b'CSI / CSI-ICS.COM / HELPING THE FRUIT & VEG SECTOR BOLSER SUSTAINABILITYIN TIMES OF CHANGE, WERE FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING THE SUPPLY CHAIN WHILE THE SEEDS CANADA discussion has dominated head- off-pack via online consumer com-lines, the Canadian Seed Institute (CSI) has been busymunications such as sustainability enabling itself to evolve and thrive in a new world. reporting. Our sustainability initiative is an example of us tryingIn order to validate on-farm to meet the needs of our existing clients by develop- sustainability improvement, a new ing services that support them as they try to continueapproval process confirms that FSA to supply the food chain when a new market demandverification bodies are meeting strict emerges. internationally recognized require-Our latest effort is a project designed make CSI a veri- ments such as ISO 17065 and quali-fication body for the Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA)fications for in-house trainers and tool.auditors who can perform independ-Roy Van Wyk, Developed by the Sustainable Agriculture Initiativeent FSA verification assessments.CSI Executive(SAI) Platform, the FSA is a set of tools for food and drinkSAI Platform continues to invest Director businesses that want to assess, improve and validate on- in auditor quality and oversight. The farm sustainability in their supply chains.introduction of a Verification Body The FSA is a self-assessment questionnaire with 112License Fee aims to raise the quality questions about farming practices in 17 topic areas. Theand consistency of FSA verification questions cover all pillars of sustainability: environmental,assessments. social and business. The tools enable effective and effi- Approved verification bodies and cient supply chain collaboration right down to the level oftheir auditors will have access to a the farmer. It is applicable to all agricultural crops, in alldedicated help desk; online modules locations, regardless of farm size.for auditor training that allow for Almost 100,000 farmers in more than 25 countriesself-paced learning and a verification around the world belong to FSA-verified farm groups.body integrity program to ensure They produce a wide and expanding range of row crops,accurate and consistent verification fruit, vegetables, nuts, herbs and spices. processes, currently under develop-The FSA offers optional third-party verification ofment.self-assessment results. FSA-approved verification bodiesPresently, SAI Platform is partner-perform audits to assess if an individual farm or a grouping with GLOBALG.A.P. to further of farmers have implemented the FSA correctly, and ifenhance its oversight and support the self-assessment results at farm level are in line withof verification bodies. As a first step, their findings. On this basis, verification bodies can issueGLOBALG.A.P. has taken over the an FSA Letter of Attestation that enables making an FSArole of approving FSA verification Performance Claim. bodies and auditors.Thats where CSI comes in. By serving as an FSA veri- Were excited to on board with fication body, we can use our skills to help the Canadianthis initiative and have recently com-grain, pulse crop, fruit and vegetable industries demon- pleted the new process to become an strate their commitment to sustainability and be moreofficial verification body with the SAI attractive to the value chains they supply. Platform through GLOBALG.A.P. It may be a somewhat controversial word within the seed industry, but the concept of sustainability is big among consumers. They want to know the produce theyre buying is produced sustainably and responsibly.For info on the Farm Sustainability That opens up a number of opportunities for food proces- Assessment tool visit saiplatform.org/fsasors to get their products noticed not only on the shelf, but online as well. The FSA name and label can be used 32GERMINATION.CANOVEMBER 2020'