The OECD-FAO Advisory Group (AG) on Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains is an informal multistakeholder group of over 50 experts from governments, multinational enterprises, small- and medium-sized enterprises, business associations, investors, multistakeholder initiatives, auditing firms, standards and certification groups, international organizations, trade unions, civil society organizations, and academia. Participation in the AG, including FAO Members, is voluntary and driven by each stakeholder's interest in addressing sustainability in agricultural supply chains.
The AG meets three times annually to discuss global challenges and solutions concerning responsible business conduct (RBC) and the uptake of the OECD-FAO Guidance for Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains. The expertise of AG members is leveraged through dialogue and discussion on preidentified topics for each meeting. Examples of discussion topics in AG meetings include the use of technology to reduce adverse developmental impacts in global production and trade, sustainability-driven legislation on risk-based due diligence, and salient thematic issues in commodity sourcing, including deforestation and child labour.
The AG applies an informal governance structure to aid dialogue and cooperation among members. At present, the Kingdom of the Netherlands is the chair of the AG and is supported by three co-chairs, the Food and Land Use Coalition of the World Resources Institute (WRI), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
The AG developed from a multistakeholder advisory group that was established to guide the drafting of the OECD-FAO Guidance. Since its launch, the Guidance has received widespread government and enterprise support, including endorsements by 64 agricultural ministers at the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture in 2023.
As part of its activities on global value chains and RBC in agriculture, FAO works with governments, businesses and other stakeholders to advance technical support and awareness concerning global sourcing and developmental impacts related to business and trade.
Publications
OECD-FAO Business Handbook on Deforestation and Due Diligence in Agricultural Supply Chains
06/07/2023
This handbook was developed by OECD and FAO to help companies embed considerations on deforestation and forest degradation into their corporate due diligence procedures. It is informed by FAO’s extensive work and experience on halting deforestation and forest degradation and promoting responsible governance of tenure.
OECD-FAO Business Handbook on Deforestation and Due Diligence in Agricultural Supply Chains - Brochure
06/07/2023
The OECD-FAO Business Handbook on Deforestation and Due Diligence in Agricultural Supply Chains aims to help companies incorporate deforestation and forest degradation considerations in their supply chain due diligence and responsible sourcing efforts and adopt a holistic approach to deforestation risk and forest-positive outcomes.
Agricultural cooperatives, responsible sourcing and risk-based due diligence
08/09/2022
The objective of this technical paper is to consider how agricultural cooperatives in developing and transitional economies can help reduce adverse environmental, social and development impacts in global agricultural value chains (GVCs), including through risk-based due diligence.