Workshop G
Certification of Agricultural Products to Overcome Crises in the Developing World?
Dr Marion Karman
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
Dr Till Stellmacher
Center for Development Research (ZEF)
Robert Jordan
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)
Chair:
Dr Alan Smith
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
Upgrading of products by certification is increasingly being used as an instrument to address the world-wide growing demand for more socially-, economically- and environmentally-friendly products. A variety of certification systems exist worldwide, increasingly applied on small-holder agriculture in developing countries. Bonn is a ‘hotspot’ of certification agencies, hosting the worldwide headquarters e.g. of FLO, IFOAM, FSC and 4C.
However, certification is not a panacea by itself. It is highly context- and product-specific with sometimes mixed and unanticipated outcomes. In order to optimize and adopt certification efforts at the local level, research and evaluation is needed.
The workshop will elaborate on the challenges and prospects of the marketing instrument ‘certification’ with regards to the sustainable development and smallholder agriculture in developing countries in times of multiple crises. The workshop will combine inputs from research and practice and will offer an opportunity to discuss innovative certification approaches and future steps to make.
What are the core challenges and prospects of certification with regards to smallholder agriculture in developing countries?
How do multiple crises (e.g. food, financial, economic, climate) affect certification of agricultural products in developing countries?
How can actors concerned (standard holders, certifiers, research agencies, GOs, NGOs) contribute to overcome challenges related to those crises?
