Global GAP Certification Course

Lesson 1 • Key Stakeholders and Their Roles

Identifies producers, certification bodies, retailers, and consumers as actors in the system. Clarifies accountability and communication flows between parties.

Lesson 2 • Origins and Purpose of GlobalG.A.P.

Covers the founding context, mission, and evolution of GlobalG.A.P. as a private food safety standard. Establishes why the standard exists and who drives its adoption.

Lesson 3 • Certification Models and Options

Distinguishes individual, group, and multi-site certification models and their eligibility criteria. Helps students select the appropriate model for a given operation.

Lesson 1 • Produce Handling and Contamination Prevention

Addresses harvest hygiene, container cleanliness, and field sanitation practices. Reinforces how handling decisions affect product safety and compliance scores.

Lesson 2 • Hygiene Standards for Farm Workers

Details personal hygiene rules, sanitation facilities, and illness reporting procedures. Connects worker hygiene directly to contamination prevention requirements.

Lesson 3 • Traceability Systems and Record Keeping

Covers one-step-up and one-step-down traceability logic and the records that support it. Demonstrates how documentation enables rapid product recall and audit readiness.

Lesson 4 • Food Defense and Product Integrity

Introduces intentional adulteration risks and basic food defense planning for farms. Prepares students to identify vulnerabilities and implement protective measures.

Lesson 1 • Organic Matter and Compost Use

Addresses safe use of organic amendments, composting standards, and pathogen reduction requirements. Prevents contamination risks associated with raw manure application.

Lesson 2 • Erosion Control and Soil Conservation

Introduces erosion risk mapping and conservation practices required for environmental compliance. Demonstrates how soil conservation supports long-term farm productivity.

Lesson 3 • Soil Health Assessment Methods

Covers physical, chemical, and biological soil testing techniques and interpretation of results. Connects soil data to fertilization decisions and compliance documentation.

Lesson 1 • Irrigation Water Quality Testing

Explains microbiological and chemical parameters, sampling methods, and acceptable limits. Links test results to corrective action decisions and audit evidence.

Lesson 2 • Irrigation System Design and Efficiency

Addresses drip, sprinkler, and furrow systems in relation to contamination risk and water use efficiency. Guides students in selecting systems that reduce food safety hazards.

Lesson 3 • Water Source Risk Assessment

Covers identification and risk ranking of surface, ground, and recycled water sources. Establishes the foundation for selecting appropriate testing and mitigation strategies.

Lesson 1 • Safe Storage of Agrochemicals

Details storage facility requirements, segregation rules, and security measures for agrochemical inventory. Connects storage compliance to worker safety and environmental protection.

Lesson 2 • Agrochemical Selection and Registration

Covers criteria for selecting registered products, label compliance, and maximum residue limit awareness. Prevents non-compliant applications that risk certification and market access.

Lesson 3 • Pre-Harvest Intervals and Residue Testing

Addresses pre-harvest interval compliance, residue monitoring programs, and response to exceedances. Prepares students to protect market access through residue management.

Lesson 4 • Integrated Pest Management Principles

Introduces the IPM hierarchy: prevention, monitoring, biological controls, and chemical intervention as a last resort. Frames IPM as the GlobalG.A.P.-preferred approach to pest control.

Lesson 1 • Personal Protective Equipment Programs

Details PPE selection, fitting, maintenance, and replacement schedules linked to specific farm tasks. Connects PPE compliance to both worker safety and agrochemical handling requirements.

Lesson 2 • Emergency Preparedness and First Aid

Covers first aid kit requirements, emergency response plans, and accident investigation procedures. Prepares farms to respond effectively and document incidents for audit purposes.

Lesson 3 • Social Accountability and Worker Rights

Introduces GlobalG.A.P. social practice requirements including fair wages, working hours, and freedom of association. Aligns farm labor practices with ethical trade expectations.

Lesson 4 • Occupational Risk Assessment on Farms

Covers hazard identification, risk rating, and control hierarchy for common farm activities. Produces a risk register that serves as the foundation for safety planning.

Lesson 1 • Waste Management and Pollution Prevention

Addresses solid waste segregation, agrochemical container disposal, and wastewater management on farms. Prevents environmental violations that could jeopardize certification status.

Lesson 2 • Energy Use and Carbon Footprint Reduction

Introduces energy auditing, renewable energy options, and greenhouse gas reduction strategies for farms. Connects energy management to emerging buyer sustainability requirements.

Lesson 3 • Biodiversity Conservation Planning

Explains habitat mapping, wildlife corridor design, and integration of conservation areas into farm layout. Demonstrates how biodiversity supports ecosystem services and compliance scores.

Lesson 1 • External Audit and Certification Body Interaction

Prepares students for announced and unannounced external audits, including document presentation and auditor communication. Clarifies certification body roles and producer rights.

Lesson 2 • Maintaining and Renewing Certification

Covers annual surveillance requirements, version update management, and scope change procedures. Ensures producers sustain certification between audit cycles without compliance gaps.

Lesson 3 • Conducting Effective Internal Audits

Explains audit opening meetings, evidence collection techniques, and objective finding documentation. Builds auditor skills that translate directly to external audit readiness.

Lesson 4 • Internal Audit System Design

Covers audit program planning, checklist development, and auditor competency requirements. Establishes the internal audit cycle as the primary tool for continuous compliance.