The partnership will combine the MPS-ABC system with the GLOBALG.A.P. certification standard. Growers will be offered a one-stop solution, with two certificates with a single audit, with the additional benefit of having access to the MPS-GAP Brand when these assessments are also combined with GRASP.

“Our aim is to offer a single point of entry for growers and their retail customers to demonstrate their progress towards sustainability, because we recognize the trend toward asking for more data and transparency in combination with good practice (G.A.P.) certification in the coming years,” said Theo de Groot, Director of MPS.

“We need to reduce complexity and eliminate duplication, thus offering a more cost-efficient solution for those producers who need to demonstrate compliance with both standards,” added Dr. Kristian Moeller, CEO of GLOBALG.A.P. “At the same time we have to take into account the growers’ legitimate data privacy requirements in our efforts to develop transparent, validated and integrated solutions.”

The cooperation is a non-exclusive partnership of two independent organizations as a response to emerging market demand for more collaboration and more flexible tools to demonstrate compliance with customer requirements. It is expected to provide mutual advantages as it gives GLOBALG.A.P. a data analytics add-on and the ability to make use of the MPS Socially Qualified module, while MPS can tap into the network of GLOBALG.A.P.’s certification bodies.

A first pilot test has been successfully conducted and promises to provide real savings to those producers who are required to show proof of both certificates. An audit for both GLOBALG.A.P. and MPS-ABC has been done at Gärtnersiedlung in Rain am Lech (Germany) by BCS.

For more information, visit: www.my-mps.com

Photo: CEO’s Kristian Moeller (GLOBALG.A.P.) and Theo de Groot (MPS)