A concern of mine (as a lawyer worried about precision of language) is with regards the term "responsible investments". I would suggest to provide a definition of it, and also to maintain consistency as sometimes “responsible investment” is used, others “responsible and sustainable” - both subjective terms for which no definition is provided.
Here's a suggestion that could be adapted as needed: Responsible agriculture investment can be defined as the “creation of productive assets and capital formation, which may comprise physical, human or intangible capital, oriented to support the realisation of food security, nutrition and sustainable development”. It requires “respecting, protecting and promoting human rights, including the progressive realisation of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security”, and “entails respect for gender equality, age, and non-discrimination and requires reliable, coherent and transparent laws and regulations” (CFS RAI Preamble). The VGGT further adds that responsible investments should “do no harm, safeguard against dispossession of legitimate tenure right holders and environmental damage (VGGT 12.4). In addition, the VGGT notes that while States “should promote responsible investments in land, fisheries and forests (12.1) and “provide safeguards to protect legitimate tenure rights, human rights, livelihoods, food security and the environment” (12.6), investors also have a “responsibility to respect national law and recognize and respect tenure rights of others and the rule of law” (12.12)".
Would also be interesting to hear the insights of other members of this Forum about this term, how it is perceived and what it entails, and how would national policy makers view it.
M. Fabiano de Andrade Correa