Eurocert S.A.

BioDiversity is an add-on that specifies a set of science-based requirements which help producers demonstrate their on-farm biodiversity management practices and retailers to identify suppliers that fulfill their corporate social responsibility pledges. Designed to be paired with Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) for fruit and vegetables, the audit covers aspects such as soil management, land restoration measures, and integrated pest management. The add-on monitors, enhances, and protects key on-farm biodiversity aspects, raising awareness and providing guidance on the development of a comprehensive biodiversity action plan.

BioDiversity was developed by a multistakeholder project team on the initiative of the German retailer Lidl in 2020. The collaboration brought together biodiversity expertise from across the supply chain, NGOs, and academia, including Sustainable Food Systems GmbH (SFS), the Global Nature Fund, Bioland, fresh produce suppliers, producers in Spain, Poland, Italy, and Germany, and the Nürtingen-Geislingen University in Germany.

Biodiversity action plan
Farm areas dedicated to biodiversity
Protection and restoration measures
Soil and nutrient management plan
Integrated pest management
Wastewater management and protection of water sources
Off-farm synergies and collaboration
Training, knowledge sharing, and capacity building
BioDiversity representative
Farm self-assessment on biodiversity

BioDiversity v1 is applicable only to fruit and vegetable producers located in the EEA.

The add-on offers cost-efficient audit options for both individual producers (single site and multisite producers) and producer groups, including smallholders. Producers can get audited in any EEA country where a GLOBALG.A.P. approved certification body (CB) conducts audits.

The add-on must be paired with either v5.2 or v5.4-1-GFS of IFA for fruit and vegetables . An updated version to align with IFA v6 is scheduled for 2024.

Compliance with the add-on requirements is audited annually by an accredited and independent third-party CB together with the annual IFA audit.
the same CB which conducts the IFA audit must also conduct the BioDiversity audit.
A successful EUROCERT CB audit results in a letter of conformance valid for one year.

CPCCs are graded in three levels: Critical, Major Must, and Minor Must.

Control points

Fundamentals that set the foundation of a GLOBALG.A.P. requirement
Written in question form

Compliance criteria

Methods that producers can use to demonstrate a control point to be true
Evidence must demonstrate that the outcome is achieved

Every producer registered in the GLOBALG.A.P. certification system is assigned a 13-digit GLOBALG.A.P. identification number (e.g., a GLOBALG.A.P. Number (GGN)). This number allows real-time verification of conformance status in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems , upholding our rigorous transparency requirements throughout the supply chain.

Producers can control data access and privacy rights for audit reports, and the reports are not shared publicly or with third parties. This process is handled via EUROCERT

Develop an effective biodiversity action plan and demonstrate your management of on-farm biodiversity.
Implement an outcome-based and scientifically sound methodology, recognizing farm-specific biodiversity realities.
Leverage sustainability synergies with IFA for fruit and vegetables , as well as other add-ons to core solutions such as the Sustainable Program for Irrigation and Groundwater Use (SPRING) add-on .
Apply our farm assurance solutions on a wide range of farm types and sizes and access certification options for both individual producers and producer groups.
Benefit from a cost-efficient audit process which produces reliable data, improving transparency and risk monitoring in supply chains.