Urgent action is needed to transform food systems into modes that can ensure food security in the long-term by protecting biodiversity and supporting producers, especially smallholder farmers. Can certification schemes play a role in forging more sustainable food systems? Private certification schemes have become increasingly popular in global agro-food chains, which often claim to improve both the socio-economic and environmental sustainability of agricultural and food consumption processes. A SWOT analysis was conducted on GLOBALG.A.P., Fairtrade and the Rainforest Alliance Certification Program to identify their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.