On the way to PlanetProof European Sustainability Standard

for Plant ProductsBiofruit Congress October 2019

Biofruit Congress Debate

Three questions for the debate

1. How can we organise a transition towards sustainability for all plant produce, instead of creating niche markets?

2. How do we make (more) impact?

3. How do we ensure support from all stakeholders accross Europe?

1. How can we organise a transition towards sustainability for

all plant products?

Why?• Our current way of farming results in loss of biodiversity,

pollution of waters, decrease of soil fertility and depletion of resources

How?• Taking ambitious and achievable steps for continuous

progress: On the way to…..….

Who? • Conventional farmers that are willing to go ‘On the way to…’• European retailers that are willing to take responsibility• Other stakeholders that support the transition

What? : On the way to PlanetProof

• Integrated approach: covering all environmental aspects:

Climate change, biodiversity, water, soil fertility, crop protection, etc

• One certification scheme for all plant products

• Harmonized with, among others, GlobalG.A.P. and BRC

• “The best of both worlds”: respecting biological systems and using innovative solutions

1. How can we organize a transition towards sustainability for

all plant products?

Impact in The Netherlands• Strong growth as a response to Dutch market demand• Recent evaluation of Dutch government: On the way to

PlanetProof helps farmers to reduce the environmental impact up to 50%

Next step: Internationalisation

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

Total acres On the way to PlanetProof

2. How do we make (more) impact?

3. How do we ensure support from all stakeholders across Europe?

• Achievable requirements: Intensive consultation of producers, advisors and researchers in technical committees

• Ambitious level: Feedback from guiding comittees with different stakeholders, a.o. environmental organisations

• Decisions taken by independent committee of experts, representing the different stakeholders

• Internationalisation

Establishing International Governance:

o In each country/ region: technical and guiding committee:Identifying constraints -> solutions -> local interpretation docs

o Decision on standard by one international Committee of Experts

3. How do we ensure support from all stakeholders across Europe?

www.planetproof.eu

Website for more information