Which Agricultural Certification Do You Need?
GLOBALG.A.P, organic, Rainforest Alliance, EUDR, Fairtrade, KS 1758 — Kenyan farms face a confusing wall of certifications, and choosing the wrong one wastes months and money. The truth is simpler than it looks: three things decide which certification you need — what you produce, the market you’re selling to, and what your buyer requires. Answer the four questions below and we’ll tell you exactly which one fits, what it costs, and how long it takes.
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Which Certification Do You Need?
Answer four quick questions and we'll tell you exactly which certification fits your farm, what it costs, and how long it takes.
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The main certifications Kenyan farms need — and who each is for
If you’d rather read than take the quiz, here’s the short version of who each certification is for. Tap any one for the full guide.
GLOBALG.A.P
The food-safety baseline for fresh fruit and vegetables sold to EU and UK supermarkets and importers. Where most export farms start. GLOBALG.A.P guide →
EUDR Compliance Time-critical
Required to sell coffee (and other listed commodities) to the EU — proof your produce is deforestation-free. Deadlines are running now. EUDR guide →
Rainforest Alliance
The leading sustainability certification for coffee and tea, required by many sustainability-focused international buyers. Rainforest Alliance guide →
Organic (EU / USDA NOP)
For selling as certified organic in premium EU and US markets. Includes a 2–3 year conversion period, so plan ahead. Estimate the cost →
Fairtrade
For smallholder cooperatives selling to fair-pricing buyers — adds a Premium paid back to the group. Fairtrade guide →
KS 1758 / KenyaGAP
Kenya’s own horticulture code — the right standard for local supermarkets and institutions, and a stepping stone to export. KenyaGAP guide →
GRASP (social add-on)
A workers’ welfare add-on to GLOBALG.A.P that many buyers ask for alongside it. GRASP guide →
SMETA (ethical audit)
An ethical/social audit (not a certification) that buyers and supermarkets request to verify labour and ethical standards. SMETA guide →
How to decide which certification you need
It comes down to three questions — the same ones the quiz asks:
1. What do you produce?
Fresh produce points to GLOBALG.A.P; coffee and tea to Rainforest Alliance (and EUDR for coffee to the EU); packhouses to food-safety standards. Your crop narrows the field immediately.
2. Which market are you targeting?
EU and UK supermarkets require GLOBALG.A.P; premium markets want organic; local supermarkets accept KS 1758. The market sets the bar you have to clear.
3. What does your buyer require?
If a buyer has named a certification, that decides it — they won’t buy without it. If you don’t have a buyer yet, GLOBALG.A.P is the safest baseline, since it opens the most doors.
What it costs — and how to fund it
Once you know which certification you need, the next questions are cost and funding. For an individual farm, GLOBALG.A.P typically runs KES 150,000–450,000 in the first year; for a cooperative certifying as a group, it drops to roughly KES 5,000–25,000 per farmer. Use our certification cost calculator for an indicative figure for your situation. And because certification costs are eligible for KCSA grants, AFC loans and buyer co-financing, most farms don’t pay it all themselves — see how to fund your certification.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which agricultural certification my farm needs?
Three things decide it: what you produce, the market you’re selling to, and what your buyer requires. Fresh produce for EU/UK supermarkets needs GLOBALG.A.P; coffee to the EU needs EUDR compliance; tea and coffee for sustainability buyers need Rainforest Alliance; premium markets need organic; local supermarkets need KS 1758. If a buyer has named a certification, that usually decides it. The free 60-second quiz on this page gives you a personalized recommendation with cost and timeline.
What is the most common certification for Kenyan export farms?
GLOBALG.A.P (currently IFA v6) — it’s the food-safety baseline most EU and UK supermarkets and importers require before they’ll buy. For most fresh-produce farms entering the export market, it’s the right starting point.
Do I need more than one certification?
Often, yes. Many Kenyan farms hold GLOBALG.A.P plus a social add-on like GRASP, or GLOBALG.A.P for the EU alongside Rainforest Alliance for a coffee buyer. Coffee sold to the EU needs both EUDR compliance and usually a sustainability certification. Your buyer’s requirements and target markets determine the combination.
Does my buyer decide which certification I need?
Usually, yes. If a buyer or exporter has told you they require a specific certification, that requirement is decisive — they won’t buy without it. If you don’t have a buyer yet, GLOBALG.A.P is the safest baseline to start with, as it opens the most export doors.
Still not sure? Talk to a certification specialist — free.
Tell us your crop, market and buyer, and we’ll confirm exactly which certification you need and what it takes to get there. We respond within 2 hours, Mon–Sat.
Related Resources from Agrosocial Services
Certifications: GLOBALG.A.P · EUDR · Rainforest Alliance · Fairtrade · KenyaGAP · SMETA · GRASP
Plan & fund it: Certification Cost Calculator · GLOBALG.A.P Cost Guide · Get Funded
Export guides: Avocado · French Beans · Mango · Roses
Agrosocial Services Limited is Kenya’s specialist agricultural certification, export and funding consultancy, serving farms, cooperatives and agribusinesses across 12 counties since 2018. For help choosing or preparing for the right certification, contact us at info@agrosocialservices.co.ke or WhatsApp +254 713 935 361. Last reviewed and updated: June 2026.