Industry niches are making progress in developing green and sustainable business practices. A numer of national consulting agencies and audit organizations help associations develop best practices for their particular business and production traditions and conditions.
Standards for Sustainable Agriculture
(includes ALL crops, including greenhouse and nursery crops).
On October 29-30, 2007, the Leonardo Academy and Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) co-hosted a meeting to start soliciting stakeholder input on SCS-drafted language to create a national standard for producers and handlers (including retailers) who want to make a claim of engaging in sustainable agriculture (includes ALL crops, including greenhouse and nursery crops) practices.
The intent of Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) is to get these draft standards adopted by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) no later than April 2010.
OFA, in conjunction with other national associations, will make every effort to represent member interests in these discussions, because these standards may have a direct impact on how you operate in the future.
The Ohio State Florist Association was formed in 1929, when graduates of The Ohio State University decided to meet each year to discuss and share current issues and technology.
Current Standards - DRAFT
Highlights from the Sustainable Agriculture Framework Elements
The sustainable agriculture framework set forth in this Standard addresses a spectrum of issues
that can be grouped under three categories:
Environmental Sustainability
The sustainable agriculture framework addresses the full breadth of environmental, social, and quality issues associated with agricultural crops, encompassing a “life-cycle” scope of assessment — i.e., from seed to store. This scope ensures that potential impacts throughout the production and handling chain of custody can be taken into account, including both direct and indirect operations (e.g., farming practices, storage, conditioning,
shipping, packaging, distribution, display), and ensures that agricultural operations are evaluated on a level playing field. This scope of assessment is consistent with international life-cycle assessment guidance.
SOURCE:
Ohio Floral Association
OFA 2130 Stella Court
Columbus, Ohio 43215
phone: 614-487-1117
http://www.ofa.org
Standards for Sustainable Agriculture
(includes ALL crops, including greenhouse and nursery crops).
On October 29-30, 2007, the Leonardo Academy and Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) co-hosted a meeting to start soliciting stakeholder input on SCS-drafted language to create a national standard for producers and handlers (including retailers) who want to make a claim of engaging in sustainable agriculture (includes ALL crops, including greenhouse and nursery crops) practices.
Leonardo Academy works to increase sustainability throughout a broad range of projects and programs. From our LEED consulting services to facilitating the development of ANSI accredited sustainability standards to offsetting emissions through our Cleaner & Greener® Program, the Leonardo Academy works diligently to make everyday living more sustainable for people, businesses and the environment.
Leonardo Academy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1997 with a vision of advancing sustainability and putting the competitive market to work on improving the environment. Leonardo Academy is a Think and Do Tank. We develop and distribute strategies, guidance, metrics, standards, education, and information on how to increase sustainability. We also help companies, organizations, families, and individuals successfully promote, encourage, and implement sustainability. Our integrated approach lets us make sustainability very practical to our clients.The intent of Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) is to get these draft standards adopted by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) no later than April 2010.
OFA, in conjunction with other national associations, will make every effort to represent member interests in these discussions, because these standards may have a direct impact on how you operate in the future.
The Ohio State Florist Association was formed in 1929, when graduates of The Ohio State University decided to meet each year to discuss and share current issues and technology.
Current Standards - DRAFT
Highlights from the Sustainable Agriculture Framework Elements
The sustainable agriculture framework set forth in this Standard addresses a spectrum of issues
that can be grouped under three categories:
Environmental Sustainability
- Sustainable Crop ProductionSocial & Economic Sustainability
- Resource Conservation & Energy Efficiency
- Ecosystem Protection
- Integrated Waste Management
- Fair Labor PracticesProduct Integrity
- Community Benefits
- Product QualityLife-Cycle Scope
- Product Safety and Purity
The sustainable agriculture framework addresses the full breadth of environmental, social, and quality issues associated with agricultural crops, encompassing a “life-cycle” scope of assessment — i.e., from seed to store. This scope ensures that potential impacts throughout the production and handling chain of custody can be taken into account, including both direct and indirect operations (e.g., farming practices, storage, conditioning,
shipping, packaging, distribution, display), and ensures that agricultural operations are evaluated on a level playing field. This scope of assessment is consistent with international life-cycle assessment guidance.
The Standard identifies crop production practices that: 1) build and maintain aAlthough the Standard is built upon a life-cycle impact assessment scope of assessment, it does not provide requirements for quantifying impact indicators in accordance with international life-cycle impact assessment (LCIA) guidance. For example, issues such as impacts from production and delivery of pesticides are not addressed within the scope of the Standard.
healthy agro-ecosystem, based on healthy soil structure and functioning; 2) preferentially
employ biological, mechanical, and cultural methods to control pest and disease vectors; 3)
minimize agrochemical inputs, utilizing reduced risk or US National Organic Program
(NOP) permitted agrochemical options; and 4) phase out those agrochemical inputs that
pose significant, recognized acute and chronic risks to human health or ecotoxic risks to the
environment.
The Standard identifies practices that protect the surrounding ecology including but
not limited to waterways, riparian and wetlands habitats, high ecological value habitats and
species, and other biologically and culturally significant areas.
The Standard identifies practices that optimize the use of water resources, reduce
excessive packaging, and maximize the recycling of both agricultural and non-agricultural
wastes through composting and other material recycling protocols.
The Standard provides a framework and guidelines for strategies that minimize
overall packaging while maintaining the quality and appearance of the product.
The Standard provides a life-cycle impact assessment tool that encourages producers
and handlers to seek the most energy efficient methods for growing, transporting and
handling crops by supporting local/regional crop production and distribution of agricultural
products and by minimizing fossil fuel use.
The Standard addresses the issue of global climate change related to agricultural
production by providing a method to account for greenhouse gas emissions through the
product life-cycle (from seed to store) from all direct and indirect sources. The Standard
establishes specific greenhouse gas reduction goals, and sets an objective maximum carbon
storage level per hectare while retaining overall productivity and yields.
The Standard defines practices that provide a safe and equitable workplace for
agricultural workers
The Standard provides guidelines and requirements for producers to support local
communities through preferential purchasing, hiring, and improvements/development.
The Standard identifies practices that yield products with high nutritional value and
meet national organic standards for purity in terms of pesticide residues and contaminants.
The Standard identifies minimum acceptable food safety practices to protect edible
crops from food pathogens during the chain of custody.
The Standard establishes quality assurance and traceability requirements designed
to ensure that sustainably grown products are properly handled throughout the chain of
custody and that they can be traced back to their source.
SOURCE:
Ohio Floral Association
OFA 2130 Stella Court
Columbus, Ohio 43215
phone: 614-487-1117
http://www.ofa.org
