(ISO: Geneva) -- Farmers can now improve their overall performance and financial results, as well as increase customer confidence and satisfaction with a new standard from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for implementing a quality management system (QMS) based on ISO 9001 for crop production.

The new standard, ISO 22006:2009—“Quality management systems—Guidelines for the application of ISO 9001:2008 to crop production,” can be used with farm operations of any size, growing all types of food, feed, and nonfood crops.

ISO 22006 provides step-by-step guidance through the requirements of ISO 9001 with a practical approach to crop operations. The standard provides pertinent subject-specific tips and suggestions, and uses agricultural terminology. Among its unique features is a user-friendly flow diagram listing all the farm operation activities to help determine how they fit together and where there is need for improvement.

“ISO 22006 takes a recognized generic management solution and turns it into a down-to-earth tool that farmers can link to their particular needs,” Mark Ames, project leader.

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