BQ Reporter 
Kenyan integrated agro-business firm Kakuzi PLC has received an unconditional renewal on a crucial globally recognised agricultural food quality certification.
As part of the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) listed firm’s quality management assurance endeavours, Kakuzi has received the GLOBALG.A.P. version 5.2 certificate following a recent audit of its production and processing procedures.
GLOBALG.A.P. (Good Agricultural Practices) is a private-sector body that sets voluntary standards (based on Good Agricultural Practices) for certifying agricultural production systems around the globe.
The GLOBALG.A.P. certification, a Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarked standard, allows Kakuzi PLC to produce Avocados to access the Global market with a recognised mark of quality issued by a third party certification body.
Speaking when he confirmed the GLOBALG.A.P. certification renewal, Kakuzi PLC’s Managing Director Mr Chris Flowers said the firm invests heavily in its quality assurance commitments.
The firm’s investments in quality management systems, he said, continue to pay off as independent audits undertaken by credible 3rd parties to ensure Kakuzi’s avocados have been grown and handled according to the highest possible standards.
“At Kakuzi PLC, we have invested significantly over the past years to guarantee quality production and environmental management practices leading to such certifications as the GLOBALG.A.P.
To attain such a globally recognised certification, it calls for sustained co-operation and commitment by all our stakeholders to maintain the high production and environmental management standards,” we thank all our employees for their dedication and commitment in implementing the systems. Without them this would not be possible, Flowers said.
He added that “To ensure that our locally produced fruits meet the global standard, we have continued to invest in globally benchmarked staff training and production facilities and practices making us a truly Kenyan but world-class agro-business firm.”
Alongside the GLOBALG.A.P. certification, Kakuzi PLC has secured several local and international operating accreditations’ including the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KeBS) Diamond Mark of Quality for the poles and the FSSC 22000 Food Safety Management systems certifying that Kakuzi produces high quality avocados and macadamia with consumer safety in mind and that the firm takes a responsible approach to workplace health and safety and animal welfare.
The GLOBALG.A.P. certification is widely accepted as the world’s leading standard for safe, sustainable agriculture and is an affordable, holistic approach to producing safe and sustainable fresh agricultural produce.
A GLOBALG.A.P. certification opens valuable expansion opportunities to large and small producers alike.
It helps satisfy the advanced food safety and sustainability specifications of retailers and prominent buyers in the worldwide marketplace.
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