Changemaker Awards

Celebrating outstanding contributions to positive change in the world of farming!

Congratulations to the winners!

We are delighted to announce the winners of the inaugural Changemaker Awards 2024, voted for by you – the SUMMIT attendees:

Producer category: One Acre Fund
Certification Bodies category: Kiwa Ecuador
Retailer category: The SPAR Group

We thank all award applicants for their submissions and engagement with the initiative!
You can learn more about the winners and other nominees below.

About the award

At the GLOBALG.A.P. SUMMIT 2024, we are launching a new program to celebrate global stakeholders who foster positive change in the world of farming. The inaugural Changemaker Award is centered on those who have made a significant contribution to society through their innovative practices and forward-thinking concepts.

Nominees represent three categories:
Producers
Certification bodies
Retailers
Initiatives may include aspects such as responsible farming practices, industry innovation, smart approaches to resource efficiency, reduction in environmental impact, the well-being of communities and supply chain stakeholders, and much more!

Three shortlisted nominees in each category will be showcased in the build-up to the GLOBALG.A.P. SUMMIT 2024 and then presented at the award ceremony during the Evening Event on 10 September. One winner from each category – determined exclusively by SUMMIT attendees – will be celebrated on stage and presented with a take-home award.

About the voting process

The ultimate winners of the award will be determined by the active participation and voting of SUMMIT attendees.

Nominee profiles and their submissions can be found ahead of the event on this page and in the official event app. We will also present the nominees in a dynamic video showcase throughout the opening day and in the build-up to the SUMMIT Evening Event.

Attendees will cast their votes via the SUMMIT 2024 app, with one vote available per category per attendee. Each attendee's voice carries equal weight, and the app ensures a seamless and accessible way for everyone to contribute to the selection of the award winners.

Key dates:

30 June

Submission period closes

1 August

Nominee shortlist announced

19 August

App launches and voting opens

10 September

Voting closes at 14:30

10 September

Award ceremony at the SUMMIT Evening Event

Changemaker Award 2024 – Nominee shortlist

With submissions from 16 countries across five continents, the quality and diversity of stakeholder applications was outstanding. We thank everyone for their engagement with the initiative and wish good luck to all nominees!
Producers
Certification bodies
Retailers
  • Citromax
    Location: Argentina
    Sector/specialization: Agriculture – Lemons, blueberries, essential lemon oil, lemon juices, lemon pulp cells, dehydrated lemon peel, beverage flavors, bakery flavors
    Pioneering efforts for child labor prevention in the citrus industry

    A leading producer of lemons, blueberries, and associated products such as essential lemon oils, lemon juices, lemon pulp, fragrances, flavors, and other ingredients, Citromax emphasizes a balanced approach to economic, social, and environmental aspects in their integrated production process.

    Citromax prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a special focus on increasing women's representation in the workforce and supporting local communities through their Sustainable Institutions Program.

    Since 2021, the company has also been leading the fight against child labor in blueberry harvesting through the certification of a Social Compliance System. In collaboration with the organization Desarrollo y Autogestión (DYA) through the P.A.R. Project (Responsible Agricultural Production Free of Child Labor), numerous initiatives have been undertaken to raise awareness on the importance of preventing child labor.

    Based on this experience, Citromax expanded the initiative to lemon harvesting, becoming pioneers in child labor prevention in the citrus industry. In addition to training and monitoring activities, the company developed new contractual clauses, on-farm campaigns, and media outreach, while also partnering with child care centers (CCI) to provide a safe educational and recreational care service for the children of farm workers. The program was evaluated on-site by the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) in March 2024.
  • Frutos del Sol S.A.
    Location: Argentina
    Sector/specialization: Agriculture – Pistachios
    Developing the local economy through specialized pistachio production

    Frutos del Sol is an Argentinian family company that has been specialized in pistachio farming for over 35 years. Transforming a remote area of the San Juan desert into an orchard, the company has installed a range of infrastructure including well water and electricity, and now cultivates more than 800 hectares of land.

    This vast experience has built solid know-how in the production, processing, and commercialization of pistachio nuts, complying with the most demanding international food safety standards while being respectful of the use of natural resources. It is the only Argentinian company dedicated to the full cycle of pistachio production.

    Through the purchase of genetic material in California, USA, Frutos del Sol has developed UCB-1 seeds, which are certified by INTA (National Institute of Agricultural Technology) and commercialized both locally and internationally. INTA researchers achieved the first artificial pollination to obtain the hybrid rootstock UCB-1, enabling the local production of the seeds.

    The company offers a nursery of its own seedlings for immediate grafting, as well as grafting services, technical advice, and mechanized harvesting services to local small-scale pistachio producers. In addition, the company manages solid and organic waste from green pistachio processing – sticks, leaves, and shells – as soil enhancers on its own farms within a circular bioeconomy scheme. Frutos del Sol continues to focus on local empowerment to provide opportunities for young people and boost economic growth.
  • One Acre Fund
    Location: Kenya
    Sector/specialization: Agriculture – Avocados
    Transforming farming communities through seamless value chain integration

    Founded in 2006, One Acre Fund seeks to transform every farming community in Kenya by delivering sustained food security and pathways to prosperity. This is achieved through several targeted initiatives dealing with aspects such as finance, market access, and upskilling.

    Through input distribution, producers are able to access timely and quality farm inputs, including on credit, which increases yields and confidence in what they plant. Through their market access program, One Acre Fund offers a full end-to-end service to support producers in two flagship value chains – macadamia and avocado – by directly overseeing the certification, sourcing, processing, and export stages.

    This increases efficiency in the chain and allows the organization to pass premiums to producers – representing a 30–50% gain in comparison with supplying brokers. In turn, these increased earnings enable producers to improve their quality and standard of life.

    One Acre Fund also provides comprehensive year-round trainings to all of their producers, adequately equipping them with knowledge to implement more effective agricultural practices. Through integrated pest management, for example, producers have managed to reduce Minimum Residue Levels to below 0.01mg/kg. As of 2024, more than 5,600 producers have been successfully trained and certified, now representing over 70% of all GLOBALG.A.P. certified producers in Kenya.
  • Bureau Veritas Certification Denmark
    Location: Denmark
    Sector/specialization: Certification, auditing, testing, environmental services
    Targeting responsible and transparent production processes in aquaculture

    As part of Bureau Veritas Group, certification services across the Nordics are managed by Bureau Veritas Certification Denmark, who certify in the areas of quality, environment, work environment, food safety, and social responsibility.

    The certification body has implemented a targeted initiative focused on building trust through responsible and transparent production practices in the Norwegian aquaculture industry. This includes both primary production as well as across the wider seafood value chain, with a mission that impacts millions of meals around the world.

    With six sites across Norway, Bureau Veritas auditors have been visiting numerous salmon farms, some of which are located far from the Norwegian coast. Key topics during inspections include animal welfare, food safety, environmental protection, and safe working conditions for employees. This includes aspects such as the health of the animals and the integrity of the farm structures.
  • Japan CB Consortium
    Location: Japan
    Sector/specialization: Certification, auditing, training
    Fostering stakeholder communication and industry harmonization on GAP

    Japan CB Consortium is a team of certification bodies that conducts audits and supports Japanese producers to become GLOBALG.A.P. certified. Led by Keiko Shioda of TÜV SÜD Japan Ltd., she became the first female GLOBALG.A.P. auditor in Japan in 2008.

    Breaking barriers in language and gender, and with over 20 years’ experience in certification audits, she also contributed to the formation of the GLOBALG.A.P. National Technical Working Group Japan in 2010.

    Formed in 2020, team members of the Consortium include representatives from SGS Japan, Intertek Certification Japan, Japan Organic & Natural Foods Association, and Japan Quality Assurance Association. The organization supports local communication between GLOBALG.A.P. and Japanese stakeholders, translating documents, developing national interpretation guidelines, republishing key information in Japanese, and sharing knowledge with producers through methods such as seminars and events.

    They also communicate the broader idea and benefits of good agricultural practices to consumers, studying how GLOBALG.A.P. can contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society in Japan through the activities of the Consortium.
  • Kiwa BCS Ecuador Cía. Ltda.
    Location: Ecuador
    Sector/specialization: Certification, auditing, training, testing, data services
    Advancing community well-being through environmental conservation projects

    The Kiwa Group is driven by the Corporate Social Responsibility Route 2025, which includes principles and focal points based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals to be adopted for the coming years and beyond. Kiwa Ecuador promotes social responsibility and sustainability initiatives as part of Route 2025, reaffirming the commitment to sustainability and the well-being of communities and employees.

    Activities in Route 2025 include health and nutrition training, recycling campaigns, waste management strategies, the implementation of vegetable gardens, composting and vermiculture, earth-friendly certifications, and community outreach.

    Most recently, work has been focused on contributing to the community in the Guamote canton – the region with the highest rate of child malnutrition in the country – in the province of Chimborazo. Benefiting around 500 families in the communities of Concepción El Molino, Cumandá El Molino, and Inmaculada Concepción, projects include the conservation of the Julalá, Pushurum, Guashmo Chupa, and Chiquero springs.

    Working together with people from the community, Kiwa Ecuador has supported the fencing of the springs and the planting of 550 native plants on the spring slopes across two phases of the project.
  • Cencosud Peru
    Location: Peru
    Sector/specialization: Retail
    Addressing packaging and food waste with a circular economy mindset

    Through its supermarkets Wong and Metro, Cencosud Peru has addressed key challenges in food waste/loss and sustainable packaging by developing a strategy embedded in a “circular economy” methodology.

    Compared to 2020, plastic packaging for perishable products has been reduced by 20%, representing almost 200 tons. To aid the transition to more sustainable materials, a new generation of bio-based packaging was developed based on bagasse – a fibrous byproduct of sugarcane processing that has a low carbon footprint and would usually be discarded as waste. More than 240 tons of the raw material have since been used to manufacture fruit and vegetable packaging.

    Food waste and loss has also been actively addressed through measures such as consumer awareness campaigns, organic waste recovery, and food donation. Supporting more than 200,000 people and 120 social organizations, over 500 tons of food was donated during 2023, while 170 tons of recovered grocery products were also recycled or converted into animal feed.

    In total, the Wong and Metro supermarkets diverted 39% of waste from landfill during 2023. They also became the first to sign a Clean Production Agreement (APL) with the Peruvian Ministry of the Environment (MINAM) and Ministry of Production (PRODUCE).
  • MC Sonae
    Location: Portugal
    Sector/specialization: Retail
    Supporting national production through knowledge-sharing initiatives

    For the past 26 years, MC Sonae’s relationship with national production has been facilitated by the Continente Producers Club – a unique partnership model at the European level.

    The Club includes 340 producers, from small-scale family businesses to large producer organizations, who together account for more than 200,000 hectares of productive area and employ over 11,000 people. In 2023, more than 240,000 tons of certified national products were purchased and sold in MC Sonae stores.

    This partnership strategy translates into knowledge sharing on business operations and legislation, as well as sustainability and technical-scientific knowledge from MC Sonae’s Scientific Council. Academia and experts are also brought in to proactively present solutions and anticipate scenarios that could negatively impact the supply chain. The platform is therefore well-versed in the opportunities and challenges of the Portuguese agrifood sector, and is able to integrate producers for long-term and mutually beneficial partnerships.

    In 2021, MC Sonae also launched the Sustainability Declaration – 11 principles aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the European "Farm to Fork" strategy, and the Roadmap for Carbon Neutrality 2050. The declaration spans a range of topics, from biodiversity and carbon retention to waste reduction and responsible sourcing, and the implementation of the principles is supported by 40 dedicated initiatives offered to producers by MC Sonae.
  • The SPAR Group Ltd
    Location: South Africa
    Sector/specialization: Retail
    Empowering rural producers for a more equitable supply system

    SPAR has embarked on a journey to develop and invest in small-scale producers, targeting those who have traditionally found it difficult to enter formal value chains due to obstacles such as food safety compliance, finance, technical and business support, poor farm infrastructure, and inconsistent crop yields.

    This resulted in the establishment of the SPAR Rural Hub in Limpopo, South Africa, in 2017. The model is focused on supporting farmers who are not currently able – yet have the potential – to supply commercial markets by providing relevant technical and food safety training, facilitating access to input and infrastructure funding, and providing a guaranteed market and price for their fresh produce.

    The initiative currently supports 15 small-scale farmers and provides employment for over 140 people living in rural communities. This is expected to increase to over 60 producers with more than 1000 hectares of production in the next five years. Activities are supported by a dedicated technical team, enabling participating producers to supply commercial volumes of crops at a quality level that is in accordance with SPAR specifications.

    With the introduction of a customized GLOBALG.A.P. capacity building program in 2018, Rural Hub producers progressed through all three levels of assessment to reach full internationally recognized GLOBALG.A.P. certification. The collaborative approach from a range of stakeholders has resulted in tangible benefits to the producers, creating a more diverse and equitable supply system.

Changemaker Award FAQ

What is the Changemaker Award?

At the GLOBALG.A.P. SUMMIT 2024, we are launching a new program to celebrate global stakeholders who foster positive change in the world of farming. The inaugural Changemaker Award is centered on those who have made a significant contribution to society through their innovative practices and forward-thinking concepts.

Nominees represent three categories – producers, certification bodies, and retailers. Potential initiatives may include aspects such as responsible farming practices, industry innovation, smart approaches to resource efficiency, reduction in environmental impact, the well-being of communities and supply chain stakeholders, and much more!

Winners receive a commemorative award and a digital seal, as well as gaining brand exposure and widespread recognition for their achievements.

How can I apply for the Changemaker Award?

The application process for the Changemaker Award is now closed. Applications were accepted from 10 April to 30 June 2024. Please subscribe to our mailing list to stay up to date on future award opportunities!

What were the entry requirements?

Eligible applicants represent one of the three categories of producers, certification bodies, or retailers. While there was no requirement to be a GLOBALG.A.P. Community Member, producers must hold a form of GLOBALG.A.P. certification and certification bodies must be approved to audit GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions.

There was no entry fee in order to make the process accessible for as many stakeholders as possible, and no prerequisites or pre-defined criteria for evaluation. This approach was intentional to empower applicants and foster an environment where stakeholders can express their creativity through means which best showcase the uniqueness and impact of their initiatives.

The submission period closed on 30 June 2024.

Which topics does the Changemaker Award address?

Initiatives may connect with one or several of the GLOBALG.A.P. SUMMIT 2024 themes, including for example: responsible farming practices, industry innovation and the future of farming, smart approaches to resource efficiency, reduction in environmental impact, social responsibility and the well-being of communities and supply chain stakeholders, and much more!

How were the nominees selected?

All submissions underwent comprehensive review and shortlisting by an internal panel of leaders composed of the FoodPLUS senior management and GLOBALG.A.P. Advisory Board members. Three applicants from each of the three categories – nine in total – were shortlisted and invited to the GLOBALG.A.P. SUMMIT 2024 as nominees.

The award winners will be decided exclusively by GLOBALG.A.P. SUMMIT 2024 attendees.

How do attendees vote for the award winners?

Shortlisted nominees and their award submissions are published ahead of the GLOBALG.A.P. SUMMIT 2024 on the website and official event app (coming soon!).

Attendees are encouraged to actively participate in the voting process in the build-up to the event via the app, with one vote per category per attendee. This will ensure a seamless and accessible way for everyone to cast their votes and contribute to the selection of the award winners. Each attendee's voice carries equal weight.

Voting will close after the lunch break on the first day of the GLOBALG.A.P. SUMMIT 2024 (10 September).

Is there a prize for the award winners?

Winners will receive a commemorative award at the Evening Event on 10 September – providing on-stage recognition and a take-home award as a tangible symbol of success.
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