Measuring and improving good agricultural practices (GAP) related to safety of fresh produce: the case of controlled environment agriculture

Publication date: 18/11/2024
Extent: 22 pages

Contributions by: Louise Manning, Lincoln University, UK; and Jim Monaghan, Harper Adams University, UK

Chapter synopsis:

Measuring and improving good agricultural practices (GAP) related to food safety of fresh produce is important, especially as many crops, such as leafy vegetables, are sold as ‘ready to eat’ at the point of purchase. Previous approaches to food safety-related hazard analysis and risk assessment for fresh produce GAP frameworks are being revisited and repositioned. Controlled environment agriculture (CEA), especially emergent systems such as vertical farming, are of interest in terms of promoting more sustainable practices and reducing land use for food production. Framing of what GAP is will vary from the field to controlled environments and so defining GAP from a food safety and sustainability perspective, and establishing appropriate operational guidelines for CEA systems is important. This chapter considers the debates about GAP in the context of CEA and how GAP can be developed as part of an effective food safety control programme in CEA systems.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2024.0133.31