Organic

When organic products are exported to other countries, the land needs to be certified by an accredited certification agency that is recognized in the importing country.

For small-scale organic farmers that only supply local markets, it can be difficult to manage the costs and paperwork requirements of third-party certification. Because of this, many countries have started to develop alternative verification systems for local markets where producers and consumers have the opportunity to meet directly.

In a Participatory Guarantee System (PGS), producers and consumers volunteer their time to maintain standards and systems, inspect farms, and ensure that products are organic. The goal is to keep costs down and make organic food more accessible and affordable. PGS can also serve as a stepping stone for small-scale farmers and make it easier for them to get third-party certification for export in the future.

Good Market has incubated an Organic Participatory Guarantee System in Sri Lanka that is recognized by IFOAM Organics International. If you are in Sri Lanka and want to get involved, you can contact the PGS Coordinator at +94 773 772122 or pgs@goodmarket.lk.