FAQ: 2020 Farm Requirements
A detailed FAQ about the Rainforest Alliance 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard Farm Requirements.
FAQs
Certification has had a huge impact in bringing sustainability to the forefront of business thinking, but it must continue to evolve to provide more value to farmers and companies and ensure that people and nature can thrive in harmony.
That's why the Rainforest Alliance launched its new Certification Program, which entered into force in July 2021. The Sustainable Agriculture Standard, along with its assurance and technology systems, are data-powered, and based on the principles of continuous improvement, risk-based assurance, contextualization, and shared responsibility. This is how we can deliver more value to the two million farmers and thousands of businesses that use Rainforest Alliance certification to drive more sustainable agricultural production and responsible supply chains.
At the heart of the Rainforest Alliance
The certification program is part of the Rainforest Alliance’s strategy to drive sustainability at scale in the sectors in which we operate through interconnected interventions supporting certification, tailored supply chain services, landscapes and communities, and advocacy.
What We're Working On
Strengthened Cocoa Certification Program
Key priorities of our cocoa strategy are assurance, shared responsibility, supply chain transparency, and profitability and resilience.
Risk Maps for Risk Management
How we have tailored the implementation and verification of standards requirements on child labor and forced labor to the risk exposure of each farm.
Shared Responsibility
Our shared responsibility approach aims to distribute benefits and costs of certification more evenly between farmers and companies.
Ready to Get Started?
Begin your journey of certification with the Rainforest Alliance.
Additional Resources
Early Feedback on the New Certification Program: Kyagalanyi Coffee Shares Their Implementation Experience
Find out what Ugandan coffee exporter, Kyagalanyi Coffee, had to say about the new program—from the improvements to the challenges.
Learnings from the Field: Finca Esmeralda and the Future of Certified Bananas
After teaming up for an early implementation pilot of our strengthened certification program, both Finca Esmeralda and the Rainforest Alliance took away learnings that will contribute to a more sustainable banana sector.
Find An Authorized Certification Body
Rainforest Alliance certification is carried out by our authorized certification bodies. Find an authorized certification body in your county.
All resources for Certification
Appendix B: Herbs and Spices
As outlined in the Rainforest Alliance 2020 Labeling and Trademarks Policy, herbs/spices containing products can carry the Rainforest Alliance certification seal, if they contain at least the minimum percentage of content from RAC farms as listed in this Appendix at the time of labeling approval.
Annex Chapter 6: Environment (Previous Annexes S12 and S15)
SA-S-SD-24 This annex includes additional binding content related to the implementation of the Requirements in Chapter 6 of the Sustainable Agriculture Standard: Environment. This document includes: Additional Details on Requirements for No-Conversion (Previous Annex S12) (Related to requirement 6.1.1) Additional Details on Conservation and Restoration Areas Outside Farm Boundaries (Previous Annex S15) (Related to requirements […]
Grievance Systems
At the Rainforest Alliance, we believe that strong due diligence systems are crucial to a well-functioning grievance system, and critical to achieve our mission of creating a world where people and nature thrive together. In this document, we dive into the system that we have put in place to ensure that allegations of human rights […]
Questions and Complaints
Your feedback is a vital tool for helping us to improve the program and promote positive change in agriculture.... Continue Reading
Our Certification Program in 2023 – Innovation and Constant Improvement
For two years, we have been supporting our certificate holders in transitioning to the new program, and now, with the transition period almost complete, we are delighted to share the innovations we have introduced. ... Continue Reading
Shared Responsibility: Balancing Sustainability Values and Costs for Farmers and Companies
Our shared responsibility approach aims to distribute sustainability benefits and costs more evenly between farmers and companies. This involves two mandatory financial requirements for companies: Sustainability Differential and Sustainability Investments.... Continue Reading