Empowering Grower Groups. a service offered by

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1 Empowering Grower Groups

2 Outline of the presentation About the software Group Integrity Objectives ICS: Definition / Background / Advantages / Challenges Project partners History: PPP Technical Aspects of the software Benefits of the software Software functions Global implementation Activities in Germany Activities on a global scale Our Implementation Partners 2

3 About the software Group Integrity Objectives ICS: Definition / Background / Advantages / Challenges Project partners History: PPP

4 The main objectives of Group Integrity are: to facilitate the administration of farmer groups, independent of their form of organization to professionalize the implementation and documentation of a group s internal quality verification system (ICS), to greatly simplify communication with the external certification body, to significantly improve transparency and product integrity 4

5 Definition: What is an ICS? Internal Control System (ICS): ICS is a procedure for managing groups of smallholders, for internally controlling their adherence to public or private standards* and for certifying them by an external auditor - as opposed to certifying each farmer individually * organic (public and private), fair, Utz etc. 5

6 Background: What is an ICS? Principles of an Internal Control System: The responsibility for the regular inspection of each member of the smallholder group is transferred from the external certification body to the group The organisation of the group's internal control and certification procedure is carried out by the group itself or by a company organizing the group The external certification body confines itself to reviewing the implementation and operation of the ICS and to conduct a predefined number of external spot checks 6

7 Background: What is an ICS? Principles of an Internal Control System: It permits the certification of smallholders as a group according to the applicable standards and thus reduces costs Smallholder groups obtain a structured and at the same time safe quality assurance system The group certification allows smallholders to access international markets at competitive prices 7

8 Challenges for grower groups The systematic application and documentation of internal control and certification procedures is complex: Number of members Question of reading and writing skills, education Risk of loosing or retrieving data Timeliness of data Completeness and comprehensibility of the documentation Risk of loosing expertise 8

9 Challenges for grower groups The systematic application and documentation of internal control and certification procedures is complex: Multi-certification (organic, fair, Utz, etc.): Different standard requirements for production, processing and certification procedures Duplication of data collection and others 9

10 Project Partners Sponsor/Investor: Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbh, DEG Project partners: CERES - Certification of Environmental Standards GmbH Intact Consult GmbH Organic Services GmbH In collaboration with: IBD - Instituto Biodinâmico IMO - Institute for Marketecology Naturland - Verband für ökologischen Landbau e.v. Ecocert 10

11 PPP project 1 & 2 Project 1 / Development of a web-based administration and internal control program for certified small farmer organizations Partner countries (Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia) Project 2 / International launch of Group Integrity with implementation partners (IP) and smallholder groups. Global with focus on selected countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America 11

12 Technical Aspects of the software Benefits of the software Software functionalities 12

13 Benefits of Group Integrity Reliability in the administration and documentation of the ICS, even when personnel changes Comprehensibility of the inspection and certification process across all stages of the ICS Structured cooperation with the external certification body Security of stored data (no risk of loss) Easy, centrally initiated updating of the system 13

14 Group Integrity software & its functions Flexibility No installation required Onsite/offline version Online version Multi Standard standards merged to one checklist multi-standard inspection checklist that allows minimizing workload 14

15 Software technical functions: multi-client system 15

16 Software technical functions user Access through a computer with an online connection Hosted by a professional data processing center with reliable access and 24/7-availability The central structure ensures optimal support and ongoing software updates Guaranteed data separation and security through multiclient system technology Data from other implementation partner or grower groups are safe and can not be viewed by other users 16

17 List displaying all members of a producer group 17

18 crop, standard and certification details for a group member 18

19 List of plots with crop details 19

20 Infoportal for inspection and certification workflow 20

21 Multi-Standard Checklist merging all standards 21

22 Reports Contact list Crop list Farmer list Farmer list per standard ID card Certificate Print and export to excel 22

23 Farmer list: list displaying farmers and key data including to which standard the farmer is in compliance with, contact data, total ha, commercial use, last inspector and date of last inspection 23

24 Farmer list per standard: list displaying farmers who are producing in compliance with EU organic standard; per year, with surface commercial use/subsistence; list per standard available 24

25 List of fields/plots/paddocks with: surface crop certification status per standard estimated yield of current crop date of last chemical input 25

26 ID card displaying contact data farm code standards valid until photo of farmer date of birth of farmer ID card can be used as supply record by having it available at the warehouse. Every supply is noted and therefore traceable ID card facilitates supply and storage according to standards 26

27 Group Member Certificate Individual certificate number Contact details Standards Status of certification 27

28 Deadline management for entire group 28

29 Checklist for Internal Control System 29

30 Global implementation Activities in Germany Activities on a global scale 30

31 Activities in Germany Status Quo Global promotion and implementation Acquisition of users (implementation partners and groups) Further adaption & improvement of the software along with the clients Presentations through videoconferences Upgrading of the user manual Production of video tutorials See an example of video tutorials in ESP Website 31

32 Activities at global scale Current focus on global implementation Organic Services works together with Implementation Partners, but also single entities/smallholder groups Currently about 8 Trial accesses (last step before contract and implementation) More than 20 hot leads globally About 150 leads globally 32

33 Activities on a global scale Implementation Partners overview Organic Services Implementation partner Consultancy Third-party certification body Governmental/ Nongovernmental organisation Processing or trading company Grower Group organisation* Grower Group organisation * Under certain circumstances, grower groups themselves can be the implementation partner. 33

34 Activities at global scale current Implementation Partners and Small holders group 34

35 Global Implementation Latin America Agritec Colombia A company dedicated to the export of organic exotic fruits BVCA working for Brasilian market, consultancy firm offering services for the organic sector in general and for grower groups in particular in Brazil Chocolats Halba A swiss chocolate manufacturer acquiring the system for its groups in Peru and Ecuador Food Safety Argentina A certification body interested in the software to support clients Willi Jennissen A consultant interested in working as an Implementation Partner 35

36 Global Implementation - Africa S3E Senegal, Sénégal experts en evaluation environmental Ease Agriculture, Ugacof Ltd Uganda, specialty & certified coffee representative Jungle Nuts Kenya, Company for Cashew Nuts Rainforest Alliance Tanzania Tanzania, Representative of Rainforest Alliance WATCO Tanzania, Wakulima Tea Company Malawi Organic Association Malawi, organic farming association in Malawi Helvetas in Burkina Faso und Mali 36

37 Global Implementation - Asia CertAll Asia, Certification Alliance is an Asian regional collaboration platform of local organic certifiers Greennet Thailand, social enterprise promoting organic agriculture and development of alternative fair markets) Ecolink Vietnam, Vietnam Ecological Linkage Company Peermade Development Society India, aiming at sustainable development through developing various indigenous, community based and people participatory developmental programmes 37

38 Global Implementation - Asia Strengthening traditional shrimps farmer in India establish a certified organic supply chain for black tiger shrimp, Hofer KG (Österreich), Ristic & Cameron International (India), financed by Austrian Development Agency Helvetas Kyrgyzstan ICCOA Indien, International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture 38

39 Activities & Outreach Africa, Asia, Americas ICT4Ag conference in Uganda Oct 2013 East African Organic Agriculture Conference in Daressalaam, Tanzania Aug 2013 Certification Alliance meeting in Bangkok Dec 2013 for South East Asia BioFach India 2013 Presentation at Asian Productivity Organization gathering in the Philippines (peak body for Asia) Expo East, Baltimore 2013 Colombia, Peru FAO, IFAD, EU, USDA 39

40 Ceres and Organic Services Staff Gerald A. Herrmann, Project Management and business development Frank Gerriets Group Integrity Program Manager Client manager Lea Michalczik, Client Manager Africa & Asia Melina Armijo, Client Manager Latin America Bernhard Schulz and team, Ceres, Project partner of DEG (business development, translations, training materials etc.) 40

41 Thanks for your attention! Mr. Frank Gerriets Group Integrity Program Manager Director of Organic Services Contact: Tel.: Mr. Gerald A. Herrmann Group Integrity Strategy & Development Director Director of Organic Services Contact: Tel:

42 More about Group Integrity