Implementing GAP programmes: lessons learnt from other countries and FAO activities

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Implementing GAP programmes lessons learnt from
other countries and FAO activities

• Anne-Sophie Poisot, FAO Agriculture Department
• FAO-Thailand Workshop on GAP
• for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
• 14-15 September 2005

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Objective share lessons

• Scope purpose of GAP
• Benefits costs for farmers countries
• Alternative scenarios and options
• Lessons on stakeholders and strategies
• FAO assistance on GAP

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1. What is GAP ? FAO definition
ensuring food safety quality
GAP
economically viable
environmentally sustainable
GAP practices that address environmental,
economic and social sustainability for
on-farm processes and result in safe and quality
food and non-food agricultural products (FAO,
2003)
socially acceptable
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Prerequisite Programmes
GAP
GHP
GMP

• are the basis for implementing Quality and Safety
  Assurance programmes such as HACCP or
  Certification programmes

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....welcome to the GAP jungle...Definitions-
Types of GAP Standards (1)

• 1. Standards generic term (ISO)
• PRODUCT standards on product attributes taste,
  appearance, safety, convenience, etc.
• PROCESS standards how products are made
  organic method, protecting environment and
  workers, etc
• 2. Regulations Government standards mandatory
• 3. International standards e.g. Codex
  Alimentarius, International Plant Protection
  Convention, Code of conduct on the use of
  pesticides, etc.

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Definitions Types of GAP Standards (2)

• 4. Business-to-Business Certification programme
• with third-party or in-house assurance
• No label. e.g. EurepGAP
• 5. Labelling an information on certification to
  the consumer
• National GAP programmes are based on some
  or most of the above.
• e.g. Thai Q GAP, Malaysia SALM, ChileGAP,
  Guatemala PIPAA, Singapore GAP-VF, IndonGAP,...

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Scientific knowledge, food scandals,
increased consumerawareness, increased trade,
political commercial risk aversion
Driving forces of GAP

• Official Programmes
• Tightening of regulations for long-standing
  concerns new standards for unknown/ unregulated
  hazards
• Total farm to fork perspective more process
  standards
• Intensification of enforcement
• Precaution in face of scientific uncertainty

• Private Programmes
• Consolidate sourcingpreferred suppliers
• Harmonization yet competition between private
  standards
• Shift responsibility on the producer

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Features of GAP programmesCritical review

• Food Safety/Qlty
• Economic
• Environment not enough!
• Social not enough!

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...one definition of GAP standard is not equal
to another...

• International standards, market GAPs, national
  GAPs...
• - compare them, AND
• - compare with your national/local knowledge
• on the content Is this is really good
  practice?
• on benefits What will I/we really benefit?
• define your standard and strategy best adapted
  to your NEEDS and OBJECTIVES

?
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2. Lessons - Challenges of GAP For farmers

• Too many standards and codes
• Hard for small farmers (investments, paperwork,
  certification fees)
• e.g. cooperative tomatoes suppliers to McDonalds
  in Guatemala from 330 to 6 in two years
• Not always a better price for GAP products
• Lack of local certification body certified
  testing lab
• Not always guarantee from buyer
• Market advantage may disappear overtime

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Lessons - Challenges of GAP For countries

• Harmonization - with SPS/natl regulations
• AND - with private standards
• Tightening proliferation of standards coincide
  with downward international prices
• Traditional competitiveness factors for export
  (macroecon. stability, productivity, logistics,
  reliability) often as/more important as standards!

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Strategic Options for Developing Countries,
Farmers Agribusiness

• Exitchange export markets, shift back to
  domestic market, change products, get out of
  business
• VoiceWTO complaints/cross-notifications, CODEX
• participation, bilateral negotiations, negotiate
  with buyers
• Loyalty ensure compliance to GAP
• Some combinations of these options are normally
• employed at the country, industry or farm level

Lessons from Hirschmans Paradigm of Exit,
Voice, and Loyalty as Strategic Options
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3. Alternative scenarios for GAP

• GAP as Barrier ... or...
• Non-transparent protective tool
• Information unclear
• High, unattainable
• High costs of compliance
• Marginalize small countries, traders and
  farmers
• Contraction of Trade

• GAP as Catalyst
• Harmonized procedures and rules build
  confidence
• Spur investment, modernization public/private
  collaboration
• Stimulate improved practices stronger
  technical support
• Foster new forms of competitive advantage
• Maintain/expand income opportunities

Lessons from World Bank, 2004
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GAP
Good Agricultural Practices
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4. Lessons learnt GAP Incentives

• Farmer need to get a clear benefit for GAP to
  succeed (Burkina Faso, Chile)
• Focus on improvement encourage innovation, not
  compliance HOW ?
• Most GAP, though not all, pay for themselves
  (they improve product quality reduce risk)
  (Burkina Faso)
• Need long term training for farmers and advisers
  to change practices (IPM program)

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Lessons-learnt - GAP Strategy

• Be strategic some crops have more impacts and
  potential than others
• Focus on the most serious environmental impacts
  8-10 activities cause most impacts
• Policy and coordination of government services
• Build CREDIBILITY of GAP programme
• MULTIDISCIPLINARY expertise needed for GAP food
  safety and quality sustainable production
  marketing extension/training

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Lessons learnt - GAP Stakeholders

• Successful GAP programmes involve producer
  organizations, consumers, exporters/retailers
  gov. (Latin America). Government cannot do all
• Farmers communities create most good practices
  (Burkina Faso)
• too much consumer managerial focus
• think of farmers

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In Summary GAP Components
Content 4 pillars food safety quality,
environ, economic social sustainability
Should initiate or be closely involved
Length Quality of training a KEY to success of
GAP
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5. FAO assistance on GAP

• INFORMATION on GAP studies on incentives, cost,
  benefits
• GAP database http//www.fao.org/prods/gap/database
  /index.html
• GAP website http//www.fao.org/prods/GAP/gapindex_
  en.htm
• DEFINING GLOBAL PRINCIPLES of GAP (on-going)
• COUNTRY AND REGIONAL LEVEL
• Policy technical assistance projects
• Facilitate agreement on GAP between
  public/private stakeholders
• Capacity building trainer of trainers farmers,
  help farmers link to markets

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Remember ! GAP is about...

• Coverage of sustainability issues INTEGRATION
• Who pays for GAP? REPARTITION
• Opportunities, but risks for small farmers.
  Effects on trade and - analyze REPERCUSSIONS
• Ultimately, a matter of policy choice for
  governments
• VISION
• Support win-win situations for consumers, food
  markets and farmers NEGOTIATION

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Remember !...

• ...Its exciting !

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