Agri-business Alliance Formed to Tackle Global Food Security

16 Sep 2016 --- Olam International and PureCircle are amonst 36 argi-business companies which are collaborating on an initiative designed to tackle the major environmental and social changes facing the agricultural supply chains and rural communities across the world.

Called the Global Agri-business Alliance (GAA), the initiative, announced in Singapore, is a CEO-led drive which has the ambitious goal of contributing to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, such as achieving food security, improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture.

The launch members – which include growers and producers, traders, seed suppliers and agri-service providers – are geographically varied spanning different continents as well multiple commodities such as grain, edible nuts and sugar.

David Nabarro, special advisor to the UN Secretary-General on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Climate Change, said: “Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 will change our world: eradicating poverty, tackling climate change and ensuring a prosperous, safe and healthy future for our children and grandchildren.”

“The SDGs also represent investment opportunities for responsible businesses, and are essential for sustainable economic growth. Achieving the SDGs will only be possible with the full commitment of the business community, transforming their business models to deliver also social and environmental value, and working in partnership with the public sector and civil society.”

“The launch of the Global Agri-business Alliance is excellent news for the SDGs.”

While many agri-companies already collaborate with non-governmental organisations, technical implementers, consumer brands and retailers, the members of the GAA will harness their collective strengths at the ‘front-line’ of agricultural production to help bring the scale and impact required to drive major change.

Members will collaborate to improve rural livelihoods and working conditions, mitigate climate risks and manage natural capital sustainably at the landscape-level.

Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, and a member of the SDG Advocacy Group, said: “The Global Agri-business Alliance is a major step in aligning this critical sector behind the Sustainable Development Goals. We know the SDGs cannot be achieved without business and we must all go beyond our own individual supply chains towards broader sector wide and value chain approaches. The alliance can catalyse likeminded businesses and collaborate with other business platforms to deliver the positive impact the world needs.”

Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, chair, Business and Sustainable Development Commission commented: “Agri-business is most clearly linked to SDGs related to reducing hunger and ending poverty, but it is also critical to protecting livelihoods, achieving gender equality and fulfilling education. The companies of the Global Agri-business Alliance understand that their sector must help achieve sustainable development, but they also recognise the SDGs represent a tremendous business opportunity.”

“We at the Business Commission look forward to working with the GAA and its member companies to seize these opportunities and create a more inclusive, sustainable world.”