Fresh Perspectives 11: Making GlobalGAP smallholder friendly – Can GlobalGAP be made simpler and less costly without compromisin

KEY MESSAGES:

• Smallholders in sub-Saharan Africa have found sustained GlobalGAP compliance challenging, with over half exiting formal involvement in export horticulture

• The most successful GlobalGAP compliant smallholder schemes are highly committed to a commercial approach to farming, well organised in strongly managed producer groups and are linked to a large well-resourced export company

• Costs of compliance could be reduced if the standard was revised so that the level of control was based on a clear understanding of the risks associated with different crop types and production practices

• On food safety, most small-scale production for export in sub-Saharan Africa would fall into low-risk categories

• Adopting smallholder-friendly recommendations will reduce GlobalGAP compliance costs to smallholders by 45% in the first year and 11% over a 5-year period