SAN is an international, non-profit association of organizations working for the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable human development.
For over two decades, the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) has improved the lives and production practices of more than 1.2 million farmers around the world. SAN has helped transform agriculture with more than 3.3 million of hectares certified, especially in the tropical and subtropical regions. Our concept of sustainability recognizes that the welfare of societies and ecosystems is intertwined and dependent on environmental sustainability, as well as on socially just and economically viable development.
​
For many years we worked to achieve our vision through the lens of agricultural certification and by working in partnership with Rainforest Alliance. After working on certification, we recognize the value and multiple benefits of this tool but we also became aware of its inherent limitations.
The challenges our world faces are growing fast; we evolved to better deliver on our mission.
We have moved beyond certification and work directly with companies, donors and other organizations to accelerate and deepen the positive impact we can make as partners on a journey of change.
​
SAN has always been a unique organization. We were formed when a group of NGOs from different countries decided to work together based on the conviction that sustainable agriculture could be harnessed as an effective tool for environmental protection while improving the lives of rural people. The partnership of Rainforest Alliance, Imaflora (Brazil), Fundación Natura (Colombia), ProNatura Sur (Mexico), ICADE (Honduras), FIIT (Guatemala) and SalvaNatura (El Salvador) was the beginning of the SAN membership, which is increasingly growing since then with organizations from all over the world.