Building responsible global value chains for the sustainable production and trade of tropical fruits| Markets and Trade | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Concerned about business risk in avocado or pineapple supply chains?

The global production and trade of tropical fruits has grown dramatically while markets are demanding more action on environmental and social issues. The COVID-19 pandemic and other shocks have shown that business risks must be addressed to ensure continued success.

Companies are already taking steps to address sustainability risk in their operations.

However, value chains are vulnerable to risks and shocks beyond the control of any single actor. Thus, concerted actions can benefit all industry stakeholders and is why FAO is leading the project Building responsible global value chains for the sustainable production and trade of tropical fruits, also known as the “Responsible Fruits Project”.

What does the project do?

The project builds on more than a decade of FAO’s experience of working with the private sector on tropical fruits. The project facilitates the World Banana Forum where industry players discuss challenges, seek technical support, and share good practices and innovations for sustainability in the banana sector. The project also builds on work with over 30 leading enterprises and industry associations to apply the risk-based due diligence recommendations in the OECD-FAO Guidance for Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains.

	helps companies to strengthen or establish risk-based due diligence systems to make their operations more sustainable and resilient to external shocks, such as COVID-19;
	provides a confidential environment for peer learning on pre-competitive issues;
	identifies measures and good practices to overcome challenges;
	develops a series of demand-driven guides and briefs to address technical challenges identified by project participants, including measures and good practices; and
	analyses the policy environment and incentives in order to identify opportunities to accelerate sustainable investment in supply chains.

What are the benefits of joining?

The project has reached more than 200 organizations. All interested companies, trade associations, and producer organizations involved in the avocado and pineapple value chains may ask to join the project.

Participants will:

	provide guidance on where the project should focus its resources by identifying priorities and good practices to reduce risk and enhance sustainability;
	identify priority topics for peer-learning webinars, capacity development events and technical guides;
	learn how others address challenges in precompetitive issues;
	have early access to technical guides created by the project.

There is no cost  to participate. Confidentiality will be strictly protected.

Latest publications

Document

Webinar #18: Responsible business conduct and risk management of pineapple value chains in Asia and the Pacific, in collaboration with the International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet) - Summary report

28/06/2024

Webinar #18: Responsible business conduct and risk management of pineapple value chains in Asia and the Pacific, in collaboration with the International...

Launch session of the resilience component – 4 October 2022

07/11/2022

Webinar #1: Climate change mitigation, 2 June 2021

03/08/2021

This was the first in a series of technical webinars being organized by FAO’s Responsible Fruits project in response to the priorities and interests...

Building responsible global value chains for sustainable tropical fruits

09/03/2021

This three-year project is led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and titled “Building responsible global value chains...

Action Report April 2022: Responsible Tropical Fruits Project

10/10/2022

The FAO led project “Building responsible global value chains for the sustainable production and trade of tropical fruits” works with businesses, farmer...

Project publications

Sustainable Tropical Fruits Series

Are you ready to lead? Using responsible business conduct to address risks in avocado businesses

27/09/2024

Responsible business conduct (RBC), implemented through due diligence, can help avocado producers and businesses improve the sustainability of their operations and gain or maintain access to markets. By adopting RBC and due diligence processes, businesses can mitigate social and environmental risks, avoid financial losses, and enhance long-term profitability.

Reducing food loss and valorizing fruits and residues to boost avocado industry sustainability and profitability

22/05/2024

Avocados, like other tropical fruits, are susceptible to food loss and waste due to their high moisture content and perishable nature. Factors including climate change, inadequate infrastructure and handling during harvesting, packaging and transportation increase the risk of food loss, impacting fruit supply and quality.