The worst aspect of customary agricultural practices is that they affect human health badly and cause environmental pollution. Ecological farming practices are therefore very important, but given the level of ecological or organic farming practices today, it cannot be expected that only the ecological farming activities will meet the agricultural needs and food needs of almost eight billion people today. However, on the other hand, it is not right to accept traditional agricultural practices where pesticides and chemicals are used too much.

Therefore, in addition to ecological farming practices, it is necessary to be more selective in the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers and chemicals and to use them less and to consider more acceptable agricultural production methods within the scope of sustainable agricultural practices that adopt soil fertility as a principle. These methods, now called good agricultural practices, are needed more than ever.

Vegetable and animal food products obtained by ecological agriculture applications find market opportunities in line with the preferences of consumers. Therefore, the first issue to be taken into consideration is the awareness of consumers. Today, although a limited amount of ecological production is made, it is expected to increase over time.

Ecological farming practices are a documented agricultural application method with certain criteria and conditions, where all production stages are kept under control. Rules may change over time and new rules may be added. Therefore, legal regulations and domestic and foreign standards should be well known and followed.

The demand for ecological agricultural products and foodstuffs is highest in European countries. However, the domestic market continues to develop.

The increase in the number of people in the world and the fact that people are more selective about nutrition has brought different dimensions to agricultural production. In the course of time, when the existing agricultural production was not sufficient to meet the need, technological opportunities were introduced to increase production and synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and chemicals with different effects were used in production. The unconscious or deliberate overuse of these substances has created great health problems and nature has started to be destroyed. Perhaps new applications have led to an increase in agricultural production, but on the other hand, humanity has faced greater problems.

Today it is a necessity to give up traditional agricultural practices. Therefore, there is a return to the beginning in a sense in agricultural activities. Ecological agricultural production and production of foodstuffs have become a necessity today.

While new legal arrangements are made, domestic and foreign organizations set new production systems and standards. ECO Food certification system developed by our organization is one of them.

The ECO Food standard is a standard that allows the production of agricultural products and foodstuffs that do not harm the natural environment and human health at both production and consumption stages. This standard seeks to minimize the use of chemicals in agricultural production and food production, and also to control the environmental impacts of agricultural methods through a sustainable farming practice called ecological farming, organic farming or biological farming in the world.

Businesses that operate in this way have proven themselves in the domestic and international markets by obtaining ECO Food certificate.

How to Obtain ECO Food Certificate

Producers who apply the ECO Food standard in their businesses can apply for our ECO Food certificate by applying to our company. Businesses may request ECO Food for various reasons:

• To ensure that consumers have access to reliable food
• To contribute to the healthy nutrition of consumers
• Prove that the ecological balance of nature is not harmed in production activities
• Protecting the soil, water and air resources that will ensure the continuity of the natural environment
• Increasing market share of ecological products
• To be prepared for the audits of official institutions

The principles of sustainable agriculture come to the fore in agricultural production. Agricultural activities should be planned, implemented and supervised without risking human health and causing degradation of natural resources. Developed and developing countries are aware of this and direct their agricultural practices in this way. In our country, it cannot be said that enough progress has been made in this regard. Officially, existing agricultural policies need to be transformed into sustainable agricultural policies.

The ECO Food standard closes a serious gap in this sense.

When our organization receives the ECO Food certificate request, it first makes a contract with the producer company and then starts the inspection works. During the audits, the extent to which the company applies ECO Food standards is monitored at every stage of the activities and any problems or problems are immediately alerted. If necessary, the company is given time to eliminate these problems.

In the light of the reports prepared after the audits performed, a general evaluation is made by our organization. If it is decided to obtain ECO Food certificate at the end of this evaluation, the certificate is issued and delivered to the company.

Companies with this certificate can put ECO Food label on their products. This label confirms:

• Foodstuffs are produced without damaging the natural environment.
• Produced completely in accordance with natural conditions.
• Pesticides or chemicals used in production are strictly within the limits set by the relevant legal regulations and this ECO Food standard.
• After being consumed, wastes disappear spontaneously in the natural environment in a short time.
• The material used in the packaging of foodstuffs has no negative impact on nature.

The issued ECO Food certificate is valid for three years. However, the company is required to undergo interim audits every year. If an improper situation is detected in these inspections, the company shall be requested to rectify it immediately or within the given time. If the failure is not resolved within the given period, the issued ECO Food certificate and the authorization to use the ECO Food label shall be canceled. Otherwise, the company will continue to use this document.

 

At the end of three years, the company is required to undergo general audits and to receive an ECO Food certificate again.