Moldovan fruit growers pilot digital register to meet EU norms
Over 20 Moldovan fruit producers are piloting a unified orchard register to streamline technical field records and align domestic production with European Union quality, safety, and international certification standards.
The initiative, developed by the "Moldova Fruct" Fruit Producers and Exporters Association, aims to eliminate administrative burdens by merging multiple mandatory paper logs into a single structured record.
Consolidating field operations
Growers currently maintain multiple separate paper logs to document treatments, field interventions, and harvest schedules across their plantations. The integrated register simplifies this oversight by organizing technical data by specific crop and variety.
Igor Ivanov, who manages a 20-hectare orchard in the Orhei district cultivating apples, nectarines, cherries, and plums, is among the growers testing the new platform alongside legacy paperwork.
“Managing one register instead of three significantly eases our workload,” said Ivanov. “Having a unified document in front of us allows us to review operations faster and determine immediate field priorities.”
Streamlining audits for European retail
The unified platform also serves as a crucial bridge for meeting international export criteria, including GLOBALG.A.P. certifications required by major European supermarket networks.
“This electronic system consolidates all records into a single document, significantly easing compliance for ANSA inspections and GLOBALG.A.P. audits,” said Ion Gîrbu, export manager at a fruit-growing company specializing in plums and apricots. “Presenting this unified register proves that most standard requirements have already been implemented.”
The pilot phase involves growers operating orchards ranging from several hectares to hundreds of hectares across diverse stone fruit and table grape varieties.
Path toward full digitalization
Currently structured as a multi-sheet spreadsheet tracking plot layouts and phytosanitary treatments, the project is undergoing active refinements ahead of full digital rollout.
“Our goal is to ensure authorities accept this unified log during official audits, allowing growers to focus on cultivation rather than endless paperwork,” said Tatiana Ranga, quality management systems consultant at "Moldova Fruct".
The association is conducting negotiations with the National Food Safety Agency (ANSA) to secure official regulatory recognition for the register by the end of the year.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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