Complying with CAN standards does not preempt or substitute for a farmer's responsibility to obey the law. Farms have social, economic and environmental effects outside of their borders. The CAN program encourages farmers to be active parts of the human community and to make their lands integral components of local and regional conservation plans. Farms should be good neighbors to communities, parks and wildlife reserves. The CAN program helps farmers find the appropriate balance.
Sustainability means economic as well as ecological viability over the long term.
Farms should be profitable and contribute to the economic vitality of the community. Consumer demand for socially and environmentally responsible products promotes change. The CAN certifies farms, not products or companies. The farm evaluation criteria measure achievement and progress in the following nine areas. Concrete and constant measures must be taken to protect biodiversity, especially threatened and endangered species and their habitats.