In 2019 it was not just our Board that became truly global. We also grew our global network of Technical Key Account Managers to a total of 20. This network now covers the majority of crucial regions for the adoption of farm assurance systems, and we continue to add new countries and regions.
To align our growing international and intercultural team, we developed a strong set of five core values which act as a compass for all activities – both internally and externally with stakeholders. These values have now become a major feature to attract new experts and talent.
Our continuous efforts to reduce duplication for farm assurance standards resulted in two important partnerships in 2019: We signed agreements with the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform and the Sustainable Rice Platform to manage their standards, from the training and approval of auditors and verification bodies to the registration of assessed farms in our global database. These two organizations recognized our strength in developing and operating all the processes which are necessary to run a global agricultural standard with a high level of transparency and integrity.
We at GLOBALG.A.P. can only fulfill our purpose with the strong commitment of a large network of industry volunteers. You participate and work in our Committees, Focus Groups, and National Technical Working Groups. Thank you all for serving your industry and offering your expertise to society, to the benefit all of us.