Normas voluntárias de sustentabilidade e investimentos na agricultura sustentável

The policy brief examines the role of voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) in reducing the perceived risks that deter financial service providers (FSPs) from investing in sustainable agriculture in developing countries. By analyzing 12 VSS across economic, environmental, and social dimensions, the report finds that while VSS provide high coverage for legal compliance, labor rights, and soil and water conservation, they lack sufficient criteria for economic viability, anti-corruption, and climate adaptation. The document recommends that VSS incorporate more business-oriented criteria and that FSPs use VSS for ESG due diligence and the structuring of sustainability-linked financial products.

• Financial service providers (FSPs) often avoid agricultural investments in developing countries due to perceived risks, including climate change and market dynamics, leading to a significant investment gap. In 2014, UNCTAD estimated an annual investment gap of US$ 260 billion to meet Sustainable Development Goal 2 (zero hunger) in developing countries.
• VSS can reduce financial risks by requiring farmers to implement practices that protect the environment and social well-being. They specifically provide high coverage for criteria supporting compliance with laws and regulations, sustainability planning and management, and the protection of soil, water sources, and forests.
• In the economic dimension, VSS show high coverage for legal compliance and sustainability planning, but low to minimal coverage for anti-corruption, transparency, and economic viability. Less than half of the 12 analyzed VSS require formal business plans or financial resilience measures.
• Environmental coverage is strong for water, soil, and forest conservation, but weak for climate adaptation and mitigation. Only four VSS require climate adaptation activities, and only one (Rainforest Alliance) requires emergency response plans.
• Socially, VSS provide high coverage for labor rights and occupational health and safety, largely aligned with International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions. However, they generally lack comprehensive measures for community development and cultural preservation.
• FSPs can integrate VSS into their operations by using them for ESG due diligence, structuring sustainability-linked loans with interest rates tied to VSS-verified indicators, and pre-selecting beneficiaries based on risk-impact profiles.
• Governments can support sustainable agricultural investment by securing land tenure (especially for women), promoting farmer organizations, and providing climate-based insurance or guarantees for VSS-compliant farmers.

APA

Larrea, C. (2023). Normas voluntárias de sustentabilidade e investimentos na agricultura sustentável. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-07/ssi-brief-standards-investments-sustainable-agriculture-pt_1.pdf

Chicago

Larrea, Cristina. Normas voluntárias de sustentabilidade e investimentos na agricultura sustentável. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2023. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-07/ssi-brief-standards-investments-sustainable-agriculture-pt_1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Larrea |first1=Cristina |title=Normas voluntárias de sustentabilidade e investimentos na agricultura sustentável |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=April 2023 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-07/ssi-brief-standards-investments-sustainable-agriculture-pt_1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{larrea2023normas, author = {Larrea, Cristina}, title = {{Normas voluntárias de sustentabilidade e investimentos na agricultura sustentável}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2023}, month = apr, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-07/ssi-brief-standards-investments-sustainable-agriculture-pt_1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }