GGN label showcases responsible aquaculture with standardized, easy-to-understand labeling

Despite the growing demand for responsibly sourced food, shoppers still struggle to determine the origins and production methods of their purchases due to the large variety of consumer labels across different product categories.    

Recent studies show that even during economic uncertainty, modern consumers remain committed to making sustainable food choices. According to the Norwegian Seafood Council’s “Top Seafood Consumer Trends 2025” report, 78 percent of surveyed consumers in China, 71 percent in Thailand, and 56 percent in the U.K. expressed a willingness to pay more for sustainable seafood.

Nevertheless, consumers are confronted with a wave of confusion when it comes to identifying such products. To bridge the gap between producers and consumers, the GGN label was created. Built on a foundation of international standards for agriculture and aquaculture from GLOBALG.A.P., the GGN label is designed to provide clear, consistent assurance and transparency across a wide range of products from certified farming.

“We see ourselves as the mediator, providing solutions that can ultimately certify and showcase responsible practices,” GLOBALG.A.P. Business Development Manager of Aquaculture Remko Oosterveld said. "Available for fresh fruit and vegetables, farmed aquatic species, and flowers and plants, it provides a clear way for businesses to communicate their commitment to responsible practices. By applying the GGN label to products, brands can enhance their competitive edge and build consumer trust."

Not only does the GGN label provide assurance of responsible farming practices, it also enhances transparency. Rooted in GLOBALG.A.P.'s international standards for responsible farming, the label allows retailers and shoppers to trace products with a 13-digit tracking code on the packaging using the GGN label portal. The codes are all GS1 compliant and widely accepted by major retailers and distributors across the world.  

"The GGN label provides standards and solutions that highlight responsible practices while ensuring producers meet the evolving international guidelines, including demands from retailers,” Oosterveld said.

According to Oosterveld, the GGN label offers a host of benefits to a variety of stakeholders, all of which will be addressed during his session at the 2025 Seafood Expo Global, taking place in Barcelona, Spain from 6 to 8 May.

Oosterveld will be joined by József Bárdos, who is the quality and sustainability development manager of Metro Food Sourcing at the Concarneau Trading Office. As one of Europe’s leading fish wholesalers, Metro Food Sourcing is a strong advocate of the GGN label, reflecting its commitment to advancing responsible practices across the seafood supply chain. During the session, Bárdos will share key strategies for achieving sustainability goals – and how the GGN label plays a vital role in making them a reality.

Tailored for producers, processors, traders, certification bodies, NGOs, and retailers, the discussion will focus on the ways in which the GGN label can strengthen business practices and consumer communication.

“Participants will learn how adopting the GGN label is directly related to implementing high standards in food safety, animal health and welfare, workers' occupational health, responsible sourcing of feed, as well as environment and biodiversity management in aquaculture production,” Oosterveld told SeafoodSource.

Oosterveld will also address how the GGN label provides a clear and standardized way to help consumers make more informed choices that align with their values when it comes to buying seafood products.

“The session will demonstrate how responsible aquaculture can be made visible and explore how the GGN label serves as a crucial bridge between producer efforts and consumer expectations, fostering transparency and trust in the aquaculture supply chain,” Oosterveld said.

More information about GLOBALG.A.P. and the GGN label can be found on the organization’s website. 

The sponsored session on the GGN label will be free and open to all attendees, exhibitors, and speakers at Seafood Expo Global from 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. in Conference Center 5, Conference Room CC 5.3, at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue on 6 May. Explore more details about the session here:  Seafood Expo Global sponsored session: GGN label and responsible aquaculture.