Report of the FAO Expert Consultation on a Good Agricultural Practice approach

Report of the FAO Expert Consultation on a Good Agricultural Practice approach

Descripción

The concept of Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) has evolved in recent years in the context of a rapidly changing and globalizing food economy and as a result of the concerns and commitments of a wide range of stakeholders regarding food production and security, food safety and quality, and the environmental and social sustainability of agriculture. Given the trend in development and adoption of codes and standards related to Good Agricultural Practices by different actors, and co gnisant of the challenges of world agriculture, FAO initiated a process of consultation to seek understanding and consensus on the principles, indicators and means of applying GAP, and on the role an intergovernmental organisation such as FAO should play to support stakeholders in developing countries facing new commercial and governmental requirements. Following two initial electronic conferences on GAP in the context of Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development, FAO member countries at the 17th Session of the Committee on Agriculture (COAG) in April 2003 recommended that FAO continue its initial work on the development of a GAP approach. In this context, FAO organized a multi-stakeholder expert consultation during 10-12 November 2003 to review and confirm its basic approach, provide guidance for addressing concerns, identify strategies for implementation and recommend actions for FAO in the development and implementation of a GAP approach. This d ocument serves as a summary of this Expert Consultation.