I originally made a contribution on 13th Jan and I have been moved to write again given the richness of the debate that has ensued!
Great to read others echoing thoughts on the importance of grain transportation and storage as a focus for investment. Likewise, there have been comments on innovation too, which will be important.
In particular I liked Jean-Paul Been's analogy of a 'trip planner or navigation tool', as this gets to the heart of the potential of the document to provide real guidance to a great many actors.
As we are in the final few days of the E-consultation, with the Latin American and Caribbean regional meeting taking place in Panama, I would like to include some final thoughts from the IAFN position paper (http://www.agrifood.net/wp-content/uploads/IAFN_PositionOnRAI.pdf)
Economic and social impacts:
- Investment, foreign and domestic, should be encouraged as a vital source of capital as well as a driver for increased productivity in the national market, and as a source of significant secondary job creation. Investments should be assessed against their potential to deliver these economic benefits.
- Investors should ensure that projects respect the rule of law, reflect industry best practice, and result in durable shared value. (Principles of Responsible Agricultural Investment)
- Investments should generate desirable social and distributional impacts and should not increase vulnerability. (Principles of Responsible Agricultural Investment)
Cultural impacts:
- Consumers should have choice in their food and should have access to a diverse, nutritious diet.
- Projects that add value to food in-country are advantageous.
Principles in support of enabling environment
Governance structures, review mechanisms and decision making processes to enable and facilitate responsible agricultural investment (based on VG GT section 3A, 3B,4 and 7):
- Domestic markets and foreign investment require the same conducive operating environment, including: peace and stability, the rule of law, good governance with accountability and transparency, the absence of corruption, adequate infrastructure, an educated workforce, clear property rights, open markets and trade, and enforceable contracts.
- Governments should prioritise putting those elements of a conducive operating
environment in place to help attract quality domestic and foreign investments.
- Guidelines and rules for investment should be clearly stated and easily available to encourage transparency and accountability.
- States should ensure that all actions are consistent with their existing obligations under national and international law, and with due regard to voluntary commitments under applicable regional and international instruments (VGGT 12.1)
Dear all,
I originally made a contribution on 13th Jan and I have been moved to write again given the richness of the debate that has ensued!
Great to read others echoing thoughts on the importance of grain transportation and storage as a focus for investment. Likewise, there have been comments on innovation too, which will be important.
In particular I liked Jean-Paul Been's analogy of a 'trip planner or navigation tool', as this gets to the heart of the potential of the document to provide real guidance to a great many actors.
As we are in the final few days of the E-consultation, with the Latin American and Caribbean regional meeting taking place in Panama, I would like to include some final thoughts from the IAFN position paper (http://www.agrifood.net/wp-content/uploads/IAFN_PositionOnRAI.pdf)