FSA Verification

SAI Platform (Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform) is a non-profit organization established in 2002, with global activities in the food and beverage sector, focused on promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

The FSA tool can be implemented through three approaches:

• Benchmarking approach

• Self-assessment approach

• Hybrid approach

The most appropriate approach depends on the needs and capabilities of farmers, suppliers, and buyers.

FSA (Farm Sustainability Assessment) is a tool designed to standardize the assessment of sustainability at farm level and support companies in analyzing and improving sustainability within their supply chains. Since its creation, FSA has been widely used as a reference to support more sustainable agricultural practices, promoting greater transparency for buyers of agricultural ingredients in a landscape with multiple sustainability initiatives and systems.

In addition, the tool supports participants in the development, implementation, and monitoring of continuous improvement actions.

What is QIMA’s role in the FSA Verification market?

QIMA acts as a provider of verification services, contributing to the assessment of sustainable agricultural practices with a focus on transparency, environmental and social responsibility, and alignment with the applicable requirements of the FSA tool.

With its experience in the food sector, certifications, and sustainability, QIMA supports organizations throughout the verification process with a technical, consistent approach aligned with market expectations.

What are the criteria to participate in FSA Verification?

As producers and companies in the food and beverage sector seek better performance, lower costs, and greater access to increasingly demanding markets, many are adopting the FSA tool to support the management of agricultural sustainability.

FSA can be applied to different types of agricultural production anywhere in the world. It is suitable for a wide range of farming systems, farm sizes, and levels of sustainability maturity.

To participate in FSA Verification, it is important that the applicant:

• understands the applicable requirements and protocols;

• is familiar with the main points of current labor, environmental, and social legislation;

• understands topics such as risk assessment and continuous improvement;

• is prepared for the verification process.

The tool can be applied to:

• a single farm;

• a group of farms;

• a group of farms together with their first-tier buyer.

FSA implementation generally involves different participants, each with a specific role to ensure consistent and effective application of the tool.

Why carry out FSA Verification?

• Improves production sustainability across the supply chain

• Standardizes producer assessments based on sustainability performance

• Enables adaptation to individual needs and local conditions

• Helps companies meet customer requirements related to social and environmental criteria

• Ensures alignment with global market expectations

• Advances an industry-wide approach to agricultural sustainability

Applicable guidelines

For up-to-date information on the tool and its implementation framework, we recommend consulting the official SAI Platform website: Click Here

Why choose QIMA for FSA Verification?

Efficient communication and service

• Agile and responsive technical support at all stages.

• Transparent certification process and compliance with deadlines.

• Proven service quality, with NPS satisfaction metric of 72 points.

Cost and time optimization

• Integrated audits that minimize the number of visits and costs.

• Simplified processes that reduce impacts on operation.

• Strategic and efficient allocation of auditors.

Industry leadership

• Pioneering company with over 30 years of experience in food safety, organic certification, and sustainability.

• Complete certification ecosystem, from field to table.

• Advanced technology for compliance monitoring.