Interview: Alan Acosta – Auditor at Control Union
Alan Acosta is an Industrial Chemical Engineer from Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan (graduated in 2018), with a master’s degree in business administration and a certification as a Leading Auditor in Quality Management Systems from Instituto Latinoamericano de la Calidad. He has over eight years of experience managing audits and compliance programs, specializing in Safety and Hygiene, Environment, Traceability, and Corporate Responsibility. Throughout his career, he has led critical processes such as client approval, system and product certifications, supply chain security, and environmental legal compliance, with a focus on integrating sustainable and resilient operation models.
He is currently serving as a technical, social, and environmental auditor at Control Union, where he evaluates the proper implementation of regulatory frameworks and international certifications across organizations from various productive sectors.
In an interview for Veggies From Mexico, we discussed the importance of third-party audits in the farming industry, their evolution to adapt to a changing market, and a more informed consumer. Read the full interview:
1. What is Control Union and in which countries does it operate?
Control Union is a global organization for certification, inspection, and quality assurance with over 100 years of history (founded in the Netherlands). Its main purpose is to help global supply chains become more sustainable, ethical, and efficient through independent auditing services based on international standards.
It operates directly through its own global network in over 70 countries worldwide (including North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania). This international presence allows us to coordinate local inspections with absolute global recognition, making it easier for companies to meet regulatory and market demands anywhere in the world.
2. Would you share with us what are the main services offered by Control Union and in which industries?
Control Union provides a wide range of solutions divided into four major cornerstones: certifications and audits, guarantee management, commodity (raw materials) inspection, and specialized training services.
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These solutions cover multiple industrial sectors of high economic and social relevance, such as:
- Organic and conventional farming: Ensuring sustainable practices from the farm.
- Textiles: Verifying ethical, social, and environmental processes (e.g., Higg FEM, SMETA, GOTS).
- Biomass and biofuels: Evaluating carbon footprint reduction and traceability (such as ISCC).
- Aquaculture and fisheries, forestry, food safety, tourism, compliance and social security.
3. How do you work when it comes to certifications in the farming industry?
In the farming industry, we work through stringent third-party schemes that evaluate the comprehensive sustainability of production. Two main examples are:
- GLOBAL G.A.P.: A standard which promotes Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). It guarantees consumers that food is produced while minimizing negative environmental impact, reducing and controlling the use of agrochemicals, optimizing water resources, and safeguarding the health, safety, and well-being of workers and rural communities.
- Bonsucro: Focused on the sugarcane value chain, verifying environmental, social, and economic sustainability from sugar mills to the end consumer, ensuring the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and being respectful to labor rights.
4. What have been some of your main achievements within this organization?
Among my main achievements is the incorporation and consolidation of new evaluation programs aligned with global sustainability trends, such as FEM (Facility Environmental Module) module from Cascale.
I have also directly contributed to attracting new clients and designing specialized training courses, enriched with my practical expertise in the industry, which has allowed supplier companies to elevate their technical competencies and successfully surpass their validation audits.
5. How do you consider the farming industry has changed over the last 10 years, and how have the criteria evaluated in third-party audits evolved?
Over the last decade, farming has shifted from exclusively focusing on volume yield and profitability to a mandatory vision of climate mitigation and full traceability.
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Third-party audits have radically evolved:
- From simple document review to real-time data verification: Today, accurate metrics are evaluated such as water footprint, carbon footprint, soil health, and hazardous waste management.
- From basic legal enforceability to human rights and social due diligence: It is no longer enough for the product to be safe; companies must now demonstrate fair labor conditions and the eradication of deforestation across the entire supply chain.
6. How does Control Union adapt to technological changes and integrate them into its service offering?
Control Union adapts to the speed of technological transformation through continuous training of our technical teams and strict monitoring of new demands in the global market.
By operating in a global network of over 70 countries, we gather approaches and regulations from different regions, which provides us with enormous flexibility and speed of response. This allows us to integrate digital traceability tools, online reporting platforms, and agile auditing methodologies, offering tailored solutions for both complex and dynamic industries.
7. What criteria do you consider essential for a farming company, and what would be your main recommendations for farmers?
The cornerstones are Social Responsibility, Strict Environmental Protection, and Thorough Legal Compliance.
My main recommendations for farmers are:
- Implementing management and continuous improvement systems: Remember that “what is not measured cannot be improved.” These do not need to be bureaucratic or complex processes; usually, the simplest methods are the most effective when executed with discipline.
- Integrating compliance as part of daily operations: View environmental and labor regulations not as an expense or isolated requirement, but as a tool to optimize inputs, reduce operating costs, and shield your business against international markets.
8. Do you consider that having third-party audits gives a company more commercial opportunities?
Yes, definitely. Having validation from an independent third party and internationally recognized certifications is, these days, the main passport for opening new markets.
The consumer these days is much more aware and demanding with regards to the source and ethics of what they purchase. Also, large corporations and global supply chains require these certifications as an indispensable requirement to sign up any supplier, turning audited sustainability into a direct competitive advantage and a commercial trust generator.
9. Is there anything else you would like to add?
I would like to emphasize that bringing together sustainability and social responsibility strategies is no longer an aesthetic or public relations option, but a vital necessity for business continuity.
It is a direct benefit for people, ecosystems, and companies. If organizations do not begin to see environmental and social management as the strategic core of their operations, the market itself and global changes will eventually leave them out of the game. At Control Union Mexico, we understand that taking this step may seem complex, but you do not have to do it alone; we are fully available to listen to your needs, accompany you in the process, and help you achieve your certification goals in a sound and reliable manner.
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