Rainforest Alliance Launches Latest Version of Its Sustainable Agriculture Standard
- Simplified Certification: Streamlined requirements to reduce complexity for farmers and companies.
- Enhanced Data-Driven Approach: Strengthened data verification for market and regulatory compliance.
- New Certification Solutions: Specialized standards for regenerative agriculture, climate, and livelihoods launching soon.
The Rainforest Alliance is updating its Sustainable Agriculture Standard (Version 1.4) to simplify certification, reduce unnecessary requirements, and improve data accuracy. The new version, informed by farmer and company feedback, ensures a more user-friendly, effective approach while maintaining rigorous sustainability commitments.
“There is an urgent need to speed up the net-positive transformation of global agricultural sectors.”
Key Updates:
- Simplified Requirements: Retains the most valuable standards while removing burdensome processes.
- Targeted Audits: More efficient inspections to improve accuracy and reduce resource strain.
- Data-Driven Verification: Improved data quality to align with regulatory frameworks like the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the German Supply Chain Act.
The updated standard takes effect on October 1, 2025, but early benefits can be accessed through a Simplification Policy under Version 1.3.
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Future-Ready Certification
To further support sustainability efforts, the Rainforest Alliance is launching specialized certification solutions for regenerative agriculture, climate, and livelihoods. These add-ons or standalone solutions will help companies and farmers validate their sustainability practices, enhance market access, and meet ESG goals.
“The evolution of the Rainforest Alliance certification program ensures that farmers and companies retain their market access despite growing regulatory expectations.”
Why It Matters
With nearly 7.5 million farmers and workers and 7,600 company partners across 62 countries, the Rainforest Alliance remains one of the world’s largest sustainability certification programs. The latest updates reinforce its mission to balance economic and environmental goals while making compliance easier for businesses and farmers alike.
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