About FAO News Multimedia Main topics Statistics Members Publications

Markets and Trade

Building responsible global value chains for the sustainable production and trade of tropical fruits

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
Book (stand-alone)
Responsible business conduct in the pineapple industry: a guide for producers and exporters
16/09/2024

This guide aims to support growers and businesses operating in the global pineapple industry in their efforts to implement responsible business conduct...

Brochure (factsheet; flyer/leaflet; Poster; banner)
Responsible Fruits Project follow-up survey results
23/07/2024

he project “Building responsible global value chains for the sustainable production and trade of tropical fruits” (the Responsible Fruits Project) supports...

Book (stand-alone)
Measuring carbon and water footprints in pineapple value chains
27/08/2024

This technical guide on measuring carbon and water footprints was developed to support resilient and sustainable businesses in pineapple value chains....

Meeting
Resilience and sustainability in tropical fruit value chains (Report from the global meeting of the Responsible Fruits Project)
30/08/2024

FAO organized a global meeting on resilience and sustainability in tropical fruit value chains in May 2024 with the aim to share up-to-date information...

Booklet
Are you ready to lead? Using responsible business conduct to address risks in pineapple businesses
27/09/2024

Responsible business conduct (RBC), implemented through due diligence, can help pineapple producers and businesses improve the sustainability of their...

Project publications
Sustainable Tropical Fruits Series
How the avocado and pineapple business shape the fate of Sustainable Development Goals?
02/10/2023

Businesses in the global production and export of avocados and pineapples can play an important role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The tropical fruit sector not only contributes to employment and export revenues but also provides nutritious food. However, if not properly managed, social, environmental and economic risks associated with tropical fruits value chains can have detrimental effects and impede progress towards achieving the SDGs.

Creating an enabling environment for sustainable avocado and pineapple value chains - Opportunities for producing countries
05/10/2023

While many actors contribute to shaping the enabling environment for avocado and pineapple production and trade, governments in producing countries hold a key role in creating conditions that enable and foster sustainability and resilience.

Projects