Third-Party Certification for Sustainable Agriculture Brian Snyder, Executive Director Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA)

1 st party claim Issued by producer without independent review “We use environmentally friendly practices” 2 nd party claim Issued by industry, trade or membership association “Our dairy farmers pledge not to use artificial growth hormones” 3 rd party claim Issued by organization independent from the product/producer “Our farm is certified organic” Understanding product & label claims

“Who would you prefer provide certification?” Base: Significant shoppers inside the World of Sustainability (n=1,591; 243 Core, 589 Inner Mid-level, 487 Outer Mid-level, 272 Periphery). Source: Hartman Group Sustainability 2008 Survey, Sept The Type of Organization Behind the Label Matters Independent (non-profit) organization Government Agency Company Courtesy, the Hartman Group HartmanGroup.Com

Consumers want guideposts for good food, grown responsibly. Growers & companies want new means to differentiate and add value to their products. Buyers want reliable purchasing ‘screens’. Advocates want better social and environmental outcomes and tools to gauge them. Why certify?

Food Alliance Certification Began as project of WSDA, Washington State University, and Oregon State University in 1993 Multi-stakeholder approach to defining progressive social & environmental farming practices, and stimulating market rewards for high-performing farmers. Incorporated as non-profit, began certifying in Added handler certification in 2006 Certification features: Broad, multi-issue approach Outcomes-based, tiered criteria Continuous improvement a key component

Provide safe and fair working conditions Provide healthy, humane care for livestock Reduce pesticide use and toxicity Conserve soil and water resources Protect and enhance wildlife habitat Continually improve management practices Food Alliance certification verifies that farms and ranches:

Use Food Alliance Certified™ ingredients Provide safe & fair working conditions Conserve water and energy resources Reduce waste through reuse & recycling Reduce/eliminate use of toxic materials Ensure quality control & food handling safety Continually improve management practices Food Alliance certification verifies that packers, processors & distributors:

More than 80% Food Alliance Certified ingredients No genetically engineered ingredients No artificial colors or preservatives Meat & milk raised w/o artificial hormones, non- therapeutic antibiotics Food Alliance Certified products contain:

Sustainability Standards and Rating Systems using Food Alliance certification as sourcing screens College and University AASHE Sustainability Tracking and Rating System Restaurants and other food service Green Seal for Restaurants and Food Service Operations Existing buildings LEED for Existing Buildings, Operations and Maintenance Health Care Facilities Green Guide for Health Care

Food Alliance Certified Client Brands

Compliance = responding to buyer demand E.g. GAP or other buyer-dictated food safety audits; government regulations Adding value = proactively differentiating products & brands based on performance against an independently issued/audited std E.g. Fair Trade, Biodynamic, Organic, FA Certification Complying or adding value?

Food Alliance Producer Standards and Evaluation Criteria Fixed Criteria: No GMO seeds (or breeds) are used No (Food Alliance) Prohibited Pesticides used No hormones or other growth promotants used No non-therapeutic (feed additive) antibiotics Space, housing requirements for animals Scored Criteria (must score >75% on each): 4 standards areas apply to entire managed area of farm/ranch Soil & Water Conservation Pest & Disease Mgmt Safe, Fair Working Conditions Biodiversity & Habitat 5 th standard area—animal welfare--tor those raising livestock

What producers are saying.... “Food Alliance certification is a very pragmatic approach to continually improving your operation. The inspector was asking questions we should have been asking ourselves anyway. We found points for improvement during the inspection, and it turned out they were things that actually helped us with efficiency, too.” Brian Kenny, Hearst Ranch Beef

What buyers are saying.... “With the public's heightened interest in food origins and concern about foods, we're proud that our beef is traceable from the ranch to the table and has been certified by Food Alliance." Burgerville President Tom Mears

“ Farms that are certified by Food Alliance must allow hens to engage in many natural behaviors denied to them in a cage, and they’re 3rd-party audited to ensure compliance. Switching from battery cage eggs to Food Alliance Certified eggs is a way to significantly improve the lives of animals within their supply chain. “ Josh Balk, Outreach Director, Humane Society of the US What advocates are saying....