Standard Revision v3.0

About the Revision of the SRP Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation and Performance Indicators

The Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) is committed to driving sustainability in rice cultivation through the continuous improvement of our standards. In line with this commitment, the SRP Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation v2.2 and the SRP Performance Indicator v2.1 are currently undergoing a comprehensive revision process. This revision is being conducted with reference to the ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Sustainability Systems, ensuring that our standards remain robust, credible, and aligned with global best practices. 

The revision of SRP Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation, currently version 2.2 into version 3.0, aims to integrate the latest scientific advancements, address ambiguities, enhance auditability, and strengthen focus on social factors like gender empowerment. It seeks to align with updated regulations, simplify data collection, and provide a modular structure for partners. The revision reflects stakeholder demand for a sustainability standard that supports market-based solutions and informs national policy while addressing global commitments like the UN Sustainable Development Goals.  

 

Objectives: 

• Enhance Alignment with Evolving Policies and Regulations: Ensure the standard remains responsive to the changing global policy and regulatory landscape. 

• Strengthen Gender and Women’s Empowerment: Expand the standard’s focus to better address gender equality and women’s empowerment in sustainable rice cultivation. 

• Incorporate Stakeholder Perspectives: Integrate insights and experiences from all relevant stakeholders to create a more inclusive and representative standard. 

• Encourage Broader Stakeholder Engagement: Foster greater participation, acceptance, and recognition of the standard across diverse stakeholder groups. 

• Maintain Consistency with SRP Normative Guidance: Ensure the standard aligns with other SRP frameworks for a cohesive approach. 

• Facilitate Future Integration of Carbon and Ecosystem Services: Structure the standard to allow flexible integration of future modules, such as carbon benefits and ecosystem services, into the SRP Assurance Scheme. 

Standard Revision Thematic Focuses

The revision of the SRP Standard is being guided by three dedicated Working Groups (WGs), each focusing on key thematic areas crucial to sustainable rice cultivation. These groups bring together experts, stakeholders, and practitioners from across the rice value chain to ensure a holistic and inclusive revision process. 

 

Standard Revision Progress

SRP remains firmly committed to ensuring that every revision of the SRP Standard is robust, practical, and well supported for all stakeholders across diverse contexts.

Following the extension of the revision timeline to strengthen overall coherence and ensure that the SRP Standard is technically sound, practical, and implementation-ready for farmers and other stakeholders, SRP engaged scientists from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to conduct an independent peer review between February and March 2026. The feedback was subsequently consolidated through the SRP Technical Committee revision process. Following this, the SRP Board endorsed the SRP Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation Version 3.0 in May 2026.

The revised Standard strengthens SRP’s normative framework and includes updates to improve coherence, technical robustness, social safeguards, risk-based implementation, and practical applicability across diverse production contexts. It also strengthens provisions related to food safety, producer health, environmental risk management, and responsible agricultural practices in line with evolving international expectations and sustainability developments. 

 

Following Board endorsement, SRP’s next steps include: 

• Preparing normative documents related to the revised Standard  

• Preparing training modules and supporting materials  

• Conducting calibration activities to support consistent understanding and implementation  

• Rolling out promotion and awareness activities across key stakeholder groups  

• Preparing for full implementation and transition into Version 3.0  

 

Stakeholder Engagement Snapshot 

• More than 150 stakeholders and experts engaged throughout the revision process  

• 49 participants involved in Working Groups and Technical Committee discussions  

• More than 100 public consultation responses received across two consultation rounds  

• Field testing and farmer consultations conducted with 3 farmer groups in Indonesia  

• Independent peer review conducted by 4 IRRI scientists and experts  

SRP would like to express its sincere appreciation to all individuals and organizations who contributed to the revision process, including members of the SRP Board and Technical Committee, Working Group participants, farmers, auditors, researchers, civil society organizations, public sector representatives, private sector actors, external experts, and scientists from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Their technical expertise, practical insights, and constructive feedback played an important role in strengthening the revised Standard and supporting its relevance across diverse rice production contexts. 

SRP will continue to share updates as the rollout and transition process progresses. 

 

Planned Rollout and Transition Timeline 

• Publication of SRP Standard Version 3.0: January 2027  

• Transition and calibration period: January – June 2027  

• Optional adoption period: July – December 2027
  (producers may choose to apply either SRP Standard Version2.2 or SRP Standard Version3.0 during this period) 

• SRP Standard Version 3.0 becomes mandatory for all verification and annual audits: January 2028 

 

SRP Standard Revision Journey (2024 – 2028) 

 

Contact us

For inquiries about the Revision of the SRP Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation and Performance Indicators, please reach out to us at assurance@sustainablerice.org