Will SANC help my nursery/greenhouse operation to save money, or even make money?
Facilities who have been certified under SANC report savings resulting from prevention or early detection of plant pest problems. Prevention and fast detection and response limit plant damage and production disruption caused by pests. Reported results include reduced scrap, reduced pesticide use or other remedial measures, better labor efficiency, and satisfied customers. Certified facilities also report positive staff and cultural transformation, as implementing SANC has made plant health and pest prevention “everyone’s business.”
Will SANC translate to a marketing advantage for my growing operation?
There is a trend toward retailers and consumers paying more attention to product sourcing and production practices. SANC participation demonstrates that certified facilities have embraced the highest standards to produce and deliver healthy plants, free of regulated plant pests. Though SANC is still in the pilot phase, participating facilities believe their customers will see value in their participation resulting in healthy plants, fewer pest-related regulatory actions, and fewer costly disruptions.
What resources do I need to commit to implement SANC?
An up-front investment of staff time is needed to understand and implement SANC. A complete and thoughtful facility risk assessment is foundational to the SANC process, and typically takes the most time to perform. Web-based tools in development should streamline the risk assessment process (anticipated Fall 2019). The total time commitment varies depending on a nursery or greenhouse operation’s management structure, history of participation in other quality management programs, and complexity or diversity with respect to production and markets. Pilot participants’ experience suggests the process is easier if completed in a focused period of time.
