Frequently Asked Questions
Agricultural expansion is the single largest threat to remaining forests in the tropics. In biodiversity-rich regions, farms are often responsible for the contamination of waterways, deforestation and soil erosion. In response to these problems, the Rainforest Alliance and the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) -- a coalition of independent, nonprofit conservation groups -- created Rainforest Alliance certification. Along with the other eight members of the SAN, the Rainforest Alliance consults with social and environmental groups, industry, government and other stakeholders to develop guidelines for tropical agriculture. These standards cover all aspects of production. They protect the environment, the rights and welfare of workers and the interests of local communities. For consumers, certification offers a choice, an opportunity to "vote with their dollars" and effect changes that will lead to sustainable agricultural practices.
What Products are Certified?
The Rainforest Alliance certifies coffee, bananas, cocoa, orange, pineapple, flower and fern farms according to environmental and social standards. Some smaller crops, often grown in association with these commodities, are also certified, including macadamia nuts, passion fruit and plantains. As of 2008, we certified 29,772 farms and cooperatives on about 429,597 hectares (1,061,557 acres) in Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and the Philippines.
How Does Certification Work?
The certification standards guide farmers toward sustainable farm management and give independent auditors a concrete measure by which to evaluate social and environmental improvements. Farms that meet the standards are awarded the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal of approval, a prestigious badge that can be used to market farm products.
This program is unique in that it is managed by a coalition of local groups that understand the culture, ecology, farming traditions and governments in the areas they work. Local certifiers mean lower costs, more cultural sensitivity and readily accessible representatives to help farmers, extension agents, traders and exporters.
The certification process begins with a preliminary site visit by SAN technicians to determine what changes are necessary to achieve certification. Once farmers determine that their operations are meeting the SAN certification standards, they may request a full audit. A team of experienced and independent inspectors then review every aspect of the farm's compliance with the standards. Based on a comprehensive evaluation report, the certification committee determines whether or not the farm merits certification. A written contract governs and monitors the use of the seal, the handling of certified products, and marketplace promotion. All farms are inspected every year and must show continual progress.
What are the Criteria for a Farm to Obtain Certification?
To earn Rainforest Alliance certification, a farm must meet the standards of the Sustainable Agriculture Network.
How Does Rainforest Alliance Certification Compare to "Fairtrade"?
Fairtrade is an alternative marketing system designed to give disadvantaged farmers a guaranteed price for their products. By organizing small farmers into cooperatives, it is helping many farmers who, without the fairtrade support, might be at the mercy of fluctuating market prices. Rather than emphasizing how products are traded, SAN standards focus on how farms are managed. They cover the full range of worker protection issues including the right to organize; the right to a safe, clean working environment; the right to be paid at least the national minimum wage; dignified housing (including potable water); access to medical care for workers and their families and access to free education for children. The Rainforest Alliance and SAN engage with all types of farms -- from small cooperatives and family farms to large plantations owned by multinational corporations -- as a means of promoting change at many levels and of ensuring that all agricultural workers are well-treated.
Read a report by Consumers International comparing the various coffee certification programs.
Does Rainforest Alliance Certification Require a Farm to be Organic?
Organic agriculture is an important, worldwide movement to make farms productive without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. SAN standards are based on an internationally recognized integrated pest management (IPM) model, which allows for some limited, strictly controlled use of agrochemicals. SAN standards go beyond organic in two areas: wildlife conservation and worker welfare. Farmers certified by the Rainforest Alliance do not use agrochemicals prohibited by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the European Union, nor do they use chemicals listed on the Pesticide Action Network's "Dirty Dozen" list. Managers of certified farms are required to use biological or mechanical alternatives to pesticides whenever possible. When farmers determine that agrochemicals are necessary to protect the crop, they must choose the safest products available and use every available safeguard to protect human health and the environment.
Rainforest Alliance certification was developed to deal with agriculture on the whole, and we have determined that these standards afford a realistic and effective way for farms of all sizes to move toward independence from agrochemicals.
Does Wildlife Benefit from Rainforest Alliance Certification?
Wildlife conservation is an integral part of our sustainable farm management system. Certified farms can be a haven for wildlife, and often serve as buffer zones around parks and as "wildlife corridors" between parks. SAN standards provide guidelines for the protection of wildlife and forests and other valuable habitats in and around farms. Certified coffee and cocoa farms in natural forest zones are required to maintain diverse shade-cover of native trees, which provide habitat for all types of species, from birds to monkeys. Many certified farms protect forest reserves.
How is the Program Financed? Who Pays?
Rainforest Alliance certification standards were developed through an in-depth, collaborative process by SAN member groups, farmers, scientists and many other advisors who volunteered their time. Over the years, a number of individual members, private foundations, companies and governments have contributed to the program.
Currently, approximately 25% of our operating expenses are derived from certification-related fees charged by the Rainforest Alliance and other SAN members for their services. Farmers pay per diem and travel expenses for technicians and auditors. As these visits are performed by local organizations, the costs are often lower than other systems. Producers are also charged an annual certification fee based on the size of their farm. We seek alternative sources of funding for farmers who cannot afford certification expenses and are experimenting with ways to involve more actors along the supply chain in sharing the modest costs of certification.
Do You Accept Funding from Companies that Produce or Sell Agricultural or Forest Products?
The Rainforest Alliance only accepts contributions from such companies in the following three ways:
- fees for certification or related services
- tickets, tables or sponsorships at public fundraising events
- funding for education, training or outreach activities
For a breakdown of expenses, please see our annual report.
How do Farmers Benefit?
The certification process increases efficiency on farms, reducing costly inputs and improving management. Workers benefit from a cleaner, safer, more dignified workplace where their rights are respected. Certified farmers have better access to specialty buyers, contract stability, favorable credit options, publicity, technical assistance and premium markets. Although the Rainforest Alliance and SAN members are not directly involved in the negotiations between farmers and their product buyers, most farmers are able to utilize their certification to receive a price premium. The quality of the farm product, whether it be cocoa, coffee or bananas, generally improves.
Is There a Market for Rainforest Alliance Certified Products?
The green frog in the Rainforest Alliance seal is now seen in thousands of markets, cafes, restaurants and offices around the world. Smart shoppers everywhere are looking for ecolabels and demanding groceries from responsibly managed farms. Trendsetting food companies and supermarkets are interested in knowing more about how their products are grown, where and by whom and with what social and ecological consequences. There is a growing consensus that certification is the most effective way to ensure the establishment and enforcement of management practices that protect the environment, the rights of workers and the interests of local communities. The Rainforest Alliance and its partner groups are raising public awareness about the interdependence between conservation and agriculture. The Rainforest Alliance Certified seal stands for sustainability.
Once used only among conservation groups and development agencies, the term "sustainable" has now seeped into the public consciousness as shorthand for all the things that we do to fight poverty and pollution and protect the Earth's resources today for the benefit of our children. Sustainability describes a means of reducing costs and improving profits. As this "people, planet and profits" message spreads throughout the marketplace, demand for goods from sustainable farms will continue to grow.
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