Baika obtains historic SCS Sustainably Grown certification

Sustainability continues to solidify its position as a key driver of competitiveness for the global avocado industry. As importers, supermarkets, and consumers raise their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, international certifications are playing an increasingly important role in accessing higher-value markets.

In that scenario, Baika Colombia became the first avocado operation in the country to obtain the SCS Sustainably Grown certification, a recognition that validates compliance with demanding international standards and marks an unprecedented milestone for Colombian production .

For the company, this achievement represents much more than a certification. As Sara López, Deputy Operations Manager of Baika Colombia, explained, becoming the first operation in the country to obtain this recognition demonstrates that it is possible to produce avocados efficiently, while protecting the environment, promoting ethical practices, and generating well-being for people. In her opinion, this progress also paves the way for the Colombian industry to continue strengthening its competitiveness in the most demanding international markets.

A standard that responds to the new demands of the global market

The SCS Sustainably Grown audit assessed key aspects such as business integrity, sustainable agricultural practices, ethical management, natural resource conservation, and environmental performance. For Baika Colombia, the certification consolidates work developed over the past few months to integrate sustainability as a cross-cutting principle in all its operations.

"More than just obtaining a certificate, it means that the sustainability work we've been doing for several months has been validated by an international organization. It also demonstrates that Colombia has the capacity to produce Hass avocados with the standards demanded by today's most important markets in the world," stated Leonarda Gallego , head of certifications at Baika Colombia.

The importance of these types of certifications goes beyond the production sector. "Today, consumers want to know the origin of their food and how it was produced. This certification gives them that confidence because it demonstrates that behind every piece of fruit there is a real commitment to the environment, to people, and to good agricultural practices," Gallego added.

For López, this translates into trust, transparency and traceability , fundamental guarantees for consolidating long-term business relationships in international destinations where sustainability is a determining criterion for purchasing.

The challenge of demonstrating sustainability on the ground

One of the main challenges of the process was demonstrating that sustainability is an integral part of the company's daily operations, not just a one-off audit preparation. Since this certification was unprecedented in the Colombian avocado sector , rigorous document preparation, training, and internal process alignment were essential.

"The main challenge was demonstrating that sustainability is part of our daily work. Each requirement had to be backed up with evidence and real results in the field. The most valuable thing was the commitment of the entire team: from management to operational staff, they understood the importance of the process and actively participated," explained Gallego.

López agreed that the team's alignment was key, highlighting the knowledge and commitment of the field staff and support areas throughout the audit process.

Finca Villablanca: carbon capture and active conservation

One of the most outstanding results of the evaluation was the environmental performance of the Villablanca farm , which recorded an active capture of -888 thousand kg of CO₂e .

According to Gallego, this result reflects the prioritization of environmental conservation, highlighting:

• 122.64 hectares of protected forest.
• Active protection of water sources and responsible soil management.
• Increased organic matter and maintenance of vegetation cover to promote carbon capture.
  
  

Next step: scale the standard to the entire production chain

"Certification is not an end point, but the beginning of a new stage," Gallego emphasized. Baika Colombia's strategy aims to extend this standard beyond its own operations and promote its adoption among its partner producers , supporting them through knowledge transfer and tools that facilitate the adoption of best practices.

Furthermore, the company will continue to promote projects focused on climate change adaptation, water efficiency, biodiversity conservation, and data generation for decision-making, consolidating Colombian avocados as a global benchmark not only for their quality but also for their positive impact on the planet.