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
Rainforest Alliance 2020 Labeling and Trademarks Policy
Use and approval of the Rainforest Alliance Trademarks
Herbs & Spices Program: Which Standard Applies to You
Learn more about the standards that apply to farms and supply chain actors.... Continue Reading
How Small-scale Farmers Deliver Mexico’s Green Gold with Data, Transparency and Collaboration
The Rainforest Alliance’s Mexico team speaks about how smallholder avocado farmers deliver Mexico’s green gold with data, transparency and collaboration through the 1000 Landscapes for 1 Billion People (1000L) initiative and LandScale.
Annex Chapter 4: Farming (previous Annex S07)
SA-S-SD-22 This annex includes additional binding content related to the implementation of the Requirements in Chapter 4 of the Sustainable Agriculture Standard: Farming. This document includes: Pesticides Management (Previous Annex S07) (Related to requirements 4.5.7, 4.6.1, 4.6.2, 4.6.7 and 5.6.1) When the Standards v1.3 was published on February 6th, 2023, the content of this document […]
Sustainability Differential and Sustainability Investments: Banana and other Fresh Fruit sector
This guidance explains how the Sustainability Differential and Sustainability Investment requirements are implemented in the Banana and Fresh Fruit sector.
What Is the Difference Between Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade Certification?
Both share similar missions and goals but differ in focus and approach.... Continue Reading