NSF Certification UK Ltd issues the first IFA v6 Smart certificate

In January 2024, NSF Certification UK Ltd achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first certification body approved by GLOBALG.A.P. to establish an API connection to their IT systems and conduct an audit to the latest version of the GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) standard. This achievement led to the issuance of the inaugural IFA v6 Smart certificate to Roberto Faillace in Italy, acknowledging his farm's cultivation of oranges, strawberries, and lemons. This accomplishment signifies a pivotal moment in our efforts to introduce more intelligent farm assurance solutions.

NSF Certification UK Ltd, a valued member of the GLOBALG.A.P. community for over two decades, proudly presented the world's first IFA v6 Smart certificate on January 26, 2024. This successful audit, conducted under the updated version 6 of the IFA standard, replaced the previous version 5.2 effective from January 1, 2024. It culminated from an extensive process of public consultation on the revised standard content and a transition period following the publication of the final v6 documents in 2022.

The journey towards awarding the initial IFA v6 certificate involved implementing an application programming interface (API) to establish connectivity between NSF Certification UK Ltd and GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems, a technology previously utilized for other IFA editions.

The pioneering farm to attain IFA v6 Smart certification worldwide is situated in Scanzano Jonico, within the province of Matera, southern Italy. Owned by Roberto Faillace, this farm spans approximately 30 hectares and specializes in citrus fruits and strawberries. Renowned for its commitment to producing high-quality goods while prioritizing environmentally responsible farming practices and biodiversity conservation, Roberto inherited the farm from his father, Franco.

Embracing the future of smarter, digitally enhanced farm assurance solutions, Elmé Coetzer-Boersma, Managing Director of GLOBALG.A.P. c/o FoodPLUS GmbH, noted that NSF Certification UK Ltd has demonstrated leadership by embracing digital innovations and swiftly adapting to industry advancements.

To learn how your business would benefit from the GLOBALG.A.P. certification, send your inquiry