Participatory Guarantee System Organic Council
Advocating for alternative certification system that prioritises fairness, radical transparency and empowerment since 2006
India is home for over a hundred million farmers and the land of 18 different soil types. Various cultures, climates, terrains, seeds and soils have played their own roles in the journey of the food we consume every day. Each of these journeys are as unique as your fingerprints. It is your responsibility to know the journey of your food from the farms to the plates'. Every meal has its own story to tell and tastes much better when you know where it comes from
Endorsments
karthik Gunasekar
Volunteer
Learning Experience
karthik Gunasekar
Volunteer
Learning Experience
karthik Gunasekar
Volunteer
Learning Experience
About us
PGSOC is a cause driven social organization
PGSOC is a cause driven social organization dedicated to bringing about an inclusive platform for small and marginal organic producers to collaborate and flourish in the domestic market through a process based on verifiable trust. PGSOC has a holistic approach and works in collaboration with farmer organizations, civil society organizations, government and consumer networks to develop, promote and advocate socially empowering and inclusive mechanisms for small and marginal organic producers to guarantee and market their produce. PGSOC was formed out of the need for a verifiable and credible means of verification for consumers and for them to trace out the sources of their food at least to the farmer group level, who are working on organic crop production, distribution systems and consumer markets. Best practices and indigenous knowledge systems of the member farmer collectives are distilled as common standards and processes to ensure safe and healthy food for the consumers.
PGSOC is a cause driven social organization
Under PGS (Participatory Guarantee System) organic farmers are vested with the responsibility to produce a credible and effective system of quality assurance. Each farmer pledges that his/her production process is free from manufactured chemicals. The "Local Group" of five or more organic farmers is the fulcrum of the self-regulatory support system, of PGS. The quality assurance standards are harmonized by the PGS Organic Council, which permits the use of its PGS label on a product as a mark of quality.
PGSOC as an organization is evolving beyond just providing a guarantee for the organic production process, to providing holistic support to small and marginal farmers following agro-ecological practices in India, and are largely left out of the trade of organic products because of expensive and elaborate certification systems and inaccessible markets due to lack of commercial scale.
Our Timeline
Since 2006, PGSOC has been on a meaningful journey to provide an inclusive platform for small and marginal farmers, bridging the gap between consumers and producers through a community-owned and trust-based organic certification system.
Our Member
Our member organizations operate in diverse agroclimatic zones with unique produce. Facilitating councils are chosen by the board after careful review based on PGS principles and existing referrals.
Certification Process
PGSOC guarantee system homogenizes diverse social and cultural control mechanisms to form a system built on participation, verifiable trust, shared vision, horizontality, transparency, and knowledge sharing. Adhering to it allows usage of the PGSOC label, a mark of quality.
Manifesto
PGSOC envisions socially, ecologically, and economically just food systems guaranteed by trust, co-owned and controlled by communities, and driven by traditional ecological knowledge systems. Our manifesto precisely articulates our intentions, motives, and views in line with this vision.
You have the power to change
I believe in the power of community-driven decision-making and recognize that the participatory guarantee approach promotes transparency, inclusivity, and fairness within the certification process. I pledge to advocate for and actively engage in initiatives that uphold the principles of participatory certification, ensuring that local communities have a voice in determining standards and that the benefits of certification reach those who deserve them the most. By signing this pledge, I commit to promoting and championing the ideals of participatory certification in order to create a more equitable and sustainable food system for all.
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People have pledge
Get involved
We appreciate your interest in supporting PGSOC's mission to promote sustainable and organic agriculture at the grassroots level especially for the marginalised communities involved in Indian agriculture. Your contributions can help us achieve our goals and make a difference in our food systems. If you're interested in supporting us, please share your contact information and we will provide you with more details on how to contribute. We welcome any amount you are comfortable giving, as every contribution helps us in our mission. Thank you for your consideration.
Donate
online donation options are coming up soon.
Please find below our bank account details for transfer
Bank: HDFC Bank
Acc Numb: 50200067058841
IFSC : HDFC0000514
