Health
Organic agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal, human and planet as one and indivisible.
SAOSO S2.1
Organics
Organic agriculture, and what a PGS adds
“Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects.” — the IFOAM–Organics International definition, which SAOSO adopts in full.
The four principles of organic agriculture
SAOSO's standard opens with the IFOAM–Organics International principles, and says they "are to be used as a whole". Each is quoted here from the standard itself.
Ecology
Organic agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them and help sustain them.
SAOSO S2.2
Fairness
Organic agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities.
SAOSO S2.3
Care
Organic agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment.
SAOSO S2.4
The six basic elements of a Participatory Guarantee System
What makes a group a PGS rather than a certificate bought from an agency.
Shared Vision
The members of the PGS share a common goal based on a shared need and collectively embrace the principles of PGS and organic agriculture.
Trust
An integrity-based approach: trust and integrity form the ethical basis of the system.
Horizontality
A flat, equitable organisational structure, developed and managed by peers and not by a top-heavy management structure. All are responsible, all are accountable.
Transparency
The system is open to public, stakeholder and peer scrutiny at all levels.
Participatory
The members participate in the development and management of the process and procedures of the PGS, which is owned, controlled and determined by the collective.
Learning Process
The assessments and the site visit process focus on skills and knowledge exchange, both in traditional knowledge and in innovations. Local knowledge and experience from fellow farmers — the soil, the climatic conditions and the market — is particularly useful and relevant for all farmers in the group.
Definitions quoted from the South African Organic Certification Landscape (PGS SA).
“Participatory Guarantee Systems are locally focused quality assurance systems. They certify producers based on active participation of stakeholders and are built on a foundation of trust, social networks and knowledge exchange.”
Three ways trust is established
A PGS is a second-party system. It exists because a first-party claim cannot travel and a third-party certificate does not fit a short supply chain.
First-party
A verbal declaration is made by a farmer or producer directly to the consumer, that their produce is produced in alignment with organic principles. There is no verification of the claim; it is a trust-based acknowledgment between the farmer and the consumer, based on direct contact and the relationship.
Second-party — a PGS
Stakeholders in the supply chain — other farmers, consumers and local markets — meet regularly, visit farms and assess the farmer's production methods against the group's chosen organic standard. This is the model Outeniqua PGS uses.
Third-party
An independent certification body assesses the operation. Third-party certification to the SAOSO standard provides alignment to global standards and is suitable for long supply chains nationally, and export.
Descriptions condensed from the South African Organic Certification Landscape (PGS SA), pp. 2–3.