FoodChain ID Names David Gould Global Head, Sustainability Programs

FAIRFIELD, Iowa, March 04, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- FoodChain ID, one of the world's leading food safety, testing and sustainability organizations, has named David Gould as global head of sustainability programs effective January 1, 2019.

"David is the strategic and technical lead on advancing and growing FoodChain ID's programs and services in an integrated, strategic manner, with a special, near-term focus on the company's USDA Organic Certification initiatives," said Mark Dabroski, senior vice president commercial services.

"Producers and consumers alike need tools that provide transparency," said Gould. "The burdens of certification, bureaucracy and compliance can be eased by innovative approaches. Ultimately, this also allows our clients to better communicate value to consumers, regardless of the scale at which they operate."

Gould is a food scientist by training, having been involved in the food and agriculture sectors for the past 25 years. He has worked at virtually every job position in the organic guarantee system, including having inspected and/or certified thousands of farms and processing facilities on six continents, while also contributing to the formation of numerous standards and policies including organic, non-GMO, and fair-trade programs.

He has trained and consulted globally to the private sector and government agencies on sustainable development, quality assurance, policy reform, and stakeholder engagement. Gould is currently winding up a seven-year term as senior facilitator for IFOAM - Organics International, where he has been instrumental in elaborating on best practices in agriculture and its value chains, and developing the forward trajectory of the organic movement.

Gould joins FoodChain ID as the company expands its portfolio with the addition of USDA NOP Organic certification for U.S. companies in response to the industry's growing need for integrated solutions like the company's SupplyTrak® software – already the leading compliance and supply chain solution for Non-GMO Project Verification.

Widely recognized for its Non-GMO Project Verification services, many of FoodChain ID's clients have requested stacked organic inspections to consolidate their certifications, saving both time and money. With almost half of FoodChain ID's Non-GMO Project Verified clients simultaneously certifying organic, the need is substantial.

Client input was instrumental in development of the organic integration into FoodChain ID's SupplyTrak® supply-chain compliance software, which goes far beyond an electronic paper trail. SupplyTrak® now enables users to share data from all organic certifications and Non-GMO Verifications for streamlined efficiency, up-to-the-minute status, overall visibility, and reduced cost.

"Obtaining and maintaining USDA Organic Program certification can be time consuming. Add in the idea of managing multiple certification programs – with their overlapping documentation requirements – and even the most experienced person can feel overwhelmed, " noted Dabroski. "Our goal, with David's leadership, is to offer the industry a better way to manage all their certification programs for maximum efficiency and minimum duplication of efforts."

FoodChain ID, formerly known as Global ID Group, has 20+ years offering specialized services for the food, beverage, ingredient and food commodity (i.e. grain) industries, spanning the entire food supply chain.

The first technical administrator for the Non-GMO Project's Product Verification Program, it recently acquired Bioagricert, a global company that was among the first to market in the certification of organic foods. With more than 33 years of expertise in the organic sector, Bioagricert is one of the top global, NOP-accredited certifying bodies, having certified close to one thousand operations.

"As an organic certification pioneer, Bioagricert's expertise in organic certification, combined with FoodChain ID's Non-GMO Project Verification expertise and SupplyTrak® mapping and label verification system, further strengthens FoodChain ID's leadership position in providing clean-label claims," says Dabroski.

FoodChain ID's services offer clients across the entire food supply chain higher levels of transparency, safety and sustainability.

About FoodChain ID

FoodChain ID, previously known as Global ID Group, provides integrated food safety, quality, and sustainability solutions that address the challenges and opportunities in the rapidly evolving food industry. Serving more than 30,000 clients in over 100 countries with a market-leading portfolio of testing and laboratory services, inspection, certification and sustainability programs, FoodChain ID helps companies navigate an increasingly regulated global food economy that demands higher levels of transparency, accountability, safety and sustainability.

About Bioagricert

Founded in 1984, Bioagricert provides organic certification services according to Italian national as well as international standards, as well as product quality certification services and other certifications such as Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Protected Geographic Indication (PGI), GlobalG.A.P., natural cosmetics and textiles, green energy, fair trade and more. Bioagricert certifies about 11,500 operators in Italy and 1,500 internationally, including in Latin America, Southeast Asia, the Mediterranean Basin and Eastern Europe. The company also aids in the development of new certification standards in Italy and internationally.

SOURCE FoodChain ID