The key to entering the global market is not just in planting well, but in proving it.
For Tecde AI, it is very important to maintain the commitment to producers, leaders in agriculture, and their community by providing a focus on high-value topics that represent a need for their users.
That is why we are starting with an editorial series of 10 installments addressing a topic that generates various concerns among farmers: the current certifications required to guarantee agricultural products as exportable:
This first edition will focus on two essential certifications for exporting farms, which, by ensuring compliance, allow the opportunity to bring Colombian agricultural products to international markets: ICA and Global G.A.P Certifications.
Why are ICA and Global G.A.P. certifications key for exporting farms?
ICA Certification: Phytosanitary approval for exporting farms.
The Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) is the national authority on agricultural health. Its certification represents an official guarantee that the farm meets the sanitary and phytosanitary conditions required to export agricultural products.
What does this certification validate?
✔️That the farm is free or controlled against quarantine pests.
✔️That the producer applies integrated pest management and traceability protocols.
✔️That the farm keeps reliable technical records on the use of agro-inputs.
✔️That the crops are in areas authorized for export.
Why is it important?
✔️Because without this certification, it is not possible to export legally from Colombia.
✔️Because international markets demand clear phytosanitary guarantees.
✔️Because it ensures that the product being exported does not pose a risk to the agriculture and food sovereignty of the importing country.
✔️Because it protects the reputation of the farms and the country before authorities such as: USDA (USA), EFSA (EU), CFIA (CANADA), MAFF (JAPAN), GACC (CHINA), SENASICA (MEXICO), etc.
Global GAP Certification: – International passport to the most demanding markets.
Global GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) is a global private standard that evaluates how products are produced, not just what is produced. Its purpose is to ensure that the food reaching the final consumer has been grown under safe, sustainable, and ethical practices.
What does this certification evaluate?
✔️Proper and safe use of phytosanitary products.
✔️Management of water resources and environmental protection.
✔️Health, hygiene, and well-being of personnel.
✔️Traceability, harvesting, and post-harvest.
✔️Detailed and constant documentation management.
What is its importance?
✔️Most international buyers only purchase products with Global GAP certification.
✔️Because it positions the farmer as a reliable supplier to supermarkets, distributors, and global traders.
✔️Because it improves internal efficiency and reduces reputational and legal risks.
✔️Because it allows for clear evidence in audits.
✔️Because it enhances access to incentive programs, partnerships, and new commercial channels.
What happens if you do not have ICA and Global GAP certifications?
Farmers work hard, do things right, and achieve products of excellent quality. However, when it comes time to export, they face a harsh reality: not having an official certification like ICA and/or Global GAP can completely close the doors to the international market.
It is not just about what each farmer produces, but about having the ability to demonstrate what is produced and how it is done.
The consequences of not being certified
✅ Being excluded from the most profitable markets
Countries such as members of the European Union, Canada, and the United States demand clear guarantees that ensure compliance with strict standards of safety, sustainability, and traceability.
✅ Large buyers do not consider purchasing without certifications.
Large supermarket chains, distributors, and agro-exporters only work with certified producers. Even if they have fruits, vegetables, or any agricultural and livestock product of excellent quality, it limits and removes from the map those who do not meet this condition, as buyers have regulations that require producers to demonstrate an updated certificate.
This is not just for commercial policy but for reputational protection and legal requirements that they themselves must comply with. If producers do not provide guarantees, they cannot take the risk of purchasing.
✅ Losing bargaining power: Not having the required certifications causes producers to lose the ability to negotiate, demand better prices, lose competitiveness against others who do meet the requirements, and forces the producer to sell through resellers or intermediaries who do have the certifications and are the ones who ultimately keep most of the profits.
Being outside the system means accepting the conditions imposed by others.
✅ Vulnerability to sanctions and blockades
In the case of Colombia, for example, the ICA can sanction farms that do not comply with sanitary or environmental regulations. And in the international scenario, an export without traceability can:
✔️Be returned by the customs of the destination country.
✔️Generate sanitary alerts that affect the entire region.
✔️Leave the name of the company or person registered as an unreliable producer.
A bad practice without certification can affect a producer's reputation and close future doors.
✅ Access to technical support, credits, and partnerships
Many financial entities, cooperation projects, public-private partnerships, or agricultural associations require having a valid certification as a prerequisite. It is a way to ensure that their resources are supporting responsible and prepared producers.
Without certification:
You cannot apply for certain agricultural credits.
You cannot access subsidies for innovation or improvements.
You will be excluded from the benefits of institutional partnerships.
With Harvis, you can record your activities, control traceability, and keep evidence ready for auditors in real time.
Is it worth getting certified?
The answer is yes. But it is not just about fulfilling documentation or passing an audit. It is about preparing responsibly to compete with other countries, accessing markets with higher prices, and ensuring a business position that not only allows for economic growth but also serves as a reliable source of employment in a sector that is mostly exercised by informal workers paid by the day.
With tools like Harvis, certifying a farm does not have to be a headache. Through the platform, the producer can record daily activities, take visual evidence, and have data ready for auditors and buyers at all times thanks to the ability to create a log that allows for data collection and daily cultivation activities.
✔️ In the next edition of our Newsletter, we will tell you what the requirements are for Exporting according to ICA certification; this is the first step if you are in Colombia and already have export negotiations.