Sustainable Agriculture
Q: What exactly is sustainable agriculture? How does it differ from, or relate to, organic agriculture?
Sustainable agriculture refers to farming practices that are healthy for the environment and provide a fair and safe work environment for people who produce the crops. Dig a little deeper, however, and you will find important divisions in the way sustainable agriculture is defined in certification standards and retail specifications. These differences are resulting in increased market confusion about what constitutes true sustainability.
In 2003, SCS was asked to review many different sustainable agricultural programs in operation, analyzing definitions, strengths and deficiencies. SCS conducted this review from the perspective of more than 20 years of experience conducting independent assessment of agricultural practices, detailed knowledge of agrochemical usage, a history of involvement in the development and implementation of sustainability standards in the forestry, seafood, and coffee industries, and status as an accredited certifier to EurepGap and to the US National Organic Program.
Based on this analysis, SCS has identified eight key elements of sustainability. SCS recognizes organic as an integral part of the overall sustainability profile, along with several other areas of measurable performance that extend beyond the traditional realm of organic practice.
Element 1: Sustainable Crop Production
Element 2: Ecosystem Management and Protection
Element 3: Resource Conservation and Energy Efficiency
Element 4: Integrated Waste Management
Element 5: Fair Labor Practices
Element 6: Community Benefits
Element 7: Product Quality
Element 8: Product Safety and Purity
SCS then embarked upon an initiative to develop the strongest possible sustainable agriculture guidelines for the North American market, building on the best work of other programs and addressing additional issues crucial to sustainability, to serve as the basis of draft national standard. The effort led to development of the Draft American National Standard for Trial Use (SCS-001) for Sustainable Agriculture.
This leadership standard was filed by SCS with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). It was published by ANSI on April 13, 2007, and is effective for a trial use period of up to three years. Leonardo Academy, a 501(c)(3) organization, is the designated ANSI-accredited Standards Development Organization shepherding the standard through the ANSI process. (Download PDF 127 pgs; 2Mb)
Read here for further background on the standard.
VeriFlora™ — North American Sustainability Standard for Floral Products
SCS's VeriFlora™ certification program, launched on World Environmental Day in June, 2005, is now fully consistent with the Draft American National Standard for Trial Use (SCS-001) for Sustainable Agriculture. Nearly 600 million stems have already been or are soon to be certified, making VeriFlora™ the most widely accepted sustainability certification label for floral products in North America. Floral producers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers are all invited to participate in the program.
Ensuring a Safe, Equitable Workplace
Leaders in the field of sustainable agriculture have long recognized the importance of conducting operations in a manner that supports the needs of workers, their families and communities. Growers and handlers of agricultural products can be independently certified under the Fair Labor Practices and Community Benefits label for their efforts to ensure a safe, equitable workplace and support local communities.