FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 4, 2026
Contact: info@leadingharvest.org
Tailored resource helps almond producers demonstrate responsible farming practices using the globally recognised Leading Harvest Farmland Management Standard.
ADELAIDE, June 4, 2026 – Leading Harvest has released a dedicated guidance document for Australian almond growers, providing a practical pathway to certification under the globally recognised Leading Harvest Farmland Management Standard. Developed in response to growing demand for sustainably produced Australian almonds, the resource and resulting certification equips growers with the tools they need to demonstrate responsible production.
The guidance document covers all 13 objectives of the Leading Harvest Farmland Management Standard, broken into 33 performance measures and 73 indicators, with conformance evidence tailored specifically to almond growers. It also highlights relevant resources and identifies where existing certifications can be used as supporting evidence, simplifying the audit burden for growers.
“Leading Harvest is excited to be supporting the almond industry in their proactive approach to ESG. We hope the almond guidance will provide new participants to Leading Harvest, providing the detailed guidance they need to make enrolment easy”. Claire Kneller, General Manager.
The publication has been developed primarily for growers considering enrolling their orchards in the Leading Harvest Farmland Management Standard, providing in-depth support through the certification process. A companion field growers’ guide is also in development, summarising the 13 objectives and the activities required to implement the Standard, making it a practical reference for operational teams and existing Leading Harvest members.
The almond guidance is the third commodity-specific document developed by Leading Harvest, following earlier publications for soybean and tomato growers in the United States. These reflect Leading Harvest’s decision to develop a standard that is commodity agnostic, meaning the 86% of Australian farms that grow multiple crops can use one certification to cover the whole farm business.
The document can be found here. Any questions on the guidance document, please contact cboyd@leadingharvest.org.
About Leading Harvest
Leading Harvest is a nonprofit organization that mobilizes the entire value chain through market-driven and third-party audited standards, outcome-driven collaborations, and a learning network to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable and resilient global agricultural system. It created and maintains an innovative, third-party audited Farmland Management Standard, which is a universal, outcome-based sustainability standard focusing on farm management and continual improvement. Learn more at www.leadingharvest.org.
