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
Audit Allocation System: Implementation in Ivory Coast and Ghana
The Audit Allocation system is a new approach that Rainforest Alliance will implement in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana from June 2020 to strengthen assurance of our certification system.
Our New Certification Program – What to Expect
In June 2020, the Rainforest Alliance will take the first step towards “reimagining certification” with the publication of its 2020 Certification Program. We’ve been working on this new program, including a new standard for agricultural products and their supply chains, since 2018, when the Rainforest Alliance and UTZ merged.... Continue Reading
Rainforest Alliance Statement on Current Low Coffee Prices
We're calling on coffee roasters and buyers to change their procurement practices to ensure that farmers receive decent payment for their crop within a timely manner. Governments and companies should increase their investments in the sustainability of farmers.... Continue Reading
Does the Rainforest Alliance Make Money from the Rainforest Alliance Certified Seal on Products?
We levy a single charge on companies that benefit from Rainforest Alliance certification.... Continue Reading