Markets and Trade

Building responsible global value chains for the sustainable production and trade of tropical fruits

Concerned about business risk in avocado or pineapple supply chains?
Global production and trade of tropical fruits has grown dramatically. Tropical fruits are also part of a healthy diet for millions of people and contribute to development in producing countries. The COVID-19 pandemic and concerns about sustainability have shown business risks that must be addressed to ensure continued success in these value chains.

Companies are already taking steps to address sustainability risk and resilience in their operations. However, value chains are vulnerable to risks and shocks beyond the control of any single actor. Thus, concerted actions can benefit all industry stakeholders. FAO is leading the project Building responsible global value chains for the sustainable production and trade of tropical fruits, also known as the “Responsible Fruits Project”.


The project:

helps companies to strengthen or establish risk-based due diligence systems to make their operations more sustainable and resilient to external shocks such as natural disasters or COVID-19;

provides a confidential environment for peer learning on pre-competitive issues;

identifies measures and good practices to overcome challenges;

develops a series of demand-driven guides on technical challenges identified by project participants, including measures and good practices to overcome these challenges and;

develops learning materials;

analyzes the policy environment and incentives, aiming to identify opportunities to accelerate sustainable investment in supply chains.

The project is helping to address climate change, improve resilience and enhance responsible business conduct and due diligence among actors in avocado and pineapple value chains.

The project builds on more than a decade of FAO’s experience of working with the private sector on tropical fruits. This includes facilitating the World Banana Forum, which enables industry players to discuss challenges, seek technical support, share innovative practices and collaborate actively for sustainability in the banana sector. It also builds on work with over 30 leading enterprises and industry associations to apply the risk-based due diligence recommendations of the OECD-FAO Guidance for Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains.

Benefits of joining

All interested producer organizations, companies and trade associations involved in avocado and pineapple value chains may ask to join the project.

Participants will:

▪  guide where the project focuses its resources by identifying priorities and good practices to reduce risk and enhance sustainability;

▪  have their say in the identification of priority topics for technical guides and learning materials;

▪  learn how others aim to address challenges in pre-competitive issues;

▪  have exclusive access to customized webinars organized by FAO and other experts;

▪  have access to technical guides and learning materials created by the project.


There is no cost to participate. Confidentiality will be strictly protected.

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