HACCP methodology and quality/environmental specifications for crop farms. Implications for the design of good agricultural practices guidelines.

摘要

This article analyses alternative strategies for adapting the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) methodology to the agricultural context in the design of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) guidelines focusing on cropping systems. Data are based on the results of an action research project conducted within the extension services of Picardie (northern France). The research analysed the scientific and methodological principles underlying the design process of the GAP guideline Quali'TerreReg. (used in France as a reference for the definition of the regulatory specifications on integrated agriculture), and empirically assessed its feasibility through a test on a sample of 100 crop farms in the region. It is shown that, instead of performing an individual risk analysis for each farm, the appropriate design of regional GAP guidelines, as is the case with the GAP Quali'TerreReg., may serve such objectives as prioritizing risks and identifying corrective measures, as well as introduce farmers into a continuous improvement cycle in the spirit of the ISO 14000's environmental management system. The paper presents the various steps to be followed for the achievement of this GAP guideline. It also analyses the scope and nature of the difficulties met by farmers for the effective implementation of this particular guideline..