FAO leads assessment into GAPs certification to unlock the full potential of Grenada’s soursop industry

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture & Lands, Forestry, Marine Resources and Cooperatives concluded a field assessment into the capacity to implement a sustainable Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) certification system in Grenada for its thriving soursop industry.

Between June 15 to 18 2025, field visits were conducted across St. George’s, St. Patrick’s, St. Mark’s, St. Andrews’s and St. David’s engaging farmers, exporters, and relevant authorities. The mission identified Grenada’s strong potential to meet international market demands through improved adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and third-party certification, such as GLOBALG.A.P., which will strengthen food safety compliance, and boost sustainable practices along the supply chain. This will improve consumer trust and market access for Grenadian soursop.

The key findings indicate that while farmers are eager to adopt GAPs, they need support with soil testing, pest management, grafting, and labor-intensive tasks like hand pollination. Better infrastructure, upgraded packhouses, and improved pest surveillance are also needed to meet export standards. Overall, stronger coordination is essential to align local practices with international standards to secure premium markets such as the United States and Europe.

Leading the field mission, Mr. Ricardo Pineda, FAO GAPs Specialist, remarked, “Grenada’s soursop industry is uniquely positioned to grow, but it needs a coordinated push to implement practical GAPs and certification standards. Farmers, exporters, and government authorities alike have shown readiness to build a culture of quality that will secure higher-value markets and better livelihoods.”

The assessment proposes a GAPs certification pilot to start this year, focusing on certifying at least two packhouses and 10 growers under the GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance, which is a global standard that ensures safe and responsible farming practices. Over the next six months, the pilot will include training, equipment and IT upgrades, documented record-keeping, and technical assistance to ensure that smallholders can meet the necessary compliance requirements.

Chief Agricultural Officer (Ag.) Mr. Thaddeus Peters underscored the Ministry’s support, noting,
"We recognize the critical role GAPs certification plays in ensuring food safety and boosting our competitiveness. We are committed to working with all stakeholders to make Grenada’s soursop a model for quality and sustainability."

Mr. Melvin Medina, FAO Production and Protection Officer for the Sub-region and Lead Technical Officer for the project, added, “Through this project, we aim to build local capacity to adopt, sustain and scale up GAPs certification in collaboration with the private sector including farmers and exporters adding value to important export crops like soursop.”

In the coming weeks, stakeholders will review the proposed action plan and budget to ensure that Grenada’s soursop producers are equipped to achieve certification and seize new export opportunities.

This initiative is part of the ongoing project, Enhancing Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Capacity and Market Access for Grenadian Soursop Exports, and reflects FAO’s commitment to build resilient, and sustainable value chains that benefit farmers, exporters, and the wider economy.