ITC Ltd has achieved a significant milestone in sustainable agriculture by becoming the first company in India to receive the globally recognised Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA 3.0) certification for sourcing wheat and paddy. The certification underscores ITC’s leadership in promoting responsible, traceable and climate-smart agricultural practices while strengthening global market access for Indian farmers.
The FSA 3.0 framework, developed by the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform, is widely used by international food and agri companies to assess sustainability across value chains. By securing this certification, ITC has aligned its sourcing systems with stringent global standards, particularly benefiting exports to markets such as the European Union, where compliance with sustainability norms is increasingly critical.
The initiative covers more than 22,000 acres across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and involves over 3,500 farmers linked through 70-plus Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). It is part of ITC’s broader Crop Development Programme, which integrates sustainability, inclusivity and traceability into agricultural value chains.
Farmers participating in the programme have adopted a range of climate smart and resource efficient practices, including direct seeded rice, zero tillage, micro irrigation, drone based spraying and soil test based nutrient management. The use of climate resilient crop varieties and advanced inputs such as nano fertilisers has also been encouraged to improve productivity and environmental outcomes.
According to ITC, these interventions not only enhance yields and soil health but also reduce emissions through efficient use of water, fuel and agrochemicals. The certification further ensures better price realisation for farmers by linking them to premium global markets that demand traceable and sustainably produced commodities.
A key pillar of the initiative is digital integration through ITCMAARS (Metamarket for Advanced Agriculture and Rural Services), a phygital ecosystem that enables farm-level traceability and monitoring. All participating farms have been geo-fenced, ensuring transparency in sourcing, while a robust volume accounting system and separate storage infrastructure maintain end-to-end traceability.
To meet FSA 3.0 requirements, ITC implemented a structured approach involving training, advisory services, monitoring and third-party evaluation. Around 30 policy documents were developed covering agronomy, environmental management, biodiversity conservation, labour standards and farm safety.
Commenting on the achievement, S Ganesh Kumar, Divisional Chief Executive, Agri Business, ITC, said the company remains committed to empowering farmers with knowledge and tools to adopt globally benchmarked practices. He noted that linking farmers to global markets through sustainable sourcing can boost incomes while enhancing India’s competitiveness in agri-exports.
With over 2.2 million farmers and 2,100 FPOs already connected through ITCMAARS across 11 states, the certification marks a major step in building resilient and globally competitive agricultural value chains in India.