Why have your organic Inputs verified by Ecocert?

As organic farming requirements continue to tighten, input compliance is becoming a strategic issue for all players in the sector. From the origin of raw materials to manufacturing processes and traceability, every step must be rigorously monitored to ensure compliant and safe practices.

Having your inputs * verified by an independent third-party organization like Ecocert provides this essential guarantee. But in practical terms, what are the day-to-day benefits? To answer this question, we spoke with UPL.

With a presence in more than 140 countries, over 12,000 employees, and 9 OpenAg® research and innovation centers, UPL is now the world’s fifth-largest provider of agricultural solutions.

Camille Dusart, Project Manager for Certification and Support in Organic Agriculture, explains through a series of questions and answers how the company—a global leader in biosolutions through its Natural Plant Protection division—relies on Ecocert’s expertise to guarantee the quality and compliance of its solutions dedicated to sustainable and organic agriculture.

*Inputs = fertilizers, crop protection products, cleaning and disinfection products, oenological additives, etc.

• Why have your inputs verified by Ecocert?

Having our inputs verified by Ecocert is fully in line with our goal of making sustainability tangible and credible for farmers.

Ecocert, a pioneer in organic certification since 1991 and recognized in more than 130 countries, provides an independent guarantee that is immediately recognized by farmers, distributors, and regulatory authorities around the world.

• What benefits does Ecocert’s verification of inputs bring to UPL and its customers?

Several points are important to us:

📌 This ensures regulatory compliance with European regulations (EU 2018/848) and/or U.S. NOP standards and provides access to organic markets, allowing farmers to use our inputs with confidence without risking the loss of their organic certification.

📌 Securing supply chains is crucial, as it reduces risks for farmers. Ecocert’s certification of inputs serves as an upstream quality assurance.

📌 Ecocert certification becomes a strong selling point, enabling farmers to position themselves in the rapidly growing organic agriculture market.

📌 Enhanced credibility — Global recognition that sets our portfolio of biosolutions apart.

📌 Trust and adoption are facilitated — Our products are listed in Ecocert’s public database , which is visited by more than 100,000 people annually.

📌 Operational excellence — Ecocert’s annual audits strengthen our traceability and quality processes.

📌 Support for sustainable agriculture and the promotion of environmentally friendly practices.

All of this has a positive impact on the development of more sustainable agricultural systems.

• What were the main challenges you faced in making your products suitable for organic farming?

📌Regulatory complexity and the multitude of standards are certainly the main challenges in meeting compliance requirements.

Inputs must comply with strict regulations, and each market may have its own requirements.

📌 The selection and control of raw materials are essential. Inputs must be derived from natural resources or from processes compatible with organic farming. It is necessary to ensure the availability of compliant materials, verify the source of natural materials, and, of course, ensure that all supporting documentation (traceability, supplier certificates) is available.

📌 Preventing contamination risks is also one of the most significant challenges. Rigorous analytical controls must be implemented, and the entire supply chain must be secured.

📌 The documentation required by Ecocert is also demanding. It requires comprehensive documentation. Reliable data must be collected and kept up to date, and the administrative complexity must be managed. Ecocert conducts regular audits of manufacturing sites every year. Compliance must be maintained over time, and internal resources (quality, production, regulatory) must be mobilized.

• What makes you most proud about this certification?

Above all, it is recognition of our high standards and rigor. Obtaining Ecocert’s input certification means we have successfully met some of the most demanding standards on the market, demonstrated complete transparency regarding our ingredients and processes, and passed independent, in-depth audits.

It is concrete proof that our products maintain a high level of quality and compliance, validated by a trusted third party.

This lends significant credibility in the market. Ecocert is an internationally recognized organization.

Third-party verification provides strong legitimacy with customers, a competitive advantage, and recognition in demanding markets.

As you can see, having your inputs certified by Ecocert means ensuring the safety of your practices and building trust throughout the supply chain. It’s a concrete way to add value to your products and support more sustainable agriculture.

Would you like to take stock of your inputs or structure your approach? The Ecocert teams are here to support you. Contact us to discuss your project!