The regulations, prepared by Agrocalidad, were reviewed by our office in this country, within the framework of the Siembra Desarrollo Project, in an effort to strengthen sustainable production models.

On February 8, the Rural Dialogue Group of Ecuador (RDG-Ecuador) held its first meeting of the year. On this occasion, the National Instructions for Agroecological Production, prepared by the Agency for Regulation and Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Control (Agrocalidad), were socialized.

In recent months Rimisp signed an agreement with this state entity to facilitate the adoption of strategies and implementation of common actions aimed at strengthening sustainable production models, as part of the advocacy actions carried out in the Project. Sowing development. Smallholder agriculture and food resilient to COVID-19. .

Thus, consultant Juan Pablo Sciurano reviewed the Instructions and issued his recommendations. This document, whose application is voluntary, has had a construction process of almost a decade, in which a diversity of actors of agroecological production in the country have been involved, starting with producers, markets, public and private sectors and, finally, with consumers.

Carol Chehab, director of Rimisp-Ecuador, indicated that the Organic Law of Agricultural Health specifies the need to implement a mechanism for evaluation and monitoring of agroecological processes, as a previous step for the implementation of a recognition to this type of production. “Sustainability in agriculture takes a fundamental role at this time, that is why from this space we present this Instructive prepared by Agrocalidad, to receive feedback from the actors in the sector,” he said.

He also stressed that it is important to have a legal instrument to regulate agroecological production. “Establishing a differentiation in these products can be a great opportunity for farmers, to ensure sustainable processes and export standards,” he said.

The presentation of the Instructions was made by Verónica Santillán, Director of Organics of the General Coordination of Food Safety of Agrocalidad. As an introduction, she explained that worldwide, policies have been established that determine the guidelines and strategies to mitigate climate change and promote sustainable production, therefore Ecuador is part of this trend and has adapted its legislation to recognize sustainable production.

“In a context where legal frameworks are emerging around organic agriculture, it is important to foresee mechanisms to generate credibility that do not exclude small producers,” he said, while highlighting the advantages of this regulation, such as the standardization of concepts, differentiation of markets and prices, and the ability to avoid consumer fraud.