Transforming our food systems for the better: the role of sustainability disclosure
Published date: 24 November 2023
Medium article by Margarita Lysenkova, Senior Manager – International Policy
Not only does food, in its different forms and flavors, sustain all forms of life, but it brings people together and speaks of the many cultures and traditions of the world’s nations. The food and agriculture sector is one of the biggest economic sectors in today’s world but, at the same time, its extreme fragmentation results in the lack of transparency and traceability.
In this Medium article, Margarita Lysenkova explores how globally consistent sustainability and ESG disclosure can help bring about a positive transformation of the sector, starting with better nutrition and more informed consumption patterns.
Advancing food systems transformation through sustainability and ESG reporting: A state of play
Agricultural produce from many different points of origin gets blended together, posing challenges to traceability. To track progress, there needs to be aligned measurement and a high uptake of a standardized reporting methodology. Sustainability reporting standards in the agriculture and food sector have high potential for transformative effect. But we need to take proactive steps to get reliable and comparable data, especially in critical areas. Beyond relying on product certifications, producers should embrace broader sustainability strategies that align with overall sustainability goals.
Margarita LysenkovaGRI 13: Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fishing Sectors – which comes into effect for reporting on 1 January 2024 – integrates sustainability expectations across 26 topics for these sectors. This makes it a central reference point for any business seeking to deliver transparency on agricultural impacts in a consistent and comparable way.