Sustainable agriculture certifications

Adopting sustainable agriculture means promoting internal management procedures that protect the earth and the environment.

At OP Isola Verde we consider this approach to be a fundamental value in the production of baby leaf salads and over the years we have put in place a series of activities aimed at increasing our production capacity without harming the environment.

To confirm our commitment, we have undergone voluntary audits that certify the application of sustainable agriculture throughout every processing phase, and so far we have obtained some of the most important certifications at an international level. Here are some examples:

The On the way to PlanetProof certification is the most recent certification we have achieved in chronological order.

The Planet Proof certificate confirms compliance with standards identified in the 90s by SMK, the Dutch reference standard for sustainable production recognised at an international level.

It evaluates different aspects of the supply chain, from batch traceability to processing methods, aimed at ensuring healthy, genuine and environmentally-friendly products.

Having certified our supply chain according to the dictates of this strict standard has driven us even further towards ensuring the continuous improvement of our production and the creation of a work method that protects the earth and the environment that surrounds us.

Integrated production or agriculture is a voluntary production system which consists in ensuring compliance with the technical standards envisaged for each type of crop, both as regards to protection against adversities and for all other agronomic practices such as fertilisation and irrigation.

SQNPI (National Integrated Production Quality System) is a certification scheme that focuses on the objective of enhancing the production of agricultural produce obtained in accordance with regional integrated production regulations. The Quality System is recognised at a Community level (Reg. (EC) 1974/2006.

LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) is an organisation established in 1991 consisting of farms and livestock breeders located all over the world, whose mission is to promote sustainable food, systems, and agricultural products.

The LEAF Marque standard is based on LEAF’s IFM (Integrated Farm Management) principles and guarantees that a farm operates according to sustainable agriculture practices.

LEAF Marque certification requires compliance of all fundamental control points throughout the farm based on annual audits concerning:

• Organisation and planning;
• Soil and fertility management;
• Health and protection of crops;
• Pollution control and by-product management;
• Animal breeders (not applicable in our case);
• Energy efficiency;
• Water resources management;
• Conservation of landscapes and nature;
• Community commitment.

The Leaf certificate, (Linking Environment And Farming), attests to the fact that the integrated production we practice in our greenhouses has no negative impact on the environment. The use of state-of-the-art machinery and techniques should not damage the soil or the environment, quite the opposite. It must be an incentive towards optimising production by achieving the right balance between innovation and tradition, also through the implementation of Agriculture 4.0.

Global G.A.P. certification confirms our compliance with good farming practices shared at an international level. This certification is the first step towards obtaining other certificates, such as GLOBAL G.A.P. PLUS or GRASP, two additional certificates that confirm our focus on quality throughout the baby leaf salad production process.

GLOBAL G.A.P. certification incorporates a series of different practices in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Contributing to the SDGs is a collaborative effort, which forms part of the GLOBAL G.A.P. principles, and working towards GLOBAL G.A.P. certification is already an important step toward achieving these goals.

These elements include the development of a waste and pollution action plan, assessing the impact of agricultural activities on the environment, responsible use of water and, more generally, the awareness of unproductive sites and efficient energy use.