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Rainforest Alliance

Buyers of coffee, cocoa, tea, nuts, bananas, fruit and other agricultural products are no longer just looking at yields, but also climate impact, labor rights and land management. This is where Rainforest Alliance Certification provides a global agricultural standard that together ensures environmental, social and economic sustainability. USB Certification, as a certification body authorized by the Rainforest Alliance, manages its audit activities with a team of expert auditors.

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What is the Rainforest Alliance?

The Rainforest Alliance is an international non-governmental organization working to conserve biodiversity, improve the livelihoods of farmers and forest communities, and develop production models that are resilient to the climate crisis. The organization’s Sustainable Agriculture Standard assesses agricultural production through a triple bottom line.
– Environmental responsibility (forest, water, soil, climate)
– Social equality (labor rights, child labor, safe work)
– Economic viability (efficiency, income, market access)
From 2020, this standard was updated under the 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard, which combines the previous schemes of UTZ and the Rainforest Alliance, and by 2025 it was further strengthened with a regenerative agriculture approach.

Which Products and Businesses are Covered by the Rainforest Alliance Standard?

Rainforest Alliance agriculture certification and supply chain certification has become particularly critical for the following products and actors:
– Coffee, cocoa, tea, bananas, nuts
– Aromatic herbs and spices, cut flowers and all kinds of vegetables and fruits
– Farms and farmer groups (small producer groups, large plantations)
– Exporters, importers, processors, packers and brands (supply chain certification)
The “whole farm approach” principle of the standard means that the basic sustainability rules apply to the farm as a whole, not just to the certified product.

Key Requirements of the 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard

The Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard is structured around 6 criteria for the farm side

  • Management: Farm or producer groups are expected to have a strong internal control and internal audit structure in place, including a management system, recording system, grievance mechanism, mapping and risk analysis, as required for group certification.
    A strong internal control system and internal audit structure are required for group certification.
  • Traceability: It is necessary to effectively track the traceability of products throughout the supply chain through documents and the traceability platform.
  • Premium Premium payments made to the first buyer are recorded and traceably tracked.
  • Farming: Sowing, planting, rotation, pruning, GMO control, soil fertility, integrated pest management, agrochemical management, harvesting and post-harvest practices are considered holistically.
  • Social Criteria: Prohibition of forced labor and child labor, workers’ rights, working hours, wages and housing conditions, and occupational health and safety (use of PPE, trainings and accident records) are critical elements of the audit.
  • Environmental Criteria: Deforestation, new agriculture in areas of high conservation value and illegal logging are not acceptable; concrete measures for soil conservation, erosion control, water management, safe and limited use of pesticides, biodiversity and documentation/green cover practices are expected.

The standard requires full compliance with the “core criteria” and progress on improvement topics selected according to context, so that each year your sustainability performance is placed on an increasing curve.

Rainforest Alliance Certification Process (Farm Side)

1

Application and Proposal
The scope and duration of the audit is determined according to the number of areas, number of employees and number of producers of the company. Enterprises of all scales that produce on the basis of products defined in the Rainforest Alliance certification system can apply.

2

Signing the Contract
The obligations of the parties, scope, audit date and fees are clarified.

3

Audit Planning
The auditors who will conduct the audit and the visit schedule are determined.

4

On-site Audit
– Authorized auditors inspect farms, processing facilities, worker accommodation and records on site.
– Social and environmental requirements of the standard are tested through document control, interviews and observations.

5

Audit Report and Notification
After the audit is completed, nonconformities are reported. After the nonconformities are closed, the final report is prepared and uploaded to the RA portal together with the certificate to obtain license approval. In case of compliance, your license approval is sent by RA.

Your Rainforest Alliance Journey with USB Certification

Have your land and crops analyzed for organic suitability and plan your certification process with USB Certification.

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Common Errors

Here are the most common challenges USB Certification sees in the field:

Weak Group Internal Control System

Issue: If the internal control mechanism in group certifications is not strong enough, non-compliance with standards among producers occurs.

Solution: Train the internal control team regularly.

Underestimation of social criteria

Issue: Employee rights, occupational safety and social responsibility criteria are ignored.

Solution: Put worker rights and safety procedures in writing. Implement regular training and awareness programs. Use checklists specific to social criteria in audits.

Lack of Mapping and Producer List

Issue: Inaccurate mapping of producer areas and incomplete lists create problems in traceability and risk analysis.

Solution: Use GPS-based mapping tools. Update producer lists regularly and verify them before audits. Establish standard formats for data management.

Tangible Benefits for Farms and Brands

– Major buyers of commodity products such as coffee, cocoa, tea and nuts have made sustainability certifications such as Rainforest Alliance a condition of supply.
– Products with logos differentiate themselves in the eyes of consumers with both environmental sensitivity and the perception of ethical production.

– The standard focuses on increasing yield and quality through good agricultural practices.
– Supports farmers’ income through premium payments to small farmers who are members of the group

– You are better prepared for global regulations on deforestation, social violations and chemical use.
– Traceability, grievance and corrective action mechanisms strengthen your enterprise risk management infrastructure.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is not legally mandatory, but it has become a de facto supplier requirement for major buyers and brands for products such as coffee, cocoa, tea, bananas and nuts.

Companies apply to USB Certification before the harvest period, usually after completing a one-year internal audit and training process. Following the completion of the processes, external audits carried out during the harvest period identify non-conformities with current practices. After this stage, there is an evaluation process lasting approximately 13 weeks for license approval by the Rainforest Alliance. Elimination of non-conformities in a shorter period of time will allow this process to be brought forward and license approval to be obtained earlier.

Certificate validity period is 3 years.

Description. The Rainforest Alliance Supply Chain Standard regulates the traceability and logo use of coffee, cocoa, tea, nuts, etc. separately for these actors.