OECD-FAO Guidance for Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains (Video No. 2)

The OECD-FAO Guidance on Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains is FAO’s central framework for addressing due diligence, agricultural supply chains and development. As a leading standard for responsible business conduct (RBC) in the agricultural sector, the OECD-FAO Guidance has seen wide uptake from governments and companies in managing adverse impacts related to commodity production and trade. It helps convey how enterprises can identify, prevent, mitigate and reduce environmental and social risks in cooperation with suppliers in agricultural supply chains, while driving better development outcomes from farm to consumer.

Adopted in 2016, the OECD-FAO Guidance was developed jointly by the OECD and FAO following a two-year process led by a multi-stakeholder advisory group that included governments, investors, agri-food companies, farmers’ organizations, civil society organizations and others. To allow for wider stakeholder engagement, the process also involved a public consultation. The Guidance has received government and multilateral support, including by G7 and G20 agriculture ministers.

The OECD-FAO Guidance presents a globally recognized framework for the application of RBC in global trade and agricultural supply chains. Its risk and development approach introduces how business and agricultural production may impact areas such as: food security and nutrition, human rights, labour and child rights, gender, climate change, natural resource depletion and deforestation, governance, animal welfare, land tenure rights, technology and innovation, and others.

The OECD-FAO Guidance incorporates other established standards for RBC, including the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), and the Committee on World Food Security’s Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI).

The OECD-FAO Guidance for Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains:

	introduces a model enterprise policy, outlining the standards that enterprises should observe to build responsible agricultural supply chains;
	provides a *framework for risk-based due diligence* describing the five practical steps that enterprises should follow to identify, assess, mitigate and report on work for addressing the adverse impacts of their activities;
	outlines and describes the major risks faced by enterprises in the agricultural sector, highlighting measures for mitigating these risks; and
	features examples on *engaging with and addressing development vis-à-vis vulnerable groups*, such as indigenous peoples.

OECD-FAO five-step framework for risk-based due diligence:

Latest 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-deforestation-brochure-july-2023

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.

OECD-FAO Practical Business Tool on Deforestation, Forest Degradation and Due Diligence in Agricultural Supply Chains

03/12/2021

This flyer introduces the OECD-FAO Practical Business Tool on Deforestation, Forest Degradation and Due Diligence in Agricultural Supply Chains. The tool builds on the recommendations of the OECD-FAO Guidance for Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains and explains how businesses can implement its 5-step framework for risk-based due diligence to identify and mitigate deforestation and forest degradation impacts in agricultural supply chains.