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.
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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; |
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provides a confidential environment for peer learning on pre-competitive issues; |
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identifies measures and good practices to overcome challenges; |
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develops a series of demand-driven guides and briefs to address technical challenges identified by project participants, including measures and good practices; and |
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| 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;
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| 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
Policy brief
Opportunities for the tropical fruit sector to meet European Union regulations on maximum residue levels and pesticide use
18/01/2024
This technical brief explores the challenges and opportunities confronting the tropical fruit sector in meeting European Union (EU) regulations on maximum...
Brochure (factsheet; flyer/leaflet; Poster; banner)
Ideas for incentives to promote sustainable investment in the avocado and pineapple sectors - A paper for discussion purposes
31/03/2023
Incentives are one of many tools that governments can use to promote investment. Incentives may encourage the establishment or growth of a sector and...
Book (stand-alone)
Responsible business conduct in the avocado industry: a guide for producers and exporters
16/07/2024
This guide aims to support growers and businesses operating in the global avocado industry in their efforts to implement responsible business conduct...
Sustainable Tropical Fruits Series
Ripe for change: adapting avocado production to a changing climate
24/07/2023
To better understand current and future climate risks and their impact on avocado production and trade, as well as how to prepare for, and deal with these risks, the Responsible Fruits Project, working in partnership with key players in the avocado sector, produced a technical guide on climate change adaptation.
The opportunities for multistakeholder initiatives to support sustainability in the tropical fruit sector
29/09/2023
This brief highlights the potential of multistakeholder initiatives to benefit producers and companies by fostering sustainability and resilience within tropical fruit value chains. The tropical fruit sector faces many risks, including pests and diseases becoming resistant to phytosanitary products, hazardous labour practices, deforestation, and vulnerability to external shocks, such as climate change and economic downturns.
Projects
See also
- Gap analysis to support due diligence in the avocado and pineapple sectors
- Responsible business conduct: minimizing social and environmental impacts in the tropical fruit sector
- How can the tropical fruit sector contribute to climate action?
- Building more resilient avocado and pineapple value chains
Related links
- World Banana Forum
- FAO Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) in Agriculture
- OECD-FAO Guidance for Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains
- Tropical fruits
- International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet)
Join the project or learn more, contact us: