production.
Sustainable agriculture is intrinsically linked with the livelihoods of millions of farmers, families,
and their communities. To support sustainable livelihoods, the Rainforest Alliance standard
establishes requirements related to labor rights, living wage, decent living and working
conditions, and support for local communities. These requirements align with the UN
Guiding Principles on Business and Human
Rights (UNGPs), relevant ILO conventions, and other multi-stakeholder concepts such as
living wage, developed in coordination with the Global Living Wage Coalition. We aim to
specially protect vulnerable groups like children, migrants and women.
There is no place in Rainforest Alliance Certified farms for human rights abuses such
as discrimination, forced labor, child labor, or all forms of workplace harassment and
violence, including sexual harassment and violence. For these four areas our certification
system will adopt an “assess and address” model, which goes much further than a simple
prohibition approach in its ability to drive change. We will require our Certificate Holders to
commit to compliance with all applicable laws and to respect internationally recognized
human rights standards. However, we acknowledge the high risk of certain labor violations
within agricultural supply chains, and therefore we will require producers and producer
groups to commit to continuous improvement, put a rigorous risk assessment and mitigation
system in place, and take immediate action on any known cases of discrimination, forced
labor, child labor, and workplace harassment and violence. This approach is further detailed
in criterion 3.1 and related annexes.
Furthermore, the certification system aims to enable certified smallholder producers,
agricultural workers and their families to have a decent standard of living and earn a Living
wage. To this end, the Standard enforces respect for workers’ rights to collective bargaining
and freedom of association, healthy and safe living & working conditions and access
to health care. Although the program contributes to better wages for workers by ensuring
that the minimum wage is paid and that there is progress towards a living
wage, the Rainforest Alliance recognizes the limitation of producers to unilaterally solve the
problem of low wages. In accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human
Rights, our approach is to bring transparency on prevailing wages in
agricultural production, commit certificate holders to continuous improvement
and dialogue, and allow companies to exercise shared supply chain
responsibility by avoiding to cause or contribute to the non-respect of living wages within
their own operations as well as seek ways to prevent or mitigate adverse impacts with regard
to insufficient wages.
Finally, farms and groups will support local communities and avoid negative impacts.
Rainforest Alliance recognizes that farm certification is just one tool to deliver broad societal
impacts. Here, the new Rainforest Alliance standard serves as the core of our vision to
reimagine certification, along with the chain of custody standard, buyer requirements, and
other market, supply chain, and advocacy interventions.
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 35
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 36
3.1 ASSESS AND ADDRESS OF DISCRIMINATION, FORCED LABOR, CHILD
LABOR, WORKPLACE HARASSMENT AND VIOLENCE
Core requirements are implemented for all four (4) topics: “discrimination”, “forced labor”,
“child labor”, “workplace harassment and violence”.
Improvement levels are implemented for the topic(s) for which the Rainforest Alliance has
NOT indicated a low risk: “forced labor” and/or “child labor” and/or “workplace harassment
and violence”.
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(3.1.1) Communication: management appoints a person/
committee accountable for discrimination, child labor, forced labor,
and workplace harassment and violence. This person/committee
provides awareness raising to the management and group staff on
these concepts and the rights and responsibilities under the
standard.
x
(3.1.2) Risk mitigation: for risks identified through the risk assessment
(requirement 1.3.5), mitigation measures are implemented in
accordance with the Rainforest Alliance Mitigation Tool and included
in the Management Plan.
x
(3.1.3) Monitoring: a monitoring system is in place to verify whether
the risk mitigation activities are effective in reducing the risk(s)
identified in requirement 1.3.5 and to identify incidents of
discrimination, child labor, forced labor, and workplace harassment
and violence. The intensity of the monitoring system is proportionate
to the level of risk.
x
(3.1.4) Remediation: known cases of discrimination, child labor,
forced labor, and workplace harassment and violence are
remediated and documented in accordance with Rainforest
Alliance Remediation Protocol. Remediation activities are included
in the Management Plan.
x
Improvements
L1
(3.1.5) In addition to the risk assessment in requirement
1.3.5, a more in-depth risk assessment is carried out in the first year of certification and mitigation measures are
implemented and included in the Management Plan in
accordance with the Rainforest Alliance in-depth Risk
Assessment and Mitigation Tool.
The accountable person/committee provides
training/awareness raising to all group members on child
labor, forced labor, and workplace harassment and
violence concepts and on the group members’
rights/responsibilities under the standard.
x
L2
(3.1.9) The accountable person/ committee seeks
cooperation with external actors, such as NGOs and
government, to implement risk mitigation, monitoring,
and/or remediation.
x
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 37
L3
(3.1.10) The effectiveness of mitigation measures is
evaluated with involvement of a representative set of
group members including women and vulnerable groups.
x
Indicators
• (3.1.2) # and type of mitigation measures implemented (as specified by the Risk Assessment and
Mitigation Tools) • (3.1.4) # of cases found per topic • (3.1.4) Type of cases found per topic • (3.1.4) # and found cases that have been remediated, explaining how they were remediated (per
topic)
3.2 FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(3.2.1) Management informs workers about their unrestricted right to
form and join a union or workers' organization of their own choice
and to take part in collective bargaining, without prior authorization
from the employer. The information is communicated to workers
through a written policy in a language they understand, before the
start of employment, and visibly displayed at all times in the
workplace.
x
(3.2.2) Workers are not subject to discrimination or retaliation for
reasons of past or present workers’ organization or union
membership or activities. Management does not punish, bribe or
otherwise influence union members or workers’ representatives.
Records are kept of terminations, including the reason for
termination and worker's affiliation with a union or workers'
organization.
Management does not interfere in internal affairs of workers’
organizations or unions nor in elections or duties related to
membership of such organizations.
x
(3.2.3) Management grants worker representatives reasonable time
off to attend workers’ organization or union activities and provides
agreed facilities like an office and a telephone. Such organizations
are provided with a notice board and are granted access to
facilities at the location of the farm. Notes of meetings between
management and such organizationsare kept.
x
(3.2.4) Where the right to freedom of association and collective
bargaining is restricted under law, management facilitates, and
does not hinder, the development of parallel means for
independent and free association and bargaining and dialogue
with management.
x
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 38
Improvements
L1
(3.2.5) Management raises awareness of workers on their
rights to associate and affiliate. Workers are offered a
space for meetings on workers’ rights. Decisions made at
worker committee meetings and meetings between
employer and workers are communicated to the
workforce.
x
L2
(3.2.6) Management provides capacity-building training
on social dialogue and workers’ rights.
x
Indicators
N/A
3.3 WAGES AND CONTRACTS
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(3.3.1) Permanent workers and workers who are employed for more
than 3 consecutive months have an employment contract signed by
both the employer and the worker. Verbal agreements are
acceptable instead of written contracts, if they create legally
binding employment relationships under national law. The employer
keeps records of verbal agreements with the main terms.
Employment contracts contain at minimum: job description and title;
working hours; pay rate; overtime regulation; social benefits
entitlements and deductions; annual paid leave; sick leave;
protections in case of illness, disability or accident, and a notice
period of termination.
x
(3.3.2) Workers have access to information regarding:
-their rights and duties as stipulated in their employment contracts or
verbal agreements,
-the type of deductions made to their wages,
-regular hours worked,
-overtime hours worked,
-benefits, including in-kind benefits.
x
(3.3.3) Workers receive at least the applicable minimum wage or the
wage negotiated in a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA),
whichever is higher. For production, quota or piece work, the pay
rate equals at least a minimum wage based on a 48-hour working
week. Information about this pay rate is transparent and available
for all workers. In those countries where the minimum wage is not
adjusted yearly, it is adjusted yearly for inflation based on the
national inflation rate.
x x
(3.3.4) Deductions from wages are permitted only if provided by
national law, fixed by CBA or with the expressed permission of the
worker concerned. It Is not permitted to make wage deductions as a
disciplinary measure or to cover for costs of work related tools, equipment or gear.
In-kind benefits must be in accordance with national law, however,
they cannot exceed 30% of the total remuneration.
x
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 39
(3.3.5) Workers are paid regularly at scheduled intervals determined
by the employer, but at least monthly. Payments are documented
with a pay slip or other suitable wage record to allow verification.
x x
(3.3.6) Work of equal value is remunerated with equal pay without
discrimination e.g. on gender or type of worker.
x
Improvements
L1
(3.3.6) Workers have access to information regarding their
rights and duties as stipulated in their employment
contracts or verbal agreements, the type of deductions
made to their wages, regular hours worked, overtime hours
worked, benefits, including in-kind benefits.
A central record is kept of wage payments and signed by
each worker and, if applicable, labor contractor.
x
Indicators
N/A
3.4 LIVING WAGE: N/A
3.5 WORKING CONDITIONS
Indiv.
small-holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(3.5.1) Workers do not work more than eight regular hours per day,
and forty-eight regular hours per week. Workers have a break of
thirty minutes after six consecutive hours of work and one day off
after six consecutive days of work.
The regular work hours of the guards do not exceed exceed fifty-six
hours per week on average per year.
Hours of Work (Industry) ILO - Convention, 1919 (No. 1)
x x
(3.5.2) Overtime work is voluntary and only permitted if:
- It is requested in a timely manner, at least 24 hours in advance
- It is not requested on a regular basis
- It is paid according to national law or CBA, whichever is higher. If
there is no law or CBA, it is paid at 1,5 times the regular wage level.
- The work can be carried out without increased risk to safety and
health
- Workers have safe transport home after work
- Overtime does not exceed 12 hours per week, nor 6 hours per day
- In exceptional circumstances, e.g. peak production periods or
changing weather conditions, for a maximum period of 12 weeks
per year, overtime can be up to 24 hours per week, and workers can
have maximum 14 consecutive days of work.
- A record of the number of regular hours and overtime hours of
each worker is kept
ILO Conventions Hours of work 1919 No. 1 and No. 30
x
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 40
ILO Code of practice on safety and health in agriculture, 2010, art.
19.2
Improvements
L1
(3.5.3) Pregnant workers are entitled to paid maternity
leave of at least 14 weeks, of which at least 6 weeks after
giving birth. They can return to their job after maternity
leave on the same terms and conditions and without
discrimination, loss of seniority or deduction of wages.
Workers who are pregnant, nursing or have recently given
birth are offered flexible working schedules and work site
arrangements. Breastfeeding women have two additional
30-minute breaks per day and a room for breastfeeding to
nurture the child.
ILO Convention C183 - Maternity Protection Convention
x
L1
(3.5.4) During working hours, workers’ children under the
applicable minimum working age comingwith their parents
to the workplace:
- Are provided with facilities that are clean, safe and take
into account the needs of children
- Can participate in educational or non-educational
activities suitable for their age
- Are under the supervision of adults at all times.
ILO Code of Practice on safety and health in agriculture,
2010, art. 18.7
x hazelnut
Indicators
N/A
3.6 HEALTH & SAFETY
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(3.6.1) Workers that work in hazardous situations (e.g. in difficult
terrains or with machines or with hazardous materials) use
appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Workers are
trained on the use of the PPE, and have access to the PPE free of
charge.
Workers may leave situations with imminent danger without seeking
employer’s permission and are not subject to penalties.
x x
(3.6.2) Machines have clear instructions on safe usage that can be
understood by the workers, and dangerous parts are guarded or
encased. Workers using such machines are appropriately trained.
x x
(3.6.3.) Women who are pregnant, nursing or have recently given
birth are not assigned to activities that pose risk to the woman’s,
fetus's or infant’s health. In cases of job reassignment, there is no
reduction in remuneration. Mandatory pregnancy tests are not
allowed.
x
(3.6.4) A clear and written accident and emergency procedure is in
place. It includes marked fire exits and evacuation maps. x
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 41
Management effectively informs workers about this procedure. Clear
and permanent warning signs are placed at central locations to
indicate potential hazards.
(3.6.6) Workers have access to sufficient and safe drinking water
through one of the following means:
- A public drinking water system, or
- Drinking water provided by the management, compliant
with drinking water parameters as set by the WHO, based on testing
preceding each Rainforest Alliance certification audit and any time
that water contamination risks have occurred.
Drinking water sources are protected and, water distribution mechanisms are maintained to avoid contamination.
Stored water is protected against contamination by a lid and is
refreshed at least once a day.
For smallholders, in case of the absence of safe drinking water,
management implements and documents a training program to
instruct smallholder members on potable water treatments through
boiling, filtering or chlorinating and on the prevention of water
contamination.
x
(3.6.7) Sufficient, clean and functioning toilets and hand washing
stations are provided on production, processing, maintenance and
office sites. These facilities are separated by gender. Safety and
privacy of vulnerable groups is ensured, at least by well-lit and
lockable facilities. Workers are allowed to frequent these facilities
when needed.
x
(3.6.8) Trained first aid employees and appropriate first aid boxes are
available to workers for treatment of work-related injuries and
emergency health care free of charge. This includes transport to and
treatment in a hospital if the nature of the injury requires this. The
boxes are placed at central locations of production, processing,
and maintenance sites. For emergency situations, appropriate
measures including showers and eye-washes are present.
x
(3.6.9) The number and type of occupational health and safety
incidents are recorded (specified for men and women), and include
incidents related to pesticide and input use.
x
(3.6.10) Workers who regularly handle hazardous pesticides receive a
medical examination at least once a year. In case of regular
exposure to organophosphates or carbamate pesticides, the
examination includes cholinesterase testing. Workers have access to
the results of their medical examination.
x
Improvements
L1
(3.6.11) Group members and workers have access to first
aid and know where to go in case of emergency.
x
L1
(3.6.12) Workshops, storage areas and processing facilities
are safe working environments. They are clean and
organized, have sufficient light and ventilation. There is a
fire alarm, marked fire exits, firefighting equipment and
equipment to remediate spillage of materials. Workers can
leave the facilities freely in case of imminent danger. Only
authorized personnel have access to workshops, storage or
processing facilities.
x
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 42
L1
(3.6.13) Workers who cannot carry out their job because of
temporary health conditions, including pregnancy and
nursing, are temporarily reassigned to a different task
without a penalty or a decrease in compensation.
x
L2
(3.6.14) Basic training on occupational health and safety
and hygiene is provided to all persons working in
workshops, storage areas, and production and processing
facilities. Hygiene instructions are visibly displayed at
central locations.
x
L3
(3.6.15) Workers have clean and safe eating areas. They
are located outside the bedrooms and away from
bathrooms, wastewater runoff channels and waste deposit
areas. The eating areas have protection against the sun
and the rain.
x
Indicators
N/A
3.7 HOUSING AND LIVING CONDITIONS
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM
S/Mix
Crop
Core requirements
(3.7.6) Workers and their families that are provided with
accommodation on-site have safe, clean and decent living quarters
taking into account local conditions. This includes at least:
- Safe accommodation
- Safe escape exits
- Protection against air pollution, surface runoff, sewage or other
waste.
- Protection against extreme climate events including flooding
- Access to sufficient and safe drinking water
- Adequate sanitary and washing facilities. Safety and privacy of
vulnerable groups is ensured, at least by well-lit and lockable
facilities
ILO_ R115 - Workers' Housing Recommendation, 1961 (No. 115)
x x
Improvements
L1
On-site housing includes:
- Cooking areas with suitable smoke ventilation
- Dry Floors
- Pest control
x x
Indicators
N/A
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 43
3.8 COMMUNITIES
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(3.8.2) The crop is farmed on land that is classified as agricultural
and/or approved for agricultural use. Right to use the land is not
legitimately disputed by groups of current or former local residents or
communities, including in relation to past dispossession or forced
abandonment. In the event of such a land conflict, legitimate right
may be demonstrated if a conflict resolution process has been
implemented, documented, and accepted by the affected parties.
x x
Improvements
N/A
Indicators
N/A
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 44
CHAPTER 4: ENVIRONMENT
Objectives and Outcomes
Agriculture can have positive or negative effects on the natural environment, depending on how it is managed. In the Rainforest Alliance standard, this chapter outlines pathways for certified farms to have a positive impact on the planet, and its forests, biodiversity, water and climate. By complying with the core criteria of this standard, farms also comply with the High Conservation Values approach as set by the HCV Network.
The first topic in this chapter supports the outcome that farms and groups conserve, maintain, and restore natural ecosystems and their services, and do not contribute to deforestation, forest degradation and destruction of other natural ecosystems. The topic of biodiversity and native vegetation support the outcome that farms and groups avoid degradation of natural habitats, contribute to improving biodiversity, and help to prevent the extinction of threatened species. Finally, in the topics of water, waste, and energy, farms and groups reduce pollution, treat wastewater and minimize release of hazardous pollutants, and reduce waste and energy through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
Finally, throughout this chapter and the farming practices chapter, the RA standard works towards the outcome of farms and groups adopting climate adaptation and resilience techniques and supporting climate change mitigation.
Once again, the Rainforest Alliance recognizes that farm certification fits into a larger picture of landscape conservation, where multiple strategies are needed to create lasting impact for biodiversity and planet. The content of this chapter marks a starting point where certified farms and groups can support this goal.
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 45
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 46
4.1 FORESTS, OTHER NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS AND PROTECTED AREA
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(4.1.1) From January 1st 2014 onward, forests or other natural
ecosystems have not been converted to agricultural production or
other land uses.
x x
(4.1.2) Production or processing does not occur in protected areas
or their designated buffer zones, except where it complies with
applicable law and management plans for these areas, as defined
by the relevant authorities.
x x
Improvements
N/A
Indicators
N/A
4.2 CONSERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS AND
NATIVE VEGETATION
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(4.2.1) On-farm forests and natural ecosystems are conserved.
Additionally, the following forms of native vegetation are
maintained:
a) Large native trees, except when these pose hazards to people or
infrastructure,
b) Existing agroforestry shade cover, except to the extent that it
exceeds Rainforest Alliance parameters for optimal shade coverage.
x x
Improvements
(4.2.3) Based on the map provided in 1.2.4 the farm
establishes at least 10% total native vegetation cover, or
15% total native vegetation cover for farms growing shade-
tolerant crops, through one or more of the following:
• Establishment, restoration, or widening of riparian
buffers;
• Restoration of natural ecosystem;
• Establishing or increasing native shade trees within
agroforestry systems; Incorporation of native
vegetation as border plantings, live fences, and
barriers around housing and infrastructure, or in other
ways.
(4.2.4) Farms with shade-tolerant crops work towards
agroforestry systems with optimal shade coverage with
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 47
native trees across the farm or group of farms according to
Rainforest Alliance parameters.
Such shade coverage counts toward the requirement in
criterion 4.2.3.
Indicators
4.2.3): Total area under native vegetation (and native vegetation as % of total farm area), Smart Meter (4.2.4) % of group members with optimal % of shade coverage (to be defined per context,
using categories for shade coverage).
4.3 RIPARIAN BUFFER AND CHEMICAL NON-APPLICATION ZONES
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix
Crop
Core requirements
(4.3.1) Farms maintain existing riparian buffer zones around aquatic
ecosystems x x
(4.3.2) Farms maintain a pesticide non-application zone or
vegetative buffers (see definitions) compliant with Rainforest Alliance parameters surrounding all areas of human activity, or aquatic and
terrestrial natural ecosystems.
x x
Improvements
(4.3.3) Farms establish and increase the existing riparian
buffer zones according to the required width parameters
(see definitions)
x x
Indicators
• Smart Meter (4.3.2): % of aquatic areas with riparian buffer zones meeting Rainforest Alliance parameters for the width of such zones
4.4 PROTECTION OF WILDLIFE AND BIODIVERSITY
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix
Crop
Core requirements
(4.4.1) Animals are not hunted on the farm, except that vertebrate
pest wildlife may be hunted in accordance with the farms
Integrated Pest Management plan. Group members and workers
are informed about these rules and trained to identify and protect
threatened species and other wildlife.
There is no hunting, killing, collecting or trafficking of threatened
animals or plants.
x x
(4.4.2) Wildlife is not held in captivity. Captive wild animals that were
present on the farm before the earliest certification date should be
sent to professional shelters or may be held only for non-commercial
purposes for the remainder of their lives if treated in accordance
with the five freedoms of animal welfare
x x
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 48
(4.4.3) Invasive species are not intentionally introduced or released.
Existing invasive species or their parts are not disposed of in aquatic
ecosystems.
x x
(4.4.4) There are no animals used for processing coffee, while they
are held in captivity on the farm. No such animals are held captive
for tourism purposes.
x x coffee
Improvements
L1
(4.4.5) Producers minimize human-wildlife conflicts that
affect workers, wildlife, crops, or farm assets. These
measures have to be locally appropriate. Measures can
include siting of infrastructure, fencing and corridors but
should not unnecessarily restrict wildlife mobility or access
to resources like water. Workers are trained in procedures
and emergency responses for addressing crop damage or
wildlife attacks
x x
L2
(4.4. 6) Measures are taken to contain and reduce existing
invasive species.
x x
Indicators
N/A
4.5 WATER CONSERVATION
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(4.5.1) Farm and Group management and members comply with
the applicable law for the withdrawal of surface or groundwater for
agricultural, domestic or processing purposes
If a license or permit is required, then the extracted volume cannot
exceed what is stated in the license/permit.
Irrigation practices are not threatening local water security.
x x
(4.5.2) When new irrigation or processing systems are established,
they are designed to optimize crop production while minimizing
water use and water waste, erosion and salinization.
x x
(4.5.3) Existing irrigation and water distribution systems are managed
and maintained to optimize crop productivity and minimize water
waste, erosion and salinization.
x x
Improvements
(4.5.4) For operations that irrigate or use water for
processing, management works on reducing water use per
unit of product produced or processed. Use and reduction
are being recorded. Future water needs and water
availability are evaluated and targets are set for improving
water use efficiency.
x x
(4.5.5) Farms make use of water harvesting. x x
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 49
Indicators
• Smart Meter (4.5.3):
• Water use per unit of product (L/Kg)
• % reduction in water use in comparison to year before (per kg of product)
4.6 WASTEWATER AND WATER QUALITY
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(4.6.1) Wastewater from processing operations is not discharged into
aquatic ecosystems unless it meets the Rainforest Alliance industrial
wastewater parameters. Wastewater tests are conducted at all exit
points and recorded during operations. Central mills and mills in
estates quantify the amount of water used for processing
operations).
x x
Coffee
(4.6.2) Wastewater from newly established processing operations is
not applied to land with very sandy or highly permeable soils, where
slopes exceed 8%, or where the water table is seasonally or
permanently high. Wastewater from processing operations may not
be applied to soil unless it has undergone treatment to remove particulates and toxins and to reduce acidity and complies with
additional Rainforest Alliance industrial wastewater parameters for
irrigation. Wastewater from processing operations may not be mixed
with clean water for the purpose of meeting Rainforest Alliance
industrial wastewater parameters. Existing processing operations take measures to mitigate the risks of
soil erosion or contamination.
x x
(4.6.3) Untreated sewage is not discharged into aquatic ecosystems.
Human sewage is not used in production or processing activities.
x x
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 50
Improvements
(4.6.4) Farm management (central mill management)
increases reuse of wastewater from processing operations
and reduces water usage.
x x
(4.6.5) Advanced wastewater treatment technologies for
energy production and/or nutrient reuse are implemented.
x x
Indicators
• Smart Meter (4.6.5): % of total amount of water utilized for processing, that is being reused
4.7 WASTE MANAGEMENT
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
(4.7.1) Waste (including hazardous waste like chemical waste and
biomedical waste) is stored and disposed only in designated areas.
Waste storage, treatment and disposal practices do not pose health
or safety risks to producers, workers, other people, or natural ecosystems. Plastic waste is not left on the land. Waste is never
disposed of in natural ecosystems or aquatic ecosystems.
x x
(4.7.2) Waste is not burned except in incinerators technically designed for the specific waste type.
x x
Improvements
(4.7.3) Farm management segregates waste streams (e.g.
recyclables, organics) based on available waste
management re-use and disposal options and sets targets
to reduce, re-use and recycle waste.
x x
(4.7.4) A processing facility is in place to process organic
waste from processing operations (e.g. coffee husk in wet
mill and banana pieces in collection center, palm husk,
cacao husk) into energy and/or organic fertilizers (e.g.
coffee mills, banana collection center).
x
Indicators
• Smart Meter (4.7.3):
• # of waste categories reused/recycled • % organic wastes from processing composted and returned to field • % of farm waste (by volume) recycled
Version Smallholder Farms June 2019 51
4.8 ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
N/A
Improvements
(4.8.1) Farm management (or Group Management)
quantifies and documents type of energy sources and
associated machinery used for production, processing,
and domestic use. Farm sets targets for increasing energy
efficiency and for reducing dependency on non-
renewable energy sources.
x
Indicators o (4.8.1) Amount of energy used per kg of final product (Volume of fuel, KWh electricity)
4.9 GREENHOUSE GASES REDUCTION
Indiv.
small-
holder
GM S/Mix Crop
Core requirements
N/A
Improvements
(4.9.1) Group management determines their GHG impact
through calculating a carbon footprint (CO2) of their
production and/or processing operations based on
energy, fertilizer, yield, wastewater and land use change
parameters as defined in the respective other chapter
criteria of the standard.
x
(4.9.2) Group management sets a reduction strategy and
demonstrates that the overall footprint is reduced
accordingly against a defined target threshold.
x
(4.9.3) Group management compensates for its GHG
emissions. x
Indicators
• Smart Meter 4.9.2:
o Carbon footprint per kg of final product o % of carbon footprint reduction per year
• Smart Meter (4.9.3): Amount of CO2e emissions compensated per year (total and as % of CO2e
emission)