Page 3 - Asoex Sustainability Report

1. FOOD SAFETY
At the beginning of the 2000’s, the Chilean export fruit industry timely, exemplary and positively faced the challenge of implementing Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), so as to systematically address the assurance of Food Safety. This has been internationally acknowledged by both government
and private organizations, and particularly, the development of a national protocol called ChileG.A.P., recognized as an equivalent by important GAP certi cation systems worldwide, such as GLOBALG.A.P., CHINAGAP and other private certi cation programs in various countries.
ChileG.A.P. is a GAP certi cation program that combines major international market requirements in a manner that enables GAP implementation by national growers and exporters at a reasonable cost.
To December 2015, 3,379 Chilean orchards and fruit elds had been GAP certi ed according to the ChileG.A.P. and/or GLOBALG.A.P. Protocols. This shows the importance that Chilean fruit growers give to meeting the highest international standards existing today
in aspects regarding food safety, the environment and the safety and welfare of those who take part in the production process.
3,379
ORCHARDS
certified in GAP
At the same time, every Fruit Facility (produce packing, refrigeration and shipment to markets) holds at least one HACCP, Good Manufacturing
Practices or BRC [British Retail Consortium] certi cation, or has been certi ed by a speci c supermarket chain, etc. This means that they meet food safety standards of minimum risk.
2. ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE
Energy
ASOEX has developed several initiatives on energy management, considering that the industry is facing the challenge of making a more ef cient use thereof and moving towards cleaner energy sources. At eld level, it promotes the use of photovoltaic solar energy for water extraction and pumping in mechanized irrigation systems. Several of its member companies have installed these systems in their orchards, particularly in the northern part of the country.
A Guide of Good Practices for Energy Ef ciency and Emission Reduction in the Fruit Industry exists to provide guidelines for improving energy performance.
Widely disseminated and used by companies to optimize their consumption, the Guide is available at:
http://www.fdf.cl/biblioteca/publicaciones/ 2010/archivos/BPE_2010_PDF.pdf.
On the other hand, through the Fruit Development Foundation (FDF), the industry has conducted studies and developed projects to facilitate the inclusion of new technologies for energy ef ciency, as follows:
a) Innovative technologies for improved energy ef ciency and the use of non traditional renewable sources in the Chilean fresh fruit industry (BID-FOMIN Project) – See: http:// www.agroenergiasostenible.cl/inicio/, and
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