GLOBAL G.A.P. AND INTEGRATED PLANT PRODUCTION AS A PART OF THE INTERNALIZATION OF AGRICULTURAL FARMS

Abstract

Internationalization of farms involved in agricultural production requires ensuring appropriate quality of products, compliant with requirements of specific markets. Consumers from developed countries more and more often draw attention to the origin of food products and confirmation that they were produced in accordance with recognized environmental standards, while simultaneously respecting human rights. The aim of this research study was to assess the extent of changes in production technology and in the management system under conditions of implementing the GLOBAL G.A.P. system on selected fruit and vegetable farms associated in producer groups. The second aim was to evaluate the quantity of sold products along with specific certificates. The research was conducted in 2016; 91 vegetable farms and 71 fruit farms were studied. The results of the conducted research show that implementation of standards required creation of a quality management system on all the studied farms. The implementation of standards required creation of procedures for production management as well as the traceability system. The implementation of standards caused the necessity to change the infrastructure for storage and use of plant protection products and fertilizers, as well as infrastructure improving workers’ social conditions. The study results indicate that changes associated with the implementation of the GLOBAL G.A.P. standard applied more to vegetable farms than fruit farms. The implementation of the GLOBAL G.A.P. standard significantly increased producers’ chances to introduce products on the market through commercial networks and by selling them to foreign markets.