Responsible global value chains for agricultural products

Globalization has revolutionized the ways agro-enterprises engage in business. Food production has become easier, quicker and more accessible as a result of interconnected global value chains and a sharp increase in demand for food. To meet the needs of a growing world population, increased food production will inevitably have consequences for societies, including labour, food security and human rights. The production of more food will also generate environmental concerns related to the availability of land and water. Businesses, governments and civil society have a critical role to play in addressing impacts and ensuring that responsible business conduct (RBC) supports inclusive sustainable development.

FAO promotes responsible business conduct among governments, business, civil society and stakeholders by:

	encouraging enterprises to apply the OECD-FAO Guidance for Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains to their business sourcing operations to reduce adverse social and environmental impacts on supply chains, while addressing poverty and supporting inclusive growth;
	enabling development by communicating about the range of potential business and developmental impacts on agricultural supply chains, including labour and human rights, land tenure risks and deforestation, while explaining how the impacts are linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
	fostering multistakeholder cooperation among companies, governments, civil society and others to transform risks into opportunities for dialogue and development that support vulnerable groups, such as women and youth;
	sharing experiences through peer learning and exchanging knowledge and best practices across regions, countries and agricultural industries (e.g. tropical fruits).

Publications

Responsible investment and COVID-19: Addressing impacts, risks and responsible business conduct in agricultural value chains

19/11/2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated serious threats to food security and nutrition and has greatly affected livelihoods and working conditions in agricultural value chains. This policy brief focuses on the role of responsible investment and responsible business conduct along agricultural value chains in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides policy recommendations for governments, investors, enterprises and civil society on how they can encourage responsible investment and responsible business conduct in agriculture in these challenging times.

Pilot project on the implementation of the OECD-FAO Guidance for Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains

11/07/2019

This final report presents the key findings of the pilot project for testing the practical application of the OECD-FAO Guidance. It includes progress made over the pilot timeline, and summarizes the key lessons learned, good practices and challenges highlighted through the activities implemented with pilot participants throughout the duration of the pilot project. It provides conclusions and recommendations for various categories of staekholders.

OECD-FAO Guidance for Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains

01/01/2016

FAO and the OECD have jointly developed this practical guidance to help enterprises observe existing standards of responsible business conduct along agricultural supply chains. The guidance is a summary of existing voluntary standards and principles, including the Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS RAI) endorsed by the CFS in 2014. It does not aim to create any new standards, nor does it seek to substitute existing ones. Rather, the guidance aims to help c ompanies implement existing standards by providing recommendations on the steps that they should undertake to identify and address risks of adverse impacts that stem from their activities. This is part of a broader effort of FAO to promote good practices for agricultural investment.