More than 120 delegates have joined agricultural certification standards body GlobalGAP in Nairobi, Kenya, on the first stop of its GlobalGAP Tour 2009, a series of five meetings across five continents set to take place between now and November.
The events are part of an outreach and consultation programme aimed at involving key stakeholders in the run-up to the publication of a new version of GlobalGAP's international standards, due in 2011.
Leaders from the horticultural sector in Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Senegal, Mozambique, Cote d'Ivoire, Tanzania, Egypt and South Africa participated in meetings on how to implement GlobalGAP in their countries.
Kenyan Agriculture Minister Gideion Ndambuki delivered a keynote speech in which he welcomed GlobalGAP to Nairobi and congratulated them on its partnership with the country's Fresh Produce Exporters Association (FPEAK), not only in organising the event but also for assisting the country's horticultural industry in meeting the food safety and sustainability requirements of its major export markets.
The Minister was highly appreciative of the tools being developed by GlobalGAP to aid smallholders in commplying with the standards, the organisation reported.
Nigel Garbutt, chairman of GlobalGAP, said: 'The topics under discussion were of vital importance to the horticultural industry in meeting the future requirements of retailers, producers and consumers alike.'
Integrated pest management, the sustainable use of resources and microbiological safety of fresh produce were also discussed in round-table sessions, in which participants could directly comment on the new standard proposals.
Results of the round-table discussions will be uploaded for further comments to the GlobalGAP online forum.
The next stop on the GlobalGAP Tour 2009 is Montevideo on 25-26 September 2009.
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