ITC becomes first company in India to receive FSA 3.0 certification for wheat and paddy

ITC has become the first company in India to receive the globally-acknowledged Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA 3.0) certification for wheat and paddy, the company said in a statement. ITC has been working on various interventions for farmers empowerment and connecting them to global markets through sustainable and traceable sourcing.

FSA certification helps build credibility with global customers by demonstrating that sourcing is responsible, traceable and aligned with international expectations.

For buyers, especially in regions like the EU, it supports compliance with sustainability commitments and due diligence around issues such as agronomic practices, deforestation and labour standards.

As per the official statement released by ITC, the company has successfully implemented the FSA 3.0 global farming standards across 22,000+ acres in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, engaging 3,500+ farmers across 70+ FPOs. The initiative was anchored within ITC’s large-scale Crop Development Programme that integrates sustainability, traceability and inclusivity, earning it the prestigious third-party validation.

The standards followed and adopted deliver clear benefits both for farmers and the environment.

Explaining the rationale, ITC said for farmers, they lead to better yields and price-realization with stronger market linkages. From an environmental perspective, these practices help improve soil health and reduce emissions by promoting efficient use of fuel, water, fertilizers and crop protection inputs.

Speaking on the development, S Ganesh Kumar, Divisional Chief Executive, Agri Business, ITC Ltd, said “ITC is deeply committed to empowering farmers by providing them with the knowledge, tools and support needed to adopt globally benchmarked sustainable practices. By promoting cultivation of traceable, high-quality agri produce, we are linking Indian farmers to global markets, addressing needs of international buyers and ensuring higher farmer incomes.

“Our continued focus on building resilient, farmer-centric value chains demonstrates that sustainability and business competitiveness can go hand in hand, creating long-term benefits for communities and the environment, while strengthening the country’s agri-export competitiveness,” he added.

To achieve FSA 3.0, ITC rolled out a well-structured and clearly documented set of on-ground initiatives covering training, advisory, implementation, monitoring and sourcing, the company said in a statement.

To support these efforts, ITC developed around 30 formal policies and guidance documents aligned with FSA standards. These covered key areas such as agronomy, soil and nutrient management, health, hygiene and safety, use of crop protection inputs, waste handling, water use, environmental management, biodiversity conservation, air quality and emissions, traceability, and overall farm management.

This article has been republished from The Statesman.