This document, originally posted on ISO.org details the role ISO standards have within the agricultural industry, the benefits seen, and technology available. We have summarized the key points for you to digest. View the full document on ISO.org.
ISO and Agriculture
“ISO Standards are used in agriculture to ensure sustainable practices are used to efficiently make use of farmland by providing guidance and best practices for farming methods, machinery and tools.
ISO standards for agriculture cover all aspects of farming, from irrigation and global positioning systems (GPS) to agricultural machinery, animal welfare and sustainable farm management. They help to promote effective farming methods while ensuring that everything in the supply chain – from farm to fork – meets
adequate levels of safety and quality. By setting internationally agreed solutions to global challenges, ISO standards for agriculture also foster the sustainability and sound environmental management that contribute to a better future”.
ISO Standards facilitate global trade by providing internationally agreed best practices and specifications for the agricultural industry processes, thus ensuring production is seamless. A common language is also provided in the standards, ‘widening opportunities for cross-border trade of foodstuffs and farm animals’.
This helps increase efficiencies for industries, and benefits the end consumer who receives higher-quality and more selection.
“ISO standards help organizations meet legal and industry requirements by setting benchmarks for the functional safety, traceability and quality of everything from the machinery and materials used in agriculture to the final food products. Developed through international expertise and consensus, they provide a sound basis for implementing public policy”.
Technology
The introduction of drones can potentially revolutionize farming with cost and time savings. Fitted with technology, cameras and sensors, drones are able to rapidly access farmland, assess and measure conditions, and map land accurately. ISO 21384 series ” ISO technical committee ISO/TC 20/SC 16, Unmanned aircraft systems, is working on the world’s first set of formalized International Standards in this area – the ISO 21384 series, which will define general specifications, product systems and operational procedures. They ill support the development of safe and effective drones for use in all settings, including agriculture, providing a platform for even better technology in this area”.
Source: Read more about technological advances, and a more detailed look into ISO and Agriculture.
ISO Terms Explained
To the novice quality manager, ISO jargon can be extremely overwhelming. What is an NCR? What do you mean by OFI? Are we certified or accredited? But before you go and pull out your hair, let’s take a moment to go over some of the most frequently used terms and their definitions with regards to ISO and Management System Certification.