GLOBALG.A.P.’s Water Add-on as Response to UN Campaign Water2Me

GLOBALG.A.P. celebrates this year’s World Water Day with our first retailer member to adopt the SPRING add-on on a global scale. SPRING is GLOBALG.A.P.’s Sustainable Program for Irrigation and Groundwater Use. A global call for its implementation underlines our response to the UN campaign “ Water2Me”.

This year’s World Water Day raises awareness of the current global water crisis. The UN’s “Water2Me” campaign gathers opinions and comments from people around the world about water and what it means to them. This year’s topic also includes the question of how water affects the food we eat. GLOBALG.A.P. shares its view of what water means to the organization.

What water means to GLOBALG.A.P.

Public awareness of the need to conserve water is growing. Accordingly, water risks in primary agriculture are receiving increasing attention from consumers, media, and civil society. As pressure on this limited resource grows, many farmers are choosing to implement GLOBALG.A.P.’s Sustainable Program for Irrigation and Groundwater Use (SPRING).

Originally developed in collaboration with Swiss retailer Coop, the GLOBALG.A.P. add-on promotes sustainable water management on the farm. It helps growers improve their water management and provide evidence of their efforts to manage water risks and promote sustainable practices. SPRING works for all farm sizes – including smallholders – and can be implemented alongside any inspection or audit within the GLOBALG.A.P. IFA certification for crops including Fruit and Vegetables.

GLOBALG.A.P. member gets behind SPRING

Retailer interest in SPRING is growing fast, as demonstrated by ALDI SOUTH. ALDI SOUTH Germany and HOFER Austria recently announced a decision to formally require responsible water management standards, including SPRING as an accepted standard, in selected fruit and vegetable supply chains including tomatoes, potatoes, bananas, and avocados from water risk regions.

“ALDI SOUTH’s decision is another milestone towards the protection and responsible use of this scarce and vital resource. We are glad that ALDI SOUTH has recognised the value of SPRING as a simple solution which can help producers improve their water management and contribute to sustainable change,” says Kristian Moeller, Managing Director at GLOBALG.A.P.

What water means to SPRING-assessed producers

GLOBALG.A.P. interviewed a SPRING assessed producer from Jujuy Province, Argentina, who produces grapefruits, lemons and oranges.

What does water mean to you?

“On our farm, water is more than a resource to irrigate our products. It means life, growth, and responsibility of use.”

How is it important to your farm and your daily life?

“It is a natural and essential resource, and we are committed to protecting it on a sustainable basis, the best way we can.”

How has the SPRING add-on helped you with sustainable water management on the farm?

“It has been helping a lot so far. At Quinta Yuchán, we think GLOBALG.A.P.’s SPRING add-on is an excellent way for a farmer to promote innovation and continous improvement in sustainable water management. It is a real commitment to the use of a scarce resource.”

María del Milagro Solá Torino,

Head of Research and Quality Management Dept.

Fruit and Juice Management

Quinta Yuchán, GGN 7791762000003.